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Bonus Fitness Hikes – Mount Morrison

This was an early morning/before work fitness hike for current students enrolled in Alpine Scrambling Course Denver. Mount Morrison is a great local training hike: 3.6 miles, ~2000'gain, out/back.

Cynthia Lehr Cynthia Lehr
April 18, 2023
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • •SEASONAL CLOSURES: This area is subject to seasonal closure due to muddy trail conditions. Check before you go: Jefferson County Open Space Alerts & Closures.  If you do arrive at the trail head and trail is closed by signage or trail is muddy, an alternative could be to walk/run up the road to Red Rocks Amphitheater and do a stair work out there.

    •ALL DOGS MUST BE LEASHED: This is a busy trail, known rattlesnake area.  Please be considerate of other users and protect your pet by following leash requirement. 

    •BEYOND LEAVE NO TRACE: Heavy use trail; consider bringing a bag to collect trash/dog poop bags on your descent.  Please do not leave your dog poop bag on the trail, this encourages others to piles bags along the trail.  If the trash receptible at the trail head is full, please take your trash home.  This area is often windy and trash blows all over the trail head and parking area.  

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It was a beautiful morning, our group of DEN ASC Students and Instructors met at the TH at 6:00 am.  We huddled and discussed purpose/expectations of trip.  Leader related Mount Morrison is an excellent training hike due to the steepness/elevation gain which mimics the off trail approach typical to many of our scrambling routes.  Group discussed everyone would proceed at their own pace and meet up/re-group at three waypoints along the ascent.  This would allow each participant to proceed at the own pace and maximize the workout.  Leader and Assistant Leader wore Rocky Talkies and assumed lead/sweep positions.  The trail progresses in a way that lead/sweep can visualize the entire group as we ascended.  

Our group took off at 6:10 am and began the initial steep ascent, enjoying the beautiful alpine glow.  Our first waypoint meet up was at the first bench.  We re-grouped, checked in with all participants and leader answered a few questions about the upcoming course/gear.  Leader encouraged all participants to hike the next section and talk with one of the three instructors about the course.  The group met up again at the second waypoint, the saddle to check in.  

Along our ascent to the summit, our group has the pleasure of meeting the legendary Roger Wendell who has climbed Mount Morrison over 1,000 times as he passed us by offering some inspiration.  The group again gathered at the summit where we could admire an awesome view of Denver and Red Rocks Amphitheater.

We descended as a group to the lovely soundtrack of the call of the Townsend Solitaire perched along the juniper trees lining the trail.  Our group paused for some teaching points about the benefits facing in during steeper descents with some very basic hand/foot holds.  We descended quickly and all were back to the parking area by 8:45 am. 

All enjoyed a fun/fitness morning.  The goals of introducing our students to this local fitness resource as well as students and instructions getting to know each other, answering questions about the upcoming course were achieved.  Great morning, creating stoke for our upcoming course.