For my second trip up Elbert, I decided to bring two New Yorkers (my old hiking buddy Tom, and my friend Matt, who had climbed about 3 mountains prior to this) up the South Ridge of Elbert. Started out rough, because I was up all night with what seemed like food poisoning, but still managed to struggle up to South Elbert, at which point I was fairly sure I couldn't go any further. The look in Tom's eyes at the prospect of backing down propelled me to continue on, and we made it to the state high point about an hour later. On the way back down, I hit the two 13ers nearby just because I have no intention of returning here anytime soon. Though this certainly wasn't the most difficult hike I've done, it was definitely the poorest physical condition per challenge ratio I've experienced since I started hiking. As long as you return to the mountains, you continue to gain insight on your character.
Cheers.