Knowing When to Bail on Your Summit Attempt

Sometimes you can't make it to the top. Here's how to make that call, and have that talk with the rest of your climbing group:

During a recent summit attempt of Mt. Elbert, I felt confident, ready to power through the hike and reach the top in good time. I wound up feeling weary, struggling, and was eventually forced to turn back for the first time. Here’s what I learned from the experience:

La Plata Peak, as seen from Elbert’s shoulder

I’d been expecting a false summit, but not …