Grays Peak is fairly close to Denver and one of the easier 14,000-foot peaks to climb in the state. There's a good trail, it's not too long, and the hiking is straightforward. Given its relative ease, it's also very popular, so crowds would be expected.

I was on a week-long tour of the southwest, now looking to do at least one good sized Colorado peak before heading west into Utah. A few days earlier I had hiked up West Spanish Peak, a hefty 13er in the southern part of the state. There was also a simple hike up Greenhorn Mountain, which is a 12er. Yesterday, I had driven up and partially hiked Pikes Peak, mainly for the tourist aspect, but also for another chance to spend some time at 14K. My Pikes Peak visit didn't involve a lot of hiking, but my eyes got a good workout looking at all the lovely women that seem to populate that part of the state for some reason.

I spent last night (and this morning) in the old scenic town of Georgetown along Interstate-70, which put me close to the Grays Peak trailhead. Very early the next morning I drove a few more miles to the Bakerville exit, then bumped up the dirt road to the parking lot at the trailhead. Even at this early hour, nearly all spots were taken; I was lucky to find a marginal spot where I shoe-horned my truck. I was hiking by 6:30 a.m.

After crossing a footbridge I followed the trail as it contoured east and south of nearby Kelso Mountain, a 13,164-foot peak awash in green grass and wildflowers. The trail itself is very well maintained and I was able to make good time. I hiked for a spell with an older gentleman who was taking it kind of slow, himself not certain he'd make the summit. We passed a few people and were passed ourselves. The trail itself works up through high meadows and rocky plains to about 12,500 feet, where it abuts the main rocky massif of Grays and its sister summit, Torreys Peak. Parts of the trail were in shadow and in a few spots, covered in an icy sheen. Needless to say, some parts were very slippery. The guy and I took a break here. After a short rest, I got moving again, but the guy stayed behind. I never did see him again and I suspect he just hiked back out to his car.

From this point to the summit, the trail just switchbacks up the bare north-facing slopes of Grays, making long sweeps hither and yon, all the while above tree line. The views were marvelous and I had a great time. The fine trail also expedited my progress, and I summitted at 9:15 a.m. in clear, cool, brisk conditions. Given it was early June, there was very little snow. The summit itself was bare, and I only had a few patches coming up.

I spent a little more time than usual on the summit, enjoying the views and the people-watching. Yes, it got minorly crowded but I knew this would happen beforehand, and it was a cool bunch. A lot of people were just resting on Grays before walking on over to Torreys. In the saddle below Grays and Torreys there were some people glissading down the snow slope back to the basin and the trail we had all come up. It was fun to watch, and certainly a fast way to descend. Some people were better at it than others. There were also runners, people running from one summit to the next, apparently fitted with a third lung somewhere inside their body. Me, I was just happy to walk at a good pace at 14K.

The hike down went well, and the hordes of day-hikers never abated: I passed group after group coming up, and when I got back to my truck, was amused to see probably another 60 vehicles parked everywhich-where, many illegally, a lot lining the access road. I changed back into my "driving clothes" (shorts, sandals, tee) and exited back onto Interstate-70. I was happy to have summitted Grays, but I also had a lot of driving to do, aiming to be in the middle of Utah by day's end.