Mountains and Rocks I've Hiked...

This my friends, is Mt. Elbert. Standing at 14,433 ft above sea level, this mountain is the second highest mountain in the mainland United States, and the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains. I hiked this in the Spring 2005 with my best friend. It was an 11 mile round trip hike, that we started at noon, and returned around 5:30. It was not too difficult, the beginning was really steep, and the winds were at around 40 mph along the ridge to the top. On our way up, three hikers were on there way down and they said that they turned around when they were 200 yards from the top because of a snowstorm. What a bunch of wimps... so of course my friend and I went on. And to make a long story short... we almost died a couple of times, cause of the blistering wind and the pelting snow and the treachorous, icy slopes... but is was incredible.
This here is Hallett Peak, this 12,713 footer was a very enjoyable hike. After the first three miles, the snow was so thick that we lost sight of the trail and we literally blazed our own trail through the snow... following our footprints back down.
Pikes Peak, 14,110 ft, was our first 14er that we did when we arrived in Colorado. It was 13 miles to the top... and we hitched a ride on the way down. It's a very popular mountain, you can drive to the top or take a train, or hike... few hike, but lots drive and take the train to the top, where there is a gift shop, train station, etc... its really quite demoralizing when you reach the top, after hiking 13 miles and gaining 7,800 feet in elevation, and you see all these people who just drove up.
This is Half Dome, 8,836 ft, is the landmark rock at Yosemite Ntl. Park. Again, my best friend, his dad, and I hiked this back in 2002. It was alot of fun... especially the 400 foot ladder that you have to climb to reach the very top.
At 14,255 ft, Long's Peak was quite a biggie. We probably could have made it to the top if it wasn't lightning, and a hail storm didn't hamper our efforts. But we got quite a ways up the trail, but then decided to turn around once we got above tree line because of the lightning that was striking right above our heads... literally.
And this little rock is Angels Landing. It's in Zion Ntl. Park... it's only 5 miles round trip. But the hike is very steep and at some points near the top you have to hold onto a chain to keep from falling off the trail. Oh yeah.. did I mention we ran UP the mountain... and back down.