Isolation peak.

Yesterday I got up early and drove up to the wild basin rmnp trail head. My goal was to climb my first 13er, Isolation peak, which is 13118 feet in elevation. Since I was planning on the hike taking me 12 or more hours, I knew I would have to get started early, so I wouldn't be coming down in darkness. I did take my headlamp along just in case though.
I got to the trail head and set out at 747 am. I had reached Bluebird lake which I hiked to last week in 2 hrs 45 min. The trail up isn't too bad. The hardest part comes once you reach the turn off for Ouzel lake. Lots of steep trail from that point out, and it feels like you have done the two or some miles at least twice when you arrive at the lake.
There was a brisk wind coming off the lake, so I walked around till I found a little bit of a sheltered spot so I could pump some water. I recently bought a water filter pump so I can refill from any source. It has come in handy since I like to drink a lot while I am exercising and I won't get giardia or something else.
Refilled, I set out for Lark pond. This is one of the feeders of Bluebird lake. This is where the hiking can get more difficult, as you are now above 11000 feet and there is no maintained trail. Supposedly there is a route marked by cairns, but I have yet to find it, though I do see the cairns sporadically.
I reached Lark pond and took a turn to the north, to climb up into the saddle between Isolation and Mahana peaks to Isolation lake. This lake is at just under 12000 feet in elevation, and was already showing some ice on it's surface. I was a bit confused by the conflicting descriptions/topo map in the guide book I had, so I ended up going directly at the 1100 foot pile of talus in front of me to get to the top. It was loose and a little sketchy in places, and I was on all fours for most of the climb up just to make sure I had a solid grip on something with a foot or hand. However, it was not technical climbing.
Here is where I could really start to feel the altitude. I had to take short but pretty frequent rests and a few longer ones here and there. But I finally got to the top after about an hour! Though when heading up it is hard to tell exactly where you are aiming for and I had to traverse the ridge a bit as I ended up maybe a quarter mile north of the peak.
I got to the top and what a view. Isolation peak lies right on the continential divide. All water that falls or originates to the east eventually ends up in the atlantic ocean, and all water on the west ends in the pacific. There are great views of Longs peak, mt Meeker, mt Alice, mt Copeland, Ouzel peak and more. Literally mountains all around you, and in any direction you can see no signs of civilization whatsoever.
Ironically I was able to get three bars on my phone and talked briefly to my sister and katie to let them both know I was doing ok. I hung out at the top for a little, ate some food, and drank some water, then started back down. This time I just went directly down the talus in front of me to Isolation lake. I decided that it couldn't be any harder than the way I came up and it was more direct. It took me about an hour of butt dragging and crab walking to get back down. I stopped and pumped water at Isolation lake. That cold alpine water sure tastes good.
I was able to get back to Bluebird lake in a reasonable amount of time, and heading downhill definitely feels better than going up at that altitude. No heavy breathing or anything. But again it does take some time to climb down over (loose at times) talus.
When I was just a bit past Bluebird lake, I was able to start smelling the smoke from the forest fire. I guess the wind patterns were blowing it north and west to fill up the whole valley I was in. I could not see the bottom. The whole way down the smoke was constant.
I ran out of water shortly before Ouzel falls, and stopped there to fill up one last time. It is funny that taking the trail down it feels like you are going forever before you finally reach the trail head again. But I did eventually, getting back to the car around 630 pm, making my 17ish mile, 5000ish foot gain hike about 10 hours and 45 minutes long. Not too bad.
I saw three people the whole day. Talk about isolation.