Peak Climbed: Mount Ouray

Peak Height: 13,971'

Route: East Ridge

Difficulty: Class 2

Location: Sawatch Range, Colorado

Trailhead: Grays Creek

Mileage & Gain: 8 mi & 4,300 ft

Date Climbed: January 6, 2018

Mount Ouray is usually not an easy peak to climb in winter, mainly because the nearest accessible trilhead is quite far away. I cheated and took advantage of shockingly dry conditions to access the short east ridge route. I did, however, have to battle fierce winds in a stubborn lenticular cloud that was stuck to the summit all morning.