We left Dallas at 10:30pm. Driving straight through and arriving at the Sand Dunes National Park at approx. 11:30 am. Our purpose here was to notify the Ranger station of our little excursion, instead we received a warning from the ranger. He informed us that the trail to Lake Como was actually one of the worst Jeep Trails in Colorado and not accessible even for four wheel drive vehicles. Following the Directions in the Roach book, we found the road/trailhead with no problems. Mark, concerned about the condition of the Jeep trail, decided to park his Full Size "4x4" Ford Bronco after only traveling less than mile up the Jeep trail. This turned out to be a killer!

The plan was for us to park higher on the trail, hike up to Lake Como and set up camp before nightfall. We started hiking up the trail around 1:30pm. Moving at a snail's pace we passed one parked car after another. With each car we passed we harassed Mark a little more. We could have cut at least a mile and a half off our hike in each direction, had we driven halfway through the switchbacks, but being the inexperienced ones we were, we kept trudging along. About three quarters of the way through the switchbacks we heard the first sounds of thunder. From our viewpoint there was no signs of the oncoming storm but within ten minutes it right on top of us. We throw down our packs and set up our tents immediately. The storm lasted about 45 minutes. Once the skies cleared we had a decision to make, stay or go! While we were discussing our options, Mother Nature spoke up and made that decision for us. We couldn't have picked a worse place to set up camp. We were about halfway up to Lake Como, not high enough to avoid the bird size mosquitoes and our tents were on the side of a hill.

We started the next morning at 9am, not exactly an alpine start. We were moving at a better pace than the pervious day early on, but as we crossed the stream and started the last jolt up to Lake Como, Mark and I started to really feel the altitude. We continued hiking toward the lake when Steve started playing the "its just around the corner" game, Mark and I fell for it the first 3 or 4 times, after that we paid no attention to Steve. Arriving at Lake Como at about 3pm. Mark and I were suffering from severe headaches, due to lack of O2. Steve suggested we set up camp here and push for the summit in the morning.

5am. I was the first to get up followed by Steve. After a nights rest I felt about the same as I did the day before, Mark was feeling worse. Steve felt that we should get Mark to a lower altitude ASAP and I agreed. We packed up camp and headed back down.

For the first mile I was relieved to be going back down, then as the O2 started rushing back to my head, I became upset with myself for not taking the challenge more seriously. The previous month leading up to the climb, I was recovering from pneumonia and shouldn't have attempted the climb in the first place. The fact that I did not work out to prepare for the climb, or quite smoking didn't help either. I was not ready physically or mentally for the climb. On the drive back I decided that I was "never again going to waste a weeks vacation on a another mountain". People we have dragged up mountains since have uttered the same words many times since, but we keep going back!

To some people this trip would seem like a bust or a waist of time. That's exactly what I thought once I returned home. I look at much differently now. This was more of a spiritual journal that triggered a change within me, a change that would take years materialize.

It was the start of an addiction that has lasted over Six years........ and counting!

-Scott Parry