Mount Lady Washington - Summit

I met up with Cindy McCloskey and Amanda Cooper on May 26th to re-attempt an ascent of Mt. Lady Washington (MLW).  We got an alpine start and made good time to tree line.  As we approached Granite Pass, we caught up with my mother, who decided to camp out in Goblin's Forest during the night so that she could get a head start up the trail (due to her slower pace).  At Granite Pass, Cindy and Amanda decided to turn around, so my mother and I switchbacked up to the start of the ridge leading to the summit of MLW.  I made an ascending traverse just west of the ridge, which helped me avoid several steep false summits.  I gained the summit fairly quickly, and took in one of the best views in all of Colorado...the Diamond of Longs Peak, the immense northern face of Mt. Meeker, and Chasm Lake, which was located a 1000 or so feet immediately below.  It took an hour for my mother to catch up and summit, but she kept at it, despite her hatred for bolder hopping...I was very proud of her.  After numerous photos were taken, I started back down the ridge.  Halfway down the ridge, I turned east and descended the steep face of MLW.  I already knew what I was in for, loose rock on a steep slope, and occasional shin to knee deep snow fields.  After battling through the descent, I reached the main trail, and hiked back to the parking lot in 3 hours.