Mt. Massive is the second-highest peak in Colorado and the third-highest in the lower 48. On this particular day in late September, I had it all to myself.
It was midweek, and the trail was empty. The mountain and valley belonged to me. This place, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in central Colorado—full of treasures at every turn. The sound of mountain streams never faded, and in every direction, a new wonder waited to be discovered. My senses were fully alive, and I drifted into a daydream only nature could inspire.
Words fall short when trying to describe the scenery, sounds, colors, serenity, and vastness that were mine for the moment. It was exhilarating, inspiring, and laced with just enough “what the heck am I doing out here all alone?” The answer: it’s who I am, and always will be. I'm that “Wild at Heart” guy—drawn to challenge, willing to take risks others would never consider. In other words, I choose to truly live—not just exist.
Back to the story…
While soaking up the beauty around me, I missed the official trail to Mt. Massive’s summit. One of many awe-filled moments led me right past it. When I arrived at Halfmoon Lake instead of continuing upward, I realized something was off. “How did I miss the trail?” I thought. The actual summit trailhead was now miles behind me. Time for a decision: move forward, stand still, or turn back.
I took a deep breath, looked up at the peak in the distance, and made my choice: I’m climbing this mountain—and I’m not stopping until I reach the summit.
There was no clear trail ahead, but the summit was visible. I picked a route up toward a butte with a ridge leading northwest to the peak. Determination took over. As the incline steepened, I pushed forward. About 15 feet from the top of the butte, the rocks began to slide with nearly every step. Gripping a boulder, I thought, Rock climbing gear might have been nice right about now. But this "expert" climber was right with God, and that was enough for me.
Eventually, I reached the ridge—about 20 feet wide, with 80–100 foot drop-offs on both sides. The summit was still ahead. Logic whispered, “Don’t look down, just keep going.” I listened.
After 6.5 hours of hiking, climbing, sliding, gripping, and snapping photos, I stood on the summit of Mt. Massive. It was smaller than expected, but no less rewarding. Photos were taken in every direction. Then, I paused to take it all in.
To the south, Mt. Elbert. To the northeast, the town of Leadville. The 360-degree view of the Rockies was absolutely breathtaking. I thanked God for the moment and tucked the experience into my mental memory box, to be opened whenever needed. A calm reverence settled over me—it was just God and me, enjoying His masterpiece.
I sat there for 45 minutes in stillness, talking to God. Then a strong breeze reminded me it was time to go.
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