W0C/PR-018
Square Top Mountain
4196 m / 13794 ft
July 18, 2014
by KX0R
Square Top Mountain is a high, alpine SOTA peak accessible from Guanella Pass. A marked trail leads part way to the top, and the rest of the route is up across the easy tundra. It’s about 3.4 miles each way, and the ascent is about 2300 vertical feet. The huge summit is often pleasant in summer, with fine views all around.
Sqaure Top Trail – from Trailhead
To get to the high trailhead, Drive west of Denver on I-70. Exit at Georgetown and follow the signs through town to Guanella Pass. Drive up the steep paved road all the way to the Pass at 11,600 feet. Get there early, as the area is extremely popular on weekends, and parking can be a problem. The trailhead for Square Top is on the west side of the Pass, at the far end of the parking lot. This popular trail is not shown on Google maps. Follow the path for about two miles across the high tundra, and approach the first Square Top Lake at about 12,000 feet.
Lower Square Top Lake at 12,000 Feet
Do not go all the way to the Lake – unless you wish to take a side trip – instead, cross the small creek below the Lake, follow the main trail southwest, and ascend the top of a low ridge. A sign marks the choice between continuing down to South Park Trail 600 or up to Square Top Mountain. Leave the trail and head up the ridge toward the mountain.
Square Top Route Sign Pointing to Summit
The route is not marked the rest of the way. Stay left of the obvious cliffs on the east side of the ridge. Follow the ridge-top and climb to the summit.
Square Top Route to Summit
The peak is half a mile long and broad near the top. The actual summit is near the west end, with a large activation zone. The top is rocky with many flat spots. It is possible to get out of the wind in the lee of the peak. The day I was there it was cold and windy, in the low 40’s, despite the mid-summer date. Even though there are people coming and going, you can escape them by dropping down from the top.
Square Top Summit Area
Square Top Summit
Square Top is an excellent radio site. It offers nice views combined with plenty of altitude. Be sure to bring a pole for an HF antenna!
Sqaure Top Activation Antenna
Square Top Radio Gear
The hike is relatively easy, except for the thin air. This peak can be combined with other summits close by, such as Mount Bierstadt or Argentine Peak, for a challenging dual activation, weather and fitness permitting.
Squaretop Summit to Argentine – Grays and Torreys Behind
If you like high peaks, Square Top should be on your list!
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Penstemons along Square Top Route
Square Top Lakes from Hiking Route
View along Argentine South Ridge to Grays and Torreys Peaks
Alpine Flowers on the Summit of Square Top
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/SR-024
Wilcox Mount
4079 m / 13408 ft
July 19, 2014
First Activation
By KX0R
Wilcox Mount, or Mount Wilcox (click this link!) on our maps, is Argentine Peak’s little sister. Wilcox is a summit about 1.2 miles east of the summit of Argentine, on a beautiful high ridge that extends for miles.
Argentine Peak and Mount Wilcox from Silver Dollar Lake Trail
Argentine Peak and East Ridge out to Mount WIlcox
View West from Mount Wilcox to Argentine Peak
Both mountains are high alpine SOTA peaks near Guanella Pass Pass. Most SOTA activators will probably climb Argentine Peak first, and then perhaps climb Wilcox for a dual activation, if conditions are favorable.
Please read the trip report on Argentine Peak for trailhead directions and how to climb Argentine. From Argentine it’s simple to drop down the moderate East Ridge, walk across the easy saddle, and then ascend about 500 vertical feet on the West Ridge to the summit of Wilcox.
To climb Wilcox by itself, or before climbing Argentine, hike to Murray Reservoir, climb up the tundra slopes to the Argentine-Wilcox saddle, and then climb the West Ridge of Wilcox. After Murray Reservoir, there is no real trail, and you must navigate and choose a good route.
Wilcox has a broad alpine summit, and in good weather, it’s easy to activate on HF with a pole. At only 100 meters below Argentine, it’s also a high peak. The north, east and south slopes of Wilcox are huge meadows. These meadows extend down over 2000 vertical feet to Naylor Lake.
First Activation of Mount Wilcox
To descend Wilcox, choose between:
1) The West Ridge Route, then down the slopes to Murray Reservoir, and then up a short distance to the Silver Dollar Lake Trail
2) Descend the easy meadows from the summit, first east, and then south, to minimize the grade and to avoid steep slopes directly south of the peak. Do not descend to the private property around Naylor Lake! Between 12,400 and 12,200 feet curve west, and then cross the large creek in the valley, just below 12,000 feet. This was not a problem when I was there in mid-July, but it might be a serious hazard early in the summer! Head to Murray Reservoir or up the easy ridge just east of Murray, and join the Silver Dollar Trail on the ridge-top.
Stay away from Naylor Lake – it is private and uninvited hikers are not welcome! (That’s what I read on the Internet…)
The alpine wilderness basin between Wilcox, Argentine, and Square Top is a beautiful place, with lakes, streams, and flowers. There are far fewer hikers than on Bierstadt and Square Top nearby. This is a special place to visit.
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Indian Paintbrush on Mount Wilcox
Argentine Peak from Wilcox
Route of Argentine Peak Hike from Wilcox
Columbine on Mount Wilcox
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/SR-019
Argentine Peak
4179 m / 13738 ft
July 19, 2014
By KX0R
Argentine Peak is a high alpine SOTA peak on the Continental Divide northwest of Guanella Pass. The Peak is close to the Denver area, but a significant hike is required to reach the top. The air is thin, and there is no marked trail part of the way. Awesome views and a fine experience are yours if you activate Argentine on a nice day!
Argentine Peak from Wilcox
Drive up I-70 and exit at Georgetown. Drive through town and follow the signs to Guanella Pass. Drive up the steep, scenic paved highway to Guanella Pass campground at 10,800 feet. Look for a dirt road heading west – Naylor Lake Road. You may be able to drive up this rough 2WD road, depending on your vehicle. Drive or hike up the road about 0.7 miles to the Silver Dollar Lake trailhead at 11,200 feet altitude – there is limited parking. The remainder of the road to Naylor Lake is private.
The path continues up about ½ mile to Murray Reservoir at 12,150 feet. Before descending to Murray Reservoir, leave the trail at the ridge-top, and head WSW across the tundra. Climb to the 13,000-foot saddle between Square Top Mountain and Argentine Peak.
Silver Dollar Lake, Murray Reservoir, and Saddle from Wilcox
Continue climbing NNW along the moderate ridge; some power lines cross the route partway up. The hike is gentle and pleasant close to the top of Argentine.
Argentine Peak from South Saddle
There is a post marking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) near the summit. The dramatic view of twin 14-ers Grays and Torreys Peaks a few miles to the NW is stunning. 14-ers Mount Evans and Bierstadt stand high to the east. As long as there are no thunderstorms or strong winds, this is spectacular place to set up a pole and activate!
Summit of Argentine Peak with Grays and Torreys Peaks
Square Top Mountain from Mount Wilcox
Grays and Torreys 14-ers from Argentine Peak
Mount Evans, Bierstadt, Guanella Pass from Argentine Peak
Argentine Peak View West
The site is ideal for HF, and it looks OK for VHF/UHF also. I heard no noise from the power lines down the ridge. It was nice to have such a large area of alpine paradise all to myself for so many hours. Argentine Peak is also accessible from Argentine Pass to the north, so you may see people up there.
Argentine Activation 1
Argentine Peak Activation Rig
Argentine Activation 2
It is possible to activate other summits along with Argentine. The day I was there I had good weather, so I went down the east ridge of Argentine to the saddle and then climbed and activated Mount Wilcox – please see the report on W0C/PR-024.
Argentine Peak and East Ridge out to Mount WIlcox
Another alternative is to climb the NW ridge of Square Top W0C/PR-018 from the saddle – there is a path up through the rocks on the ridge – that route is easier than it looks from below.
Square Top and Saddle from Wilcox
Please be careful with respect to the weather up there. Lightning is an obvious danger, but cold, windy, and wet weather are serious hazards as well.
I’ll still remember Argentine as paradise…
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/PR-036
Kelso Mountain
4004 m / 13164 ft
July 13, 2014
First Activation
By KX0R
Kelso Mountain is a minor summit adjacent to the mighty twin 14-ers Grays and Torreys Peaks. I was surprised how much fun it was to activate Kelso!
Grays and Torreys from Kelso
To reach the trailhead, drive west of Denver on I-70, and exit at mile 221. Drive south and start up the rough Stevens Gulch Road 321. The condition of this road has deteriorated in recent years, and it may not be passable in cars. When I drove my old VW bug up in July 2014, the road was badly in need of repair at about 10,400 feet – I barely made it through a large hole in a steep eroded section. Inquire before going too far. This is a good place to avoid on a busy weekend. If you can get to the trailhead one way or another, a wonderful hike is possible.
Leave the Stevens Gulch Trailhead at 11,300 feet, cross the creek on a bridge and head up the trail to the southwest. After less than 2 miles, the trail approaches the saddle between Kelso and Torreys, to the north. About ¼ mile before the saddle, at a creek-crossing at 12,200 feet, leave the trail and hike north up the south ridge of Kelso. This is a beautiful alpine meadow filled with flowers – step carefully.
Alpine Sunflowers on Kelso Mountain
The remaining hike up to Kelso is about a mile and almost 1000 vertical feet. It starts steep and then gets easy toward the top of the ridge.
Kelso South Ridge
Kelso Summit
Kelso Summit Cairn
Torreys Peak from Kelso
The summit has a large activation zone with plenty of room to set up and activate. It is ideal for HF, but take a pole.
First Activation of Kelso
Kelso Activation Gear
This may not be a good VHF/UHF summit – other mountains partially block the path to the east. This area seems to breed storms, so get up there early, and don’t take a chance with dark clouds.
While it is possible to descend Kelso via a different route than the south ridge used for the ascent, those other routes are really steep.
With the many flowers and spectacular views of Grays and Torreys Peaks, on a nice summer day, Kelso Mountain is a SOTA Classic!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Flowers on South Ridge of Kelso
Columbines along the Trail below Kelso
Penstemons along the Trail near Kelso
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/PR-095
10854
3302 m / 10854 ft
Sep 1, 2014
First Activation
by KX0R
Summits 10854 and nearby 10626 can be combined for an easy 12-point day. The SOTA and Google maps are OK for these two peaks.
To access these summits, drive to Tabernash south of Winter Park via US Highway 40. Just south of Tabernash, turn right, north, and follow marked route 84 (USFS 129) up a canyon several miles to Meadow Creek Reservoir. This area is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area, and a fee may be required for entry and parking. There is a convenient kiosk before the dirt road climbs all the way to the reservoir.
Meadow Creek Reservoir offers fishing, dispersed camping, and access to the west side of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s a nice place.
10626 Meadow Creek Lake
To reach the trailhead for 10854, drive around Meadow Creek Reservoir, head south around the east side, and continue to the southwest on winding FR 129. This road is bumpy, but not steep, and it’s passable in most cars.
10854 Forest Road and Mount Neva
Roughly 2-1/2 miles from the Reservoir, the road reaches 10,500 feet on the east side of the summit ridge of 10854. The mountain has a long north-south ridge, and there are several ways up. FS-129 does not go up across the ridge, but it winds around the north side of the mountain. Park at an un-signed gated jeep road on the east side of the mountain, on the west side of the road; this road leads directly up to the ridge. If you continue on FS 129, you will end up farther from the summit, so park at the gate and consider that the trailhead.
10854 Trailhead
Hike up the closed road to the ridge and head south on a path through open forest and meadows. You can continue on the jeep road if you wish, but leave the jeep road and hike along the ridge-top when the road veers slightly down and right. It’s about half a mile south along the ridge to the actual peak – a good game trail is available. Pass a couple of false summits before the real peak, which is a distinctive rocky knob in the woods.
10854 Summit Rock
The summit has a pile of rocks with a jar and paper for signatures. The total hike is about a mile, with about 350 feet of vertical gain.
10854 Signs of Elk
10854 First Activation near Summit
10854 Inverted-L Antenna
10854 Activation Gear
The heavily-forested activation zone is large, so it’s not necessary to operate near the summit. There are many trees, so a pole is not required, if you can erect an antenna in a tree. There are campsites on the ridge, although it looks like a dangerous site if lightning threatens. This peak is one of the easiest 6-point summits in Colorado, and it’s a pleasant place to activate on a good day!
A camping/fishing trip at Meadow Creek Lake could be combined with the dual activation of 10626 and 10854 for a nice 2-day outing. Other SOTA peaks are located within easy driving range.
See W0C/PR-104 (10626) for the other half of this dual activation.
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/PR-104
10626
3232 m / 10626 ft
Sep 1, 2014
First Activation
by KX0R
Summits 10626 and nearby 10854 can be combined for an easy 12-point day. 10626 is a little more work, but not bad – old forest trails and game trails go up about 600 vertical feet to a pleasant forested summit covered with kinnikinnick plants with edible berries! The SOTA-Google maps are OK for these two peaks.
10626 Summit
To access these summits, drive to Tabernash south of Winter Park via US Highway 40. Just south of Tabernash, turn right, north, and follow marked route 84 (USFS 129) up a canyon several miles to Meadow Creek Reservoir. This area is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area, and a fee may be required for entry and parking. There is a convenient kiosk before the dirt road climbs all the way to the reservoir.
Meadow Creek Reservoir offers fishing, dispersed camping, and access to the west side of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s a nice place.
10626 Meadow Creek Lake
To climb 10626, park off the road just north of the lake outlet area . There is no marked trail up 10626, but you can see the broad, simple mountain. Head west to the hill and go up the southeast side. The route is a bit steep at first, but it gets easier as you gain altitude – there are useful game trails. Avoid the steep south, east, and northeast sides. There is a nice viewpoint up high near the east side, above some rocks and cliffs.
10626 View to the Northeast
Continue on up to the broad summit, and set up in the large, flat, forested activation zone.
10626 First Activation
There is a pile of rocks with a jar for signatures at the summit. There are nice trees for antennas – no antenna pole is needed – bring a tool to get a line up high. You will feel like you’re deep in the wilderness on this pleasant summit. It’s probably not a good VHF/UHF site because it’s west of the Divide, but signals surely will reach the towns to the west. On HF it’s as good as most any summit, and the noise level is low; the horizon is not blocked much in most directions.
10626 Activation Gear
I think you’ll find this a pleasant activation if you’re there on a good day!
See W0C/PR-095 (10854) for the report on other half of this dual activation.
73,
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/SR-040
Vasquez Peak
3938 m / 12947 ft
First Activation Aug 9, 2014
By KX0R
My first activation of Vasquez Peak was a high country adventure. The surrounding Vasquez Peak Wilderness is named for this high, prominent summit. While there is no marked trail to the mountain, the climb is not difficult.
Start by driving up I-70 west of Denver. Take the exit toward Berthoud Pass, and follow Route 40 about 6-1/2 miles up past Empire. Right before the big switchback curve below the Pass, there is a sign for the Henderson Mine – turn left on Road 202, which heads up toward Jones Pass. Drive about 1.7 miles west on 202, pass the huge Henderson Mine facility on your left, and take the right fork where the road splits off towards Jones Pass. After about half a mile, look for a trail sign marking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) access on the right of the dirt road. Park nearby and head up the trail.
This well-built trail starts at about 10,400 feet elevation and climbs up the forested slope with several switchbacks. At about 11,300 feet the trail comes to a junction with the CDT, near where a creek comes down. Head east (right) on the CDT, cross the creek, and continue east about 500 feet or more. Head north up the obvious ridge that rises northeast of the creek. There are hints of a trail up this ridge. At about 12,000 feet, head off the ridge and traverse northwest up grassy tundra toward the 12,440 foot saddle between points near 12,880 and 12,680 feet.
Route up to Saddle East of 12880
Meadows Leading up to Saddle East of 12880
This is a beautiful alpine meadow high in the Wilderness. Hike up to the saddle, and you’re on the Continental Divide.
Vasquez and Ridge from Point 12880
Quartz Cairn on Divide near Vasquez
Climb up the moderate ridge west of the saddle, traverse north around point 12,880, and follow the easy Divide ridge from point 12,880 north about 3000 feet and up to Vasquez Peak. This is a classic alpine hike with stunning views of the Wilderness. This route was easy in August, but earlier in the summer, there might be steep snowfields – point 12,880 might be a problem.
Vasquez Peak’s summit is rocky, but it’s easy to climb.
Vasquez View South to 12880
Vasquez Summit
There is limited shelter from wind among the rocks within the activation zone. Be sure to bring a pole in order to erect a wire HF antenna. It’s a perfect HF location, but it has limited VHF/UHF coverage to the east.
Vasquez First Activation Just East of Summit
Vasquez Activation Antenna
Needless to say, this is a place to avoid in bad weather – it’s the highest summit for miles in every direction! Start early and don’t mess with Vasquez unless the weather forecast is OK.
The day I went up there, I saw no one else near the summit or on the high ridges. I did meet people on the CDT, and while I was on the air, I saw more than 50 elk in a secluded valley northeast of the summit.
It looks like Vasquez also can be climbed by following the west fork of the CDT all the way around the west side of 12,880, and then climbing about 800 vertical feet directly up to the ridge between 12,880 and Vasquez. I have not tried this route, but it might be a convenient descent route if weather threatens on the high Divide.
Vasquez is a SOTA Classic!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Vasquez View West to Jones Pass
Jones Pass 4WD Road from Vasquez Peak
Stanley Mountain Southwest Side
Henderson Mine Glory Hole
Larkspur Flowers along CDT
Hummingbird Moth and Larkspur near CDT
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/FR-195
Raleigh Peak
2489 m 8183 ft
First Activation
August 23, 2014
By KX0R
Raleigh Peak is a distinctive, prominent summit located among many granite formations in the South Platte Canyon area near the town of Buffalo Creek. I first saw Raleigh from Devil’s Head, and it looked mystical and strange, sitting behind Long Scraggy Peak. I had a better look from Little Scraggy Peak – I knew I had to climb it. Activating this craggy outcrop was a challenging mini-adventure. It’s close and convenient to the Denver area!
Raleigh (Front), Cathedral Spires, and Black Mountain (Rear)
The Colorado Trail provides access to the north side of the Peak. To reach the trailhead I used, start by driving up Highway 285 west of Denver to Conifer. On the south side of Conifer, look for road 97, South Foxton Road – exit right and go under Highway 285 and then southeast. Drive down 97 perhaps 7 or 8 miles to a junction with road 96 in the Canyon. Follow 96 southeast to the confluence of the North Fork and the main fork of the South Platte River. Follow the road, now 97, for about a half mile south of the bridge at the confluence; look for a large parking lot on the west side of the road. This is where the Colorado Trail descends the mountain to the east, crosses the road and the South Platte on a nice bridge, and ascends back up toward Raleigh Peak to the west. Park at the trailhead, pack plenty of water, cross the bridge over the River, hike a short distance south along the trail by the river, and then begin the steep climb up the switchbacks.
The trailhead at the River is at about 6100 feet. The climb to the Raleigh summit is over 2000 vertical feet. After the first half-mile, at an old quartz mine near 6700 feet, the trail becomes less steep, and the hike is moderate for a long way after that.
Quartz Mine along the Colorado Trail
Much of the region was burned up in the Buffalo Creek Fire. There are few live trees until you get close to the Peak, so there is little shade along the trail. This hike is best done on a cool day; you should probably go somewhere else during mid-summer. The burned landscape offers good visibility, route-finding is easy, and the views are impressive. The land is beginning to recover, and there are wildflowers among the charred logs.
East Side of Raleigh Peak
Trumpet Vine along the Trail
Long Scraggy Peak North Ridge
Follow the Colorado Trail up for about 2 miles along the north side of the ridge to about 7200 feet. There is an abandoned dirt road near the ridge-top that parallels the Colorado Trail, and this road leads to the gentle forested ridge north of Raleigh. At any convenient point, leave the Colorado Trail and follow the road up the ridge past a small quartz mine, and continue up toward the summit. The road fades away as the slope increases, but a path continues on up the north side of the Peak. If you miss this path, just head for the saddle between the Raleigh summit and the smaller peak to the east.
Old Road Leading to Raleigh Peak
North Side of Raleigh Peak
Raleigh Peak is very steep on the east, south, and west sides. The least steep approach that I found is from a point northwest of the saddle and northeast of the Peak. This approach is a steep climb up a little gully that leads up to some rocks and ledges just below the summit.
Route to the Summit
Note that the saddle between Raleigh and its sister is below 8000 feet, and the Peak is at 8183 feet. About 100 feet of the climb is a steep slope, followed by an easier route over some rounded rocks and ledges with little exposure. It is not necessary to do anything worse than class 2 and 3 scrambling to get to the Activation Zone near the peak, and exposure is minimal – unless you try some other route. The actual summit is a large boulder, at least 15 feet high, and I did not attempt to climb it.
The route that I used for the last part of the climb showed little wear from other climbers. It is possible that there are other ways up there that I did not find. With clouds gathering, I was in some hurry to activate the mountain, so I didn’t explore the top or around the sides for other routes.
There is plenty of room among the large summit outcrops to set up a comfortable activation. I set up just east of the summit, with my pole tied to a convenient tree, and I just ran my wire to another tree. The peak is so prominent that there is no point in worrying much about where to put the pole or the wire. There are many bushes and other plants, and thousands of harmless little flying insects as well. This is a weird summit for sure! It is much better for HF than for VHF/UHF, as it doesn’t have a clear view of much of the eastern Plains.
Raleigh First Activation
Raleigh Sub-Peak to the East
View East from Raleigh
Even though the summit is a relatively low SOTA peak, and the trail would be fun on a good winter day, the shadowy north side of Raleigh is probably snowy and icy in cold weather. I suspect that there are lots of ticks in the bushes in April and May. All things considered, it’s a good summit for a fall activation!
It looks like there is a western approach to Raleigh via the Colorado Trail from Deckers Road 126. This requires much less vertical ascent than the eastern route up from the River; the horizontal distance is also less. Some online accounts mention that there is private land on the east side, but it should be possible to hike on the Colorado Trail and then climb up from the north side as I did.
No matter how you do it, Raleigh Peak provides an interesting 2-point activation. It’s a great place to view the South Platte Canyon country with its numerous granite outcrops and other weird rock formations.
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
View West from Raleigh
South Platte Hotel at Confluence
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/FR-044
Green Mountain 3170 m / 10421 ft
First Activation
Sep 20, 2014
by KX0R
There are many Green Mountains in Colorado, but W0C/FR-044 is one of the best for SOTA. What it lacks in points, it makes up for in prominence and satisfaction for the successful activator. Best of all, it has reasonable access from the Denver Metro area, and it makes a nice day trip. This is a true SOTA “Classic”!
Green Mountain West Side
Start by driving up Highway 285 to Bailey, and at the bottom of Crow Hill, turn left where the road curves to the right as it enters the town. Pass the Liquor, Tobacco, and Firearms store and take Road 68 southeast. This road is paved a short distance, but after it enters the Pike National Forest, it becomes dirt. Follow 68 for several miles, up and over some large, steep hills, and through the scenic forest. Follow the signs to Wellington Lake. Road 68 forks into Road 105, which leads through some ranches to the Lake. Wellington Lake is a private resort, but it’s OK to drive past the lake on the bumpy road, in order to reach the Stoney Pass Road at the SE corner of the Lake. If you pay a fee you can camp or fish at the Lake – it is spectacular. Huge rock formations called The Castle tower above the Lake. The Castle is W0C/FR-161, and it has not been activated at this writing.
Wellington Lake and The Castle
Follow Road 105 along the shore to the T-intersection with Forest Road 543. Go straight on Forest Road 560, and continue to the far SE corner of the Lake. First ford a small creek – this pool is several inches deep, and OK to cross in a car in summer or fall, but it might be more serious during the spring runoff- or after a heavy rain. After the ford, Road 560 passes through posted private land for a short distance, and then it enters the Pike National Forest again. The road climbs steeply up to Stoney Pass, which is not as bad as it sounds. In cold weather, this north-side road may be gated or impassable due to snow and ice. Access might or might not be available from the south side of the Pass. At Stoney Pass there is parking and dispersed camping in the aspen trees. This area was minimally burned in the recent fires, so it is special – the huge burn area begins a couple of miles south of Stoney Pass.
From the pass, hike along a closed forest road that leads roughly east up to a plateau area with open pine woods. Follow the main fork of the road until it begins to descend SE, down toward a meadow area in a valley. From the apparent high point of the road, head slightly left, and follow an easy game trail east along the obvious gentle ridge, keeping Green Mountain in mind and in view, and gradually climb up a draw northeast, through open aspen forests toward the distinct south ridge of Green Mountain.
Green Mountain Hike through Aspens
I headed up the draw southwest of Green Mountain’s South Ridge, and then I went up steep slopes to the craggy ridge. Pick your way up the South Ridge through prickly bushes and over rocks and fallen trees, following game trails, and go either left or right of any problematic cliffs or large blocks – there are several.
Green Mountain Ridge Route – Typical
There is no serious climbing required, just use good judgment and look for alternatives; go back down a little, and try another route if you come up against anything worse than a bit of Class 3. The part from 10000 to 10,200 feet is the crux. Much of this route is fun, and it leads very efficiently up to the summit. It all gets better near the top. It’s all south-facing, so it looks like it would be hot in summer – be sure to carry enough water. It’s about 2000 vertical feet and about 3 miles from Stoney Pass to the top of Green Mountain.
Green Mountain and Buffalo Peak
After a small sub-peak you come to the summit. This area is forested and has limited views – but after the wide-open South Ridge, you may be happy to trade for the security and peace that exists up there. Few people climb this mountain, despite the fact that it dominates the landscape and looks really high from below.
Green Mountain Activation with Antenna in Tree
Green Mountain Activation Gear
The activation zone is large and convenient, with plenty of trees and rocks, and some shelter from wind. It looks like this summit would work for UHF/VHF as well as HF skip, since the view includes most of the South Platte Drainage, as well as the eastern Plains and some of the South Denver area. Green Mountain looks dangerous if lightning is a possibility – especially the South Ridge! Plan your trip for a good weather day to make sure that you make the best of this wonderful summit.
Green Mountain Summit
Green Mountain USGS Benchmark
When descending, try not to be too creative – there surely are many other workable routes than the South Ridge, but it would be easy to get off course in bad weather or after sunset. GPS is very useful for accurate backtracking.
Beware of hunters in the fall – there are deer and elk up here. I met some courteous bow hunters the day I climbed on September 20.
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Green Mountain View NorthwestGreen Mountain Aspens
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
Buffalo Peak (Freeman Peak)
W0C/FR-032
3525 m / 11589 ft
First Activation
Oct 5, 2014
by KX0R
Buffalo Peak, also called Freeman Peak, is a broad, prominent summit in the Pike National Forest, a couple of miles south of Wellington Lake. It’s about three miles inside the Lost Peak Wilderness, and at 11,589 feet, it’s the highest point in Jefferson County. Some time ago I found that it had not yet been “activated” in the SOTA (Summits on the Air) program. Since I started climbing and activating SOTA peaks in 2013, I’ve particularly enjoyed doing “first activations” of local summits. Since the SOTA program has been going for several years, most of the easy, accessible summits have been activated many times, but there are still many peaks in our state that have never been put on the air within the SOTA program.
Buffalo Peak from Green Mountain
I decided it was time to get up there before the route was buried under snow for the winter. I had seen Buffalo first-hand when I first-activated nearby 10,421’ Green Mountain W0C/FR-044. I studied the topo map, which shows no trail up Buffalo; but a reasonable-looking ridge runs 3000 vertical feet in 3 miles up to the summit from Stoney Pass at about 8,500 feet. I knew my VW bug could do the road, although it is a “first gear grade” part of the way. Sometimes climbing a high forested ridge is not too bad – there are game trails, and the slopes are reasonable to climb in good weather. Right before I went down there, I read an online trip report by two tough young ladies who climbed Buffalo in the snow in late October 2013. They pulled it off with no map or GPS – why? – but they posted wonderful photos and clearly “aced it” – I decided to do it. The ladies warned that it was a steep “bushwhack” route most of the way. I posted my “Alert” on the SOTA page, set the alarm for early, got my stuff ready, slept, and drove to Stoney Pass.
Even though it was a perfect Indian Summer day, there was no one at the pass. I locked my GPS on, headed west, up through the easy woods, and glanced at my map as I started up the huge, steep ridge. Gradually the grade increased, and I tried to stay on the faint game trails, dodging numerous downed trees. In less than an hour my GPS said I’d gained 1000 feet.
Buffalo Peak East Slopes Route
I noticed than there were more and more aspen trees, and fewer lodgepole pines…for the next mile I climbed through endless thickets of dead and live aspens, often with so many fallen trees and dead standing trees that passage was possible only in zig-zag fashion.
Buffalo Aspen Hell
Typical Buffalo Forest Route
More Aspen Hell on Buffalo Route
I was glad that I’d left my 4-foot Black Widow fishing pole at home – I needed both hands to deal with the rocky 3-dimensional thickets I had to traverse. At about 10,200 feet the aspens were no longer a problem, and the deep forest became more open and easier to climb through; but the grade was unrelenting.
Buffalo Easy Sub-Alpine Route
At 11,000 feet everything opened up, the grade decreased, and I was cruising toward the summit. I had to bypass the south summit and then find and climb the north summit; that turned out to be easy class 3 – the route requires a scramble up about 30 feet.
Buffalo Easy Fun Summit Pitch
Then I was on top of a huge elongated orange granite ridge, and the summit rock was right there! The 360-degree view was so incredible I didn’t want to look at first! There was a notebook in a water bottle under some rocks – I opened it – the first signature was Jennifer Roach, guidebook author and wife of climber-author Gerry Roach. Only a few people had signed in 2014 – and 2013, etc. The brass USCGS primary triangulation station bench marker said “FREEMAN”, 1953. This was it! I started getting ready to “activate” SOTA W0C/FR-032.
Buffalo South Ridge and Pikes Peak
Buffalo Peak Summit – Lost Creek Wilderness
USCGS Geodetic Survey marker Freeman
Windy Peak West of Buffalo
I figured I wouldn’t need a tall pole for my antenna, because the summit is forested…but the trees on top of the exposed granite ridge-top are all small, and the good trees are over 30 feet down below. I wanted to operate from the top, because the weather was perfect. Then the answer gradually came to me in the thin air. I took my 6-foot telescoping fishing pole out of the pack – I usually bring it to throw a weight over a tree to pull up the wire – but this time I tied my antenna wire to the top of the little pole. Then I stood on a big rock, reached up as far as I could, and tied the pole into the top of the only significant dead tree near the top. I took the wire spool and moved carefully down the spectacular exposed ridge stringing out 67 feet of #24 teflon and another 20 feet of Dacron.
Buffalo Improvised Activation on Summit
Buffalo Antenna Far End
Detail of Fishing Pole DX Antenna
I found a dead tree trunk and used that for the end support. I tightened it up – it held – and then I climbed back across the rocky ridge and adjusted the feed end so I could connect the tuner. I got out my gear, connected up, got slightly comfortable, pulled out the clipboard with the log, put on the phones, plugged in the Palm Paddles, set up the ATS-3B for 15M, plugged in the battery, and immediately head loud CW signals on 21.060. I adjusted the tuner for peak noise, finished the match with the LED bridge, and got on 21.063 with 5W. I called CQ and in about a minute there was a pile! The lash-up antenna worked just fine! QSO #10 was DJ5AV Michael – 579 him, 539 me – just fine. 20M was even better than 15; after that I opened the link in the antenna, tuned up on 17M, and got a few more. At the end DJ5AV got me again on 18.093 – 569, 539. There were 32 contacts.
When I climbed down off the rocks, I found the site-built tripod that the USCGS surveyors built for their instruments back in 1953 – it was propped against the rocks, over 60 years later.
USCGS Triangulation Platform from 1953
On the way down the steep ridge, I used my GPS to backtrack, since it’s easy to get off-course going down in the thick forest, where you can’t always tell where you’re going. In a couple of hours I was back at the car; I was home in time for dinner.
Buffalo Peak was another incredible SOTA Classic!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
KX0R with Improvised HF Antenna on Buffalo
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and
bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
