In 2016 I was working on a project ahead of my 30th birthday. An endurance challenge, 30 by 30, to climb 30 unique Centennial peaks in Colorado by the time I turned 30 in October. Well on my way through the list I landed on Silverheels as my next objective. 

I decided to bring my dog on this one. We hiked from Hoosier pass up the steep loose slope up Silverheels. The last push to the summit was pretty terrible from what I remember. It’s deceiving because you hike up and over nice grassy slopes on the approach before getting to the base of the electrical towers. 

‍We were the only ones on the mountain and trail that day, a stark contrast from the bustling Hoosier Pass trailhead. My pup did great until the descent down that awful steep, loose rocky slope on the return to the grassy tundra below the towers. Once down on grass I discovered the little guy cut his paws a bit.

He made his way gently down the grass before we got back to the rocky trail on the ridge where I ended up carrying him the rest of the way.

This may have been my first true solo hike outside of Mount Herard where truly my partner was fishing down at the lake, not sure that counts.
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I look forward to coming back to climb other peaks in that area. It was a really pretty hike.

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If you stop in Breckenridge, check out Broken Compass Brewing or Outer Range in Frisco.

Grab food from one of these places: Coffee at Cuppa Joe, tacos and awesome margaritas from Rita's Tacos, sandwiches from Duggan's or Cabin Coffee Co.