The Show Me Mountain!

Finally got out this week and made my way to the top of a 14er I hadn't done before:  Missouri Mountain, 14,067 feet.  Number 36 for me.  I started my climb with my dog at the trailhead (9600 feet) at 6:40 a.m. on Monday the 3rd of August.  We climbed steady to the upper basin and to the far south end of it walking in the shadow of Mount Belford.  We made it to 12,600 feet in about 2 hours which was making very good time.  (1500 ft./hour)  I think I made the mistake however of not eating much up until that point, and I ended up paying for it later.  It was a struggle to connect to the summit ridge at about 13,500 ft.  By the time I got there I was feeling a touch of altitude sickness.  It was a long walk across the ridge to the summit and my dog had to navigate a couple of pretty steep places, but we made it on top at about 10:40 a.m.  I didn't stay on the top very long though cause clouds were gathering pretty quick.  We walked steadily down getting to the bottom with my family waiting for us at about 1:30.  Dog and I were quite beat and it left me wondering how many more of these crazy mountain climbs I have in me.