SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Author: kx0r

  • W0C/FR-122 (Skyscraper Peak) – 3774m / 12383 ft

    W0C/FR-122
    Skyscraper Peak
    3774 m / 12383 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 11, 2015

    By KX0R

    Skyscraper Peak is a rocky alpine SOTA peak on the Continental Divide near Winter Park.

    Key Points:

    • Indian Peaks Wilderness
    • Accessible summer and fall
    • Rough 2WD road to trailhead
    • High exposed summit
    • Relatively easy hike
    • All above timberline
    • 5.3 miles round-trip
    • ~ 700 vertical feet
    • SOTA Classic !

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west from Denver on I-70
    • Turn northwest on Highway 40
    • Cross Berthoud Pass
    • Continue north down Highway 40 to Winter Park
    • About 0.6 mile past the Winter Park Resort, turn right, north, on Corona Pass Road 80.
    • This road also is called the Moffat Road.
    • Follow this rough, unpaved, 2WD road about 15 miles to Rollins Pass
    • This is the trailhead.

    Rollins Pass – also called Corona Pass – is the primary access to Skyscraper Peak. The trailhead’s on the Continental Divide, southwest of the Peak. The Moffat Road requires more clearance than many cars have; this road follows the old Moffat Railroad Grade. Rollins Pass also is accessible by hiking or biking up from the east side. Skyscraper Peak is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness; there’s no access to vehicles north of Rollins Pass.

    The Hike:

    • Hike north along the Divide via the marked Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
    • The CDT climbs gently to about 12,100 feet – then it descends north
    • There’s no marked route to Skyscraper Peak
    • Use a topo map or GPS to navigate to the summit
    • About 1.7 miles north of Rollins Pass, head northeast from the CDT
    • A good place to leave the CDT is at 12,100 feet on the CDT
    • Contour northeast across the tundra at 12,100 feet for about 2/3 mile
    • Hike to the eastern edge of the Divide and enjoy the deep view down to Bob and Betty Lakes
    • Skyscraper Peak stands ahead – a bump on a long ridge leading to the northeast

    • Continue northeast onto the ridge and climb up to the summit

    There’s no marked trail from the CDT east to the summit. It took me almost 1-1/2 hours to reach the peak from Rollins Pass. The short final climb to the peak is not difficult. Stay to the south of any obstacles – there are hints of a path here and there. Nevertheless, this route is quite high and airy, and it’s not for the faint of heart!

    It might be practical to climb the east ridge of Skyscraper from Woodland Lake – or to ascend steeply up to the summit from Skyscraper Reservoir – but I have not tried either route.

    Skyscraper Peak is not an ideal SOTA peak for all activators. The air’s thin at 12,000 feet, the Divide’s often windy, and dangerous storms may occur. The summit is a rocky knob on a narrow, somewhat exposed ridge with very steep slopes on both sides – there’s almost no protection from wind and weather. The glacial cirques on both sides of the summit are more than 1100 feet down. Setting up an HF antenna requires good judgment and steady feet – there are a few loose rocks. It’s a bit like standing on a 1000-foot skyscraper, hence the name.

    The long, narrow activation zone has enough space to set up gear and an HF antenna; I found a good spot on the southeast side of the summit. I guyed my 20-foot pole to rocks – that was my best option. I ran the 52-foot wire northeast along the ridge – it was a good, secure arrangement for the antenna. There was enough wind that it was worth the trouble to get it right.

    Skyscraper Peak is a fine HF site. It’s many miles from development, and the RF noise level is very low. With no other peaks nearby, this site offers a low-angle view all around. It’s very much like a rock tower – in fact, because the ground falls away so steeply, it may have poorer ground reflection on HF than many less-prominent sites. It should be a fine VHF/UHF site – it has a partial view of the Denver metro area, as well as other population centers on the eastern plains. There’s some blockage from lower mountains east of the peak. Skyscraper also looks west toward Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, and beyond.

    I operated CW on 10, 14, and 18 MHz from Skyscraper. I made 20 contacts – OK, but not great. The was a geomagnetic storm in progress when I was out there, so maybe I did pretty well.

    The views are more than awesome; the experience of setting up and activating Skyscraper is intense! It’s worth the hike just to see the many glacial lakes in the area. Activators who are OK with some exposure and thin air will appreciate this exciting, less-traveled, alpine summit.

    Skyscraper Peak is a SOTA Classic!

    • Wilderness summit
    • Easy alpine hike along the Continental Divide
    • Spectacular views and scenery the entire way
    • Fine HF/VHF/UHF radio site
    • Few visitors

    An activation of Skyscraper Peak can easily be combined with nearby Mount Epworth W0C/PR-007 for a dual activation. Skyscraper takes more time than Epworth, so it’s probably better to activate Skyscraper first. I did this, and it worked well. The mileage total for the dual activation is about 6.9 miles, with a total vertical gain of about 1425 feet. My total time for both trips, including the short drive between the trailheads, was about 7 hours. The drive from Boulder took about 3 hours each way, so it was a 13-hour day in perfect conditions.

    Climbing and activating Skyscraper Peak should not be attempted unless the weather is stable and dry. The Continental Divide often has dangerous lightning storms, high winds, hail, snow any month, fog & clouds, etc.

    Save this experience for a perfect day!

    73

    George
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! 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-061 (Iron Mountain) – 3738 m / 12265 ft

    W0C/PR-061
    Iron Mountain
    3738 m / 12265 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 9, 2015

    By KX0R

    Iron Mountain is a fun, challenging summit in the Never Summer Mountains near Cameron Pass.

    Key Points:

    • Colorado State Forest
    • Access from Cameron Pass
    • High, scenic hike
    • No marked trail
    • Navigation and route-finding required
    • Off-trail route, game trails
    • ~ 6.6 miles round-trip
    • ~ 2600 vertical feet total, round-trip
    • SOTA Classic !

    Iron Mountain pulled at me from the first time I saw it. Years ago I hiked across Thunder Pass on a fishing expedition, and I saw Iron Mountain standing to the northeast. The orange–red color and the layered shape of the mountain look different from most peaks in the Front Range. My activation of Lulu Mountain encouraged me to come back to climb Iron Mountain.

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins
    • Follow Highway 287 northwest about 10 miles to Highway 14.
    • Drive up the Poudre Canyon for about 60 miles to Cameron Pass.
    • There’s a large parking area just north of Cameron Pass.
    • Parking is free, but it’s a popular spot in summer.
    • Get up there early, especially on weekends.

    Iron Mountain isn’t hard to climb. Conceptually it’s simple:

    • Park near Cameron Pass (10,276 feet)
    • Climb part way up the forested 11,359-foot mountain east of the pass
    • Ascend to the 11,180 foot saddle east of the 11,359 foot summit
    • Hike southeast up the ridge to the peak at 12,040 feet
    • Continue southeast along the ridge to Iron Mountain

    Detailed Hiking Directions:

    From the Cameron Pass rest stop, cross Highway 14 and look for a gated dirt road that parallels a ditch. A fee is requested to walk this road into the State Forest. Follow the ditch road a short distance southeast to a convenient bridge. This is important if water is flowing in the ditch. When I was there in the fall, the ditch was dry. Cross to the east side of the ditch. Many game trails run through the forest, because elk and moose are numerous there. Hike generally northeast on game trails, and climb up toward the south side of the mountain. It’s steep and rough at first, but the route gradually gets easier as it gains altitude.

    At about 11,000 feet, look for the saddle east of the summit – it’s not necessary to climb all the way to 11,359 feet. Contour east and head up an open gully to the 11,180 foot saddle. Try to use the efficient game trails available.

    Once on the saddle, the navigation is easy. Head east at first, and then climb southeast up the steep shoulder of the 12,040-foot peak above – this peak is called Table Iron.

    The route gets easy toward the top. The scenery improves rapidly, with stunning views of the entire region from the top of Table Iron.

    An unusual alpine plain slopes gently for miles to the northeast – it’s probably an ancient lava flow. Table Iron and Iron Mountain, as well as other peaks in the region, are of volcanic origin; hence their red color and layered form.

    From Table Iron, descend southeast along the gentle ridge to the 11,700-foot saddle below Iron Mountain. Continue on up the northwest ridge of Iron Mountain. Go around the rocky outcrops. There’s some talus in spots, especially near the top.

    It’s about 560 vertical feet from the saddle up to the peak. From Table Iron to Iron Mountain is almost a mile. It’s a spacious, scenic, alpine ridge!

    The summit of Iron Mountain is small – a large pile of rocks marks the spot.

    The views are stunning in all directions. Mount Richthofen and the Nokhu Crags loom ominously to the southwest; Thunder Mountain and Lulu Mountain stand to the south; the Diamond Peaks are to the west; and Clark Peak stands high, up north in the Rawah Wilderness. The Poudre Canyon stretches out to the eastern horizon; Mount Ethel and North Park are visible far to the west; the Mummy Peaks stand in Rocky Mountain Park to the southeast. The panorama is so complex and intense that it’s a distraction from radio operating!

    There’s enough space for an HF activation right on top. It was sunny but windy when I was there, so I set up slightly down the east slope. I guyed my pole to three rocks – this is sometimes the only good choice on alpine summits.

    Iron Mountain is miles from development, and it’s a very quiet HF site. My activation was somewhat disappointing, despite the incredibly ideal radio site. I made 18 contacts on 20M and 30M CW; but I also called CQ on 40M and 17M with no replies. I was spotted by the RBN only on 30 and 20M. There were no spots on 40M or 17M, despite my long runs of CQ’s. The solar conditions were certainly poor – the 10 cm Flux was only 82, and there was a magnetic storm in progress during my activation. Despite being on one of most spectacular and prominent SOTA peaks around, I had one of my worst activations. There was nothing wrong with my gear, or with locating off the peak and down the slope slightly. Numerous activations at similar sites, as well as many inferior sites, have proved that many times over.

    There is nothing magical about a high, prominent, spectacular alpine summit in the wilderness. It can’t change poor conditions on the bands – insufficient ionization in the F layer, increased losses caused by a geomagnetic storm, heavy QRN from lightning storms elsewhere, etc.

    The peak has very limited VHF/UHF coverage – mostly far to the east, and out across North Park.

    Iron Mountain is a SOTA Classic for several reasons:

    • Outstanding Views
    • Alpine ridge-top Hike
    • Prominent
    • Less traveled summit
    • Wilderness
    • Challenging route
    • Miles from development
    • Fine HF radio site

    This is the highest summit for several miles. The area around Thunder Pass is prone to lightning storms in summer. Avoid this area if storms are likely – the entire ridge route is dangerous in bad weather!

    Iron Mountain might be combined with other nearby SOTA peaks for a dual activation. It would be a long day:

    Lulu Mountain W0C/PR-006 2 miles south along the ridge
    North Diamond Peak W0C/PR-072 3 miles NW, near Cameron Pass

    There are many opportunities for camping, backpacking, fishing, and other recreation in the nearby National Forests, the Colorado State Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

    If you like this area, read this amazing trip report!

    73

    George
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! 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-006 (Lulu Mountain) – 3727 m / 12228 ft

    W0C/PR-006
    Lulu Mountain
    3727 m / 12228 ft
    First Activation
    July 20, 2015

    By KX0R

    Lulu Mountain is a prominent alpine summit in the northwest part of Rocky Mountain National Park.

    • Wilderness summit
    • Trailheads near Cameron Pass
    • Access via Thunder Pass, west of Lulu
    • Unmarked climbers trail up the northwest ridge
    • This trip is Grade I, Class 2, with Class 2 on part of the summit ridge
    • Wonderful views
    • Fine HF site
    • The total one-way distance ~ 4.8 miles
    • The total elevation gain ~ 2400 feet
    • SOTA Classic !

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins
    • Follow Highway 287 about 10 miles northwest to Highway 14
    • Drive up the entire 60 miles of Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass
    • Continue past Cameron Pass about 2 miles
    • Turn left on marked Road 62 into the Colorado State Forest.
    • This 2WD road is passable by most cars to the American Lakes Trailhead
    • Drive about 1-1/2 miles east from the turnoff at Highway 14
    • The American Lakes Trailhead is at about 9800 feet
    • There’s room for several vehicles
    • A Colorado State Parks Pass is required for parking and entry
    • There’s a fee for a day pass.

    An alternate place to park and enter this area exists – a large parking area off the main highway is just north of Cameron Pass. This is a popular spot; get there early, especially on weekends. There is no fee to park.

    Cross Highway 14 and look for a gated dirt road that parallels a ditch. A fee is requested to walk this road into the State Forest. Follow the almost level road for about two miles southeast along the ditch to where it intersects the American Lakes Trail near 10,400 feet elevation. The route is mostly the same as via the American Lakes Trailhead.

    The “ditch route” adds an easy mile each way, but it avoids several miles of driving on the highway and the dirt road. The total time to the summit is about the same with either route.

    Note: The “ditch route” was closed for construction during the summer of 2016. Hopefully it will be open in 2017.

    The Hike:

    • Follow the pleasant American Lakes Trail up the grade to American Lakes at 11,200 feet


    • This is a beautiful area, with moose, deer, elk, trout, lush vegetation, and wildflowers in summer.
    • Continue southeast via the trail to Thunder Pass at about 11,340 feet.


    • Climb up the moderately steep west ridge of Lulu Mountain to the peak.
    • It’s almost 900 vertical feet, and less than half a mile, from Thunder Pass
    • The route’s somewhat rocky near the top – follow the ridge all the way up

    Additional Details:

    The summit of Lulu Mountain is small, with a large rock shelter on top. Incredible views are all around. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is to the south; Mount Richthofen and the Nokhu Crags stand to the west; neighboring Thunder Mountain is northeast; Iron Mountain is two miles north; the Diamond Peaks are about four miles northwest; and Clark Peak stands high up north in the Rawah Wilderness. The Park Range reaches up beyond North Park in the west; Longs Peak is visible far to the southeast. The views enhance the radio operating!

    There’s plenty of space for an HF activation right on top. It was sunny and just breezy when I was there, so I set up at the rock shelter. I guyed my pole to three rocks – this is sometimes the only good choice on alpine summits. A pole is required for a wire antenna. Lulu Mountain is miles from development – it’s a very quiet site on HF.

    Lulu Mountain is a SOTA Classic for several reasons:

    • Spectacular views
    • Fun sub-alpine and alpine hike
    • Prominent summit
    • Less traveled
    • Wilderness site
    • Low RF Noise

    Lulu Mountain is one of the highest summits for several miles around. The area around Thunder Pass breeds lightning storms in summer. Get an early start, and don’t climb Lulu if storms are likely!

    Lulu might be combined with other nearby SOTA peaks for a dual activation. It would be a long day:

    Iron Mountain W0C/PR-061 2 miles northeast along the ridge
    North Diamond Peak W0C/PR-072 4 miles northwest, near Cameron Pass

    There are many opportunities for camping, backpacking, fishing, and other recreation in the nearby National Forests, the Colorado State Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

    Lulu Mountain also is accessible from the Colorado River Trailhead, in Rocky Mountain National Park, off Highway 34. This long, scenic route is 7.7 miles one-way, with a vertical gain of about 3200 feet; it’s Grade II, Class 2.

    73

    George
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! 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-013 (Mount Audubon) – 4030 m / 13223 ft

    W0C/FR-013
    Mount Audubon
    4030 m / 13223 ft
    July 12, 2015
    Sep 1, 2016

    By KX0R

    Mount Audubon is a popular alpine summit in the Indian Peaks Wilderness west of Boulder, Colorado.

    Key points:

    • Brainard Lake Recreation Area
    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Fun trail all the way to the top
    • Spectacular views
    • Fine radio site
    • Busy trailhead
    • ~ 4 miles one-way
    • ~ 2800 vertical feet
    • SOTA Classic!

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west from Boulder via Highway 119 to Nederland.
    • Turn north on Highway 72, the Peak-to-Peak Highway.
    • Drive to the turn-off to Ward, but don’t turn yet.
    • Continue on Highway 72 about 100 yards – turn west on the marked paved road FR-112 to the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
    • Continue about 4 miles to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

    Useful details:

    The route to Audubon is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness; this is a protected area with special rules. There’s a charge for entry via the Brainard Lake Road. It’s essential to start early, especially on a summer weekend; the area is very popular, and parking is limited.

    Early in the morning it may be possible to drive to the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, and to park there – otherwise, parking may be available near Brainard Lake. Parking at Brainard Lake adds about 3/4 mile to the hike – each direction. At the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, be careful to start out on the Mount Audubon Trail – not the Mitchell Lake Trail.

    Mount Audubon is visible from Brainard Lake – it’s the huge 13-er to the northwest.

    Mount Audubon from Brainard Lake

    One of the most accessible high peaks in the northern Front Range, Audubon is climbed often. The trail is worn and rocky from decades of heavy use.

    The Hike:

    • Start up the Mount Audubon Trail
    • The route leads north through the forest and up to timberline southeast of the summit on a good trail
    • The trail continues north through an open alpine area to a split – the left (west) fork leads to the peak.
    • The route ascends across the open tundra, eventually reaching a broad saddle northeast of the peak.
    • The last half-mile is up through large rocks, where multiple paths climb to the large summit.

    There are fine views from the trail and the peak, snow lingers into the summer, and alpine wildflowers cover the high slopes – the popularity of this mountain is justified!

    Mount Audubon Trail
    Mount Audubon Columbines

    Activation Details:

    Mount Audubon is a friendly place in good weather. Although it was sunny and dry when I was there, the wind was so roaring so strong that I wasn’t sure if I could do my activation. Although the spacious summit is almost flat, I couldn’t set up on the windy top; I searched for a spot with minimal wind. I found my place on the east side, about 30 feet below the summit, among large boulders. The wind was roaring and hissing across the edge of the peak above, but I was able to set up my pole in the rocks and guy it securely. My spot was well south of the trail, off the routes used by other hikers.

    Mount Audubon Activation

    Once the pole and wire were up and dancing, there were no more problems getting on the air and starting the activation. Setting up in a rock-pile is sometimes the only worthwhile option when winds are extreme; considerable care is required to avoid dropping small, critical items down into holes among the large rocks!

    Mount Audubon Activation – Radio Gear in the Rocks

    Mount Audubon stands prominently east of the Continental Divide; the summit is thousands of feet above the lower mountains and plains below. Audubon has a wide-open view of the populated areas to the east; it’s surely an excellent VHF/UHF site. Other high mountains are north, west, and south of Audubon, but they’re not high enough to adversely affect propagation of HF signals. This is an excellent HF site; the noise level is low, because little development is near the peak. On a day when many people are on the summit, it’s probably a good idea to set up HF gear out of the way, slightly down from the popular top.

    Despite the incredible wind, I had a fine SOTA activation on Audubon, with 31 contacts on 10-14-18-21 MHz CW. The session lasted about 70 minutes, and I was delighted at my results!

    After I took down the pole and put away my gear, I climbed up on top to take some pictures; it was difficult to stand on the west side of the summit, where the wind was strongest. A few other people came and went, but not many stayed more than a few minutes!

    Mount Audubon Summit Wind Shelter

    Dry windy weather is generally safer than storms and lightning. Mount Audubon is one of the highest mountains in its area, so it often has cumulus clouds and dangerous lightning. It should be avoided if storms are in the forecast, or if dark-bottomed clouds are forming in the area. An early start is essential to minimize the risk of bad weather in spring and summer.

    Mount Audubon is a SOTA Classic:

    • Spectacular wilderness location
    • Beautiful alpine hike up an accessible trail
    • Significant vertical gain
    • Wonderful setting with high peaks all around
    • Great HF/VHF/UHF radio site

    Mount Audubon View North to Longs Peak

    There are numerous other high SOTA peaks within sight of Mount Audubon. However, most of these summits require significant hikes, comparable to the trip up Audubon. There are few possibilities for a reasonable dual activation, except for a few lower mountains located near roads lower down. These lower possibilities include:

    W0C/FR-061 Taylor Mountain 2779m / 9134ft 4 points
    W0C/FR-174 Bald Mountain 2783m / 9147ft 4 points

    Camping offers a way to activate multiple high summits in the area. Numerous forest campgrounds and campsites are within a few miles of Mount Audubon; many of these campgrounds are popular, so reservations may be required. Roosevelt National Forest has a few places where dispersed camping is allowed. Backpack camping in the Indian Peaks Wilderness is a possibility, but a permit is required, and special rules apply.

    Mount Audubon is a Classic SOTA Peak – a real alpine jewel on the right day!

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

    Mount Audubon – Upper Coney Lake
    Mount Audubon – Alpine Spring Beauty

    ATTENTION !! 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-071 (Long Scraggy Peak) – 2686 m / 8812 ft

    W0C/FR-071
    Long Scraggy Peak
    2686 m / 8812 ft
    Sep 30, 2015 1st Activation
    Sep 21, 2016 2nd Activation

    By KX0R

    Long Scraggy Peak is a very prominent mountain in the South Platte Canyon near Deckers, southwest of Denver.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • No marked route to the mountain
    • Trail leads up the summit
    • Navigation and route-finding required
    • Private land nearby
    • None of the recommended route is posted
    • In 2016 signs on trees suggested that a large forestry management project was about to begin
    • ~ 8.4 miles round trip
    • ~ 2060 vertical feet total, including return trip

    Long Scraggy Peak West Side

    For a long time I believed that Long Scraggy Peak was essentially off-limits, due to difficult access and private land around the peak. After some research on the internet, I found that climbing Long Scraggy might be practical and legal. There’s no marked trailhead for Long Scraggy, but there’s access via public land all the way to the mountain. A good cairned trail runs right up to the top! However, having a fun day on Long Scraggy requires research and accurate navigation – GPS is very useful, and good map skills are required.

    Long Scraggy Summit Trail with Cairns

    Private property, including the Long Scraggy Mountain Ranch, lies along the west side of the mountain. This area is accessed from Highway 126 by private Spring Creek Road. The Ranch is a Christian Retreat, and trespassing is forbidden. Because of its location near the mountain, the Ranch effectively has priority use of Long Scraggy. Marked trails lead directly from the property up the mountain, as well as north into the National Forest. The land east of the ranch, including almost all of Long Scraggy Peak, is in Pike National Forest, according to the Forest Visitor Map.

    Access to the National Forest is available from paved Highway 126 northwest of Long Scraggy. The trailhead is the gated Raleigh Peak Road, FR-538, which leads southeast and then north for several miles. The Colorado Trail also provides access from both north and south of the private property.

    Climbing Long Scraggy legally requires knowing where the public land is, and navigating to avoid the private land east of the Peak. This is not hard, and the route I found requires only moderate bushwhacking.

    Driving Directions:

    • Start by driving to the town of Buffalo Creek.
    • Northern routes are via Highway 285 and Highway 126 from Pine Junction, or via 285 and Foxton Road from Conifer.
    • From the south, take Highway 24 west from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park; turn north on Highway 67 and go to Deckers; and continue north on Highway 126 to Buffalo Creek.
    • All of these roads are good paved mountain highways.
    • From Buffalo Creek, drive almost 2 miles south on 126, most of the way up the big hill, to Raleigh Peak Road, FR-538, on the east side at about 7440 feet
    • This is about ½ mile north of a highway maintenance facility near the hilltop
    • This road is shown on the Google satellite image

    The road is gated, with room for a few cars to park off the highway; the road’s popular with mountain bikers. It’s not posted; hiking and non-motorized access is OK. Park off the highway and away from the gate.

    The Hike:

    Walk southeast on the dirt road and follow it up the hill as it bends north. Long Scraggy Peak stands beyond private property to the southeast. The Colorado Trail runs parallel to Raleigh Peak Road, 100-200 yards to the east; it roughly follows the 7600 foot contour.

    After reaching about 7640 feet, the road runs up over a little rise; a low ridge runs out to the east. Leave the road and head east – there’s a faint trail along the ridge.

    Long Scraggy Route East from FR-538

    Stay north of any fence you see. This land was burned in the Buffalo Creek fire, and visibility is excellent. To avoid any chance of error, stay on the ridge, or just north of it. The route soon crosses the Colorado Trail. Continuing east, the path eventually becomes a real trail. This east-west route is easily visible on the Google satellite image. Horses, people, and wild animals all share this unmarked trail, which probably predates the fire. Eventually the trail drops steeply east into the valley of Spring Creek.

    Before the route reaches the creek, a fence runs near the south side of the trail. Stay north of any fence to avoid private land. The ranch owns land along Spring Creek, northeast and downstream from most of their other property. Near Spring Creek, I saw ranch buildings to the south. I didn’t cross any fence. A “no trespassing” sign on a fallen fence indicated that the land south of the fence line was/is closed to the public. I also found a USFS Cadastral Benchmark, as well as USFS signs, indicating that they have accurately surveyed the public land, and marked it accordingly. Clearly the trail north of the fence is on USFS land, close to the private land.

    At a marshy area near the creek, a small boardwalk conveniently leads across the creek. The land east of the creek is in Pike National Forest, according to the Forest Visitor Map. This includes all of Long Scraggy Peak and most of the land for more than a mile all around the summit. Anyone considering climbing Long Scraggy should study the USFS map to see where the green National Forest land is in relation to the white private land. Private land should be respected, and there’s no need to cross posted land to access this mountain.

    Just east of Spring Creek, there’s a trail junction. The GPS coordinates of this junction are:

    N39 21.856 W105 13.329

    This is a useful waypoint to put in your GPS, because it’s key to the route in and out.

    A sign points to a trail leading downstream to a waterfall. This trail is likely mostly on USFS land, but the sign and trail condition suggests it’s often used by the ranch guests.

    • To avoid ranch land, hike east into the woods from the junction into the forest – this route isn’t posted or marked.
    • Follow an old abandoned road/track east up a ridge.

    Long Scraggy Old Road

    • Using any convenient route, hike uphill southeast for about 0.6 mile, in the direction of the summit
    • An OK route leads up along a wide draw
    • Intersect a modern forest road shown on the Google satellite image
    • This road provides access to the east slopes of Long Scraggy.

    Long Scraggy Forest Road Leading South

    • Various signs along the road indicate it’s National Forest land
    • Using GPS, hike south on the road to a trail junction at this point:

    N39 21.646 W105 12.628

    • Follow the obvious trail east into the forest

    Long Scraggy Secret Summit Trail

    This trail is mostly used by folks from the ranch – they have direct access. However, their trailhead isn’t open to the public. Long Scraggy Peak is on National Forest land adjacent to their property, and it’s no surprise that they have a trail up there. This trail isn’t posted or signed on the mountain, and there’s nothing to suggest that it’s private. I saw no signs at all. It has been maintained for a long time, possibly for decades. Large trees lying near the trail were sawed long ago.

    • The Long Scraggy Trail leads up the mountain – there are cairns.
    • The trail isn’t shown on maps that I have seen, and most of it’s hidden on the Goggle satellite image.
    • The route climbs up through various rocky outcrops.
    • The path ascends about 1200 vertical feet from the forest road.
    • The summit forest wasn’t burned by the Buffalo Creek Fire, so the trail is very pleasant trail to climb
    • The steep trail leads efficiently up to the summit area

    Long Scraggy Peak Summit Area

    Additional Details:

    The huge top of Long Scraggy Peak consists of massive granite outcrops of orange Pikes Peak granite. The actual summit is just south of the end of the trail – one large step is required, but the granite has excellent friction, and there’s little exposure.

    Long Scraggy Peak Summit

    The prominent mountain falls away about half a vertical mile to the south and east – it feels very high – and the views of the South Platte Canyon region are spectacular.

    Long Scraggy Peak Summit, South View

    The activation zone is large, and it’s practical to erect a pole right on the granite, as I did. The peak is an ideal HF site, much like a very high tower. No nearby peaks are high enough to block HF signals. There’s almost no man-made RF noise – the closest development is far down at the ranch.

    Long Scraggy Peak Activation Sep 21, 2016

    There’s some limited VHF/UHF coverage east of Long Scraggy – the eastern Plains are visible in a few directions. Long Scraggy looks across part of the Rampart Range to the northeast. Nevertheless, most populated areas to the east are not visible.

    • Return via the same route – be sure to stay north and east of the ranch land near Spring Creek.

    The total round-trip length of the Long Scraggy hike, starting at the Raleigh Peak Road gate, is about 8.4 miles. It requires about 2-1/2 to 3 hours each way, assuming some route-finding and breaks. The total vertical ascent is about 1700 feet from trailhead to summit. There’s an additional 360 feet of gain on the way out, from Spring Creek up to the ridge-top east of Raleigh Peak Road; the total vertical gain for the trip is 2060 feet.

    Long Scraggy Sub-peak on North Ridge

    Even though the hike is a lot of work for a 2-point summit, Long Scraggy Peak is a SOTA Classic!

    • Requires good navigation and route-finding
    • Some traveling off-trail
    • Fun hike up the mountain on a trail marked with cairns
    • Huge, prominent, exciting summit
    • Large activation zone
    • Massive orange granite outcrops
    • High cliffs
    • Amazing views of the South Platte Canyon region
    • Almost perfect HF peak

    “Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints” is especially good advice for this amazing summit. People from the Ranch may visit the summit or use the trails – please respect their interests. Their Christian retreat is just as important as our SOTA activations.

    Long Scraggy Peak stands close to nearby SOTA peaks and might be combined for a dual activation:

    • Raleigh Peak W0C/FR-195 – only about 3 miles north, same trailhead
    • Little Scraggy Peak W0C/FR-059 – about 4 miles to the southwest

    The National Forest around Long Scraggy Peak looks like good hunting territory – many deer live there – wear hunter orange clothing in the fall, and be aware of hunters.

    It would be difficult to climb Long Scraggy from the South Platte Canyon on the east side. That side of the mountain is very steep and rocky, with many cliffs, and the net vertical gain from the River, at about 6200 feet, is 2600 feet. Even more critical is that the road in the canyon is on the wrong side of the river the entire way. There’s a public foot bridge across the river where the Colorado Trail crosses several miles northeast of the mountain, but it’s a long off-trail hike through burned-up land just to the base of Long Scraggy.

    Both the long north and south ridges of the mountain are craggy and challenging to ascend.

    In September of 2016, signs on trees indicated that a large forest management project had started. Please be aware that parts of route described here may be affected – contact Pike National Forest, South Platte Ranger District,  at 303-275-5610, for more information.

    73

    George
    KX0R

    Long Scraggy Peak View Northeast
    Long Scraggy Peak, Northeast Side
    Long Scraggy Peak Ridge

    ATTENTION !! 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-169 (Middle Mountain) – 2848 m / 9344 ft

    W0C/FR-169
    Middle Mountain
    2848 m / 9344 ft
    First Activation
    Nov 4, 2016

    By KX0R

    Middle Mountain is a fun SOTA peak hidden along the Laramie River in northern Colorado.

    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • No marked trail, but many game trails
    • Somewhat steep climb to a pleasant, prominent summit
    • Nice scenery – fine views of Rawah Peaks and the Laramie River Valley
    • Fine HF site
    • Not visited frequently
    • Limited points of access
    • ~ 4.0 miles round trip via southern route
    • ~ 2.3 miles round trip via steeper northern route
    • ~ 900 vertical feet via southern route
    • ~ 1000 vertical feet via steeper northern route
    • SOTA Classic!

    Middle Mountain Summit from Northwest

    Driving access:

    • First drive to Fort Collins, Colorado
    • Take Highway 287 northwest to Ted’s Place
    • This is about 10 miles from downtown
    • At Ted’s Place, turn west on Highway 14 – large Shell gas station there
    • Drive up the Poudre Canyon via Highway 14 for about 51 miles

    • Turn north on the Laramie River Road, CR 103, near Chambers Lake – this is a good dirt road, but it’s likely closed late fall to mid-spring

    • Continue north for about 11 miles to Middle Mountain
    • The well-named mountain stands in the center of the wide valley

    • Either park at the Rawah Trailhead on the right, across the road from the large Rawah Guest Ranch – see below

    • Otherwise, park along the east side of the road about 1-1/2 miles further north, beyond the “posted” signs on the east side of the road – see below

    • Do not park on the west side of the road!

    The climb:

    • There are two general routes to the summit of Middle Mountain

    Southern Route:

    • This is probably the best route. It starts at the Rawah Trailhead – however, I have not climbed this way – I climbed via the northern route (see below)

    • This route is probably not visible, nor is it marked or signed at the trailhead
    • From the Rawah Trailhead, climb up the steep embankment east of the parking lot.

    • Follow game trails, or just hike, about ¼ mile northeast, up almost 500 vertical feet, to a secret/game trail that runs north along the south ridge of Middle Mountain

    • This trail is easily visible on the Google satellite image at moderately high magnification. Once you see it on the image, you’ll have no problem finding it on the mountain.

    • The south end of this trail runs down to private land further south, and is probably not accessible to the public.

    • Once on the trail, continue north up the prominent south ridge of Middle Mountain, all the way to the summit.

    Northern Route:

    • This is the route I used – it worked OK, but later I saw the southern route on the satellite image.  The southern route is mostly better, despite the steep beginning.

    • However, if you park north of the posted signs along the east side of Road 103, you can just hike into the National Forest and head up the northwest side of Middle Mountain toward the summit.

    • There are so many game trails that you can pretty much just follow whatever you find that heads SSE and up the steep slopes.

    • The animals know where to go, and as long as you think about getting up to the ridge north of the summit, you’ll find trails to take you there!

    • This steep route is spectacular, up through steep meadows and bits of forest, with amazing views of the Laramie River Valley below, and the high Rawah Peaks directly to the west.

    Middle Mountain Northwest Slopes
    Middle Mountain, Rawah Peaks

    • There were elk tracks everywhere up there!
    • Stay just west of the summit ridge to avoid dense woods near the top.

    Details:

    Middle Mountain is a SOTA Classic! Everything about this summit provides an exciting, interesting climb and activation. It’s not long or excessively arduous, and the summit seems special.

    Middle Mountain Summit, View South

    The activation zone on the summit ridge is long and narrow. Shelter from wind is available from trees and the summit ridge. There are nice sunny spots with good trees for a pole. I ran my wire straight north-south along the summit, and I had a fine activation! This peak works about like a 1000 foot tower! The ground drops steeply on the east and west, and no high peaks significantly block HF signals from any direction.

    A USCGS benchmark from 1949 stands on a pipe on top.

    Middle Mountain Benchmark

    There’s a summit cairn, but no jar. It’s a perfect summit to activate, with several useful trees. I supported my 66-foot wire between a pole at the summit and a tree to the north. I made 50 CW contacts on 4 bands with my 5-watt ATS-3B. The wire was north-south along the ridge-top. The weather was just perfect.

    Middle Mountain – Summit Activation

    There’s some development down below at local ranches, but no man-made RF noise is audible up on the peak. No significant communities exist for many miles. This is an almost perfect HF site. However, VHF and UHF contacts appear very unlikely, as higher mountains block coverage in every direction.

    After I climbed Middle Mountain, I realized that at some time in the past, the entire Laramie River Valley was filled with a large, deep glacier flowing north for many miles. This is a classic wide glacial valley – it’s obvious even from the road.

    From the summit, and on the topo map, it appears that at Middle Mountain, the glacier split into two rivers of ice, leaving Middle Mountain as an island standing in the middle. The ice eroded both sides of the mountain, leaving steep slopes, but the glaciation ended before the mountain was completely removed by the ice. Both valleys on each side of the mountain are wide and glaciated.

    Imagine what it must have looked like, with the ice on both sides, perhaps as deep as where the summit is today! The high, steep contours on the east side of the drainage bear this idea out.

    There is another possible glacial remnant in the Valley further north – North Middle Mountain. The topo map suggests that glaciation of the Laramie River Valley was quite extensive for miles north of Middle Mountain.

    The climb up Middle Mountain is definitely worth the long drive up Poudre Canyon. This is a Classic SOTA peak!

    73

    George
    KX0R

    Middle Mountain View West

    ATTENTION !! 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/SP-066 (Thirtynine Mile Mountain) – 3520 m / 11,548 ft

    W0C/SP-066
    Thirtynine Mile Mountain
    3520 m / 11,548 ft
    First Activation
    Nov 1, 2016

    By KX0R

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain is a large, remote summit at the south end of South Park. Its dark volcanic rock is the remains of a huge volcano active about 35 million years ago.

    • Pike National Forest
    • No marked trailhead
    • No marked trail
    • Game trails and man-trail part of the way
    • Navigation required
    • Obscure summit, rarely visited
    • Excellent radio site
    • Interesting igneous geology
    • ~ 8.0 miles round-trip
    • ~ 3500 vertical feet gain total, in and out

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain SW Side, from Dicks Peak
    Thirtynine Mile Mountain East Side, from Mid-route

    Driving directions:

    • Drive to South Park, either by Highway 285 or Highway 24

    • Continue mostly via dirt roads to the south end of Elevenmile Reservoir

    • Use CR 23 and CR 59 from near Spinney Mountain

    • Or use CR 46 and CR 98 from near Florissant

    • From the junction of CR 59 and CR 98, continue south on CR 59 (Thirtynine Mile Road)

    • Ascend this OK 2WD dirt road to a saddle at about 9550 feet, between Thirtyninemile Mountain and Saddle Mountain

    • Park off the side of the road at the pass

    The Hike:

    • The hike from the Pass to the summit climbs over several significant sub-peaks, and descends to saddles, along the main east-west ridge.

    • There’s no accessible water on the entire trip – except for snow, etc.

    • The route generally runs within about 100 yards of the ridge-top.

    • From the parking spot at the pass, an unmarked path leads west and skirts below some rocks. Stay on the north side of the ridge.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain, near Start of Route at Pass, View of Hill 10734

    • A jeep road comes up from the north to a fire ring in a clearing. People camp and park here sometimes.

    • A trail ascends steeply west from the clearing.

    • Soon the route comes to a fence line running east-west.

    • A fence-gate with a USFS sign says to close the gate.

    • The land south of the fence is likely private, but it’s not posted.

    • Hill 10734 rises to the west – it’s necessary to climb most of the way to the top, up about 800 vertical feet, through thick grassy meadows along the fence-line.

    • Near the top of 10734, at about 10550 feet, either continue on up along the fence, into the forest, and across the summit; or contour around the south side through more meadows – I did this.

    • Contouring south leads to beautiful open views of the Guffey area, valleys far below, Black Mountain, Waugh Mountain, and the south slopes of Thirtynine Mile Mountain two miles to the west.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Trip, View Southwest from Mid-route

    • Next hike northwest to the main ridge and pick up a game trail – also a man-trail – that runs west along the ridge. Stick with the ridge. There are sections where the trail thins or disappears, but it comes back further on.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Trail

    • Sawed logs are visible, and a few blazes show on trees along the path.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Sawed Logs Along Route

    Eventually the trail leads over a couple of minor bumps and ends at an old campsite with a log fence around it. This camp is at a saddle, and it looks like it’s used occasionally. The USGS topo shows a trail crossing from north to south at the saddle.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain, Campsite at Saddle East of 11121

    • The next challenge is to climb about 500 vertical feet up big sub-peak 11121, east of the primary summit. A fair game trail starts up from the camp and ascends along the ridge. It deviates just north of the ridge to skirt rock outcrops and fallen trees.

    • It’s essential to stay on the ridge near 11121 and then to descend correctly WSW to the saddle at 10850 feet, between Peak 11121 and the main peak. This narrow saddle is like a bridge, and it’s easy to cross; however, it’s hard to see through the trees – use GPS to hit it.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain East Side, Bridge Saddle to Main Summit

    • From the saddle, the route follows game trails up along the east ridge of the main peak. These paths lead up around the north sides of various rocky obstructions, climb west along the moderately steep ridge, and continue up gentle slopes to the top. These game trails showed fresh use by elk.

    • The mountain top is forested, and the summit’s almost flat. Look for a cairn with a register in a jar – only a people sign each year.

    • Views are very limited – cliffs about ¼ mile south of the top likely offer fine views – but I didn’t go down there.

    Additional Details:

    This hike is just over 4 miles each way, but the total vertical gain is about 3500 vertical feet for the entire round-trip. The sub peaks and saddles are significant! After the first mountain, you’re at 10,800 or higher for most of the way. You keep dropping down to that level and then going up again.

    It took me almost three hours to hike from the pass to the summit. The return is similar, but a bit easier and faster. Two quarts or more of water are necessary if it’s cool – much more if it’s warm.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain is easy to activate – the huge Activation Zone contains numerous bristlecone pines and other trees – it’s really nice. It doesn’t feel like a regular mountain when you’re on top.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Summit Activation

    There’s no development nearby, and the HF noise level is very low. With no higher peaks for many miles, this peak is an ideal HF site. VHF/UHF coverage is likely OK across parts of South Park, east toward Pikes Peak, and down to the south.

    There’s a sister summit about 2000 feet west of the main summit, at almost the same elevation. Both summits and the connecting ridge appear to be within the SOTA Activation Zone.

    I saw no hunters or recent evidence of them, but there certainly could be hunting up there in the fall. I heard an elk about half-way in, in the meadows down below. It’s very nice country all the way.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain, High Meadows West of 10734

    The entire mountain is volcanic – much of it is breccia made of large rock fragments, etc. Some of the rocks have obvious bubbles. Most of it’s dark, but there are many orange and red rocks. The Guffey Volcano was huge, and this is just one small part of it, originally about half-way up the north side of the monster.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Volcanic Breccia

    There are a few sections of the hike that pass through loose rocks, with plenty of chances to stumble on them.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Bridge Saddle – View East to 11121

    Most of the ridge route is very reasonable and pleasant, with nice paths, and only moderate deadfall. Avoid the aspens where you can.

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Fresh Game Trail

    If the summit had better views, it would be a SOTA Classic. If you like long off-trail hikes, wilderness, and geology, this trip is a winner! It’s a lot of driving – about three hours for me via Fairplay and Hartsel – and a big hike for sure. In the fall it takes some night driving both ways to do this trip, and there’s no extra time.

    It’s certainly possible to climb Thirtynine Mile Mountain from the west, perhaps from near Currant Creek Pass, but I have not done this.  The view of the huge west side from Peak 10090 is inspirational:

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain West Side, from Peak 10090

    73

    George
    KX0R

    Thirtynine Mile Mountain View East, Across 10734 and Saddle Mountain, to Pikes Peak
    Thirtynine Mile Mountain Red Volcanic Breccia

    ATTENTION !! 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-089 (Cheesman Mountain) – 2422 m / 7946 ft

    W0C/FR-089
    Cheesman Mountain
    2422 m / 7946 ft
    Oct 24, 2015
    April 7 & 8, 2016

    By KX0R

    Cheesman Mountain is an obscure peak located in the South Platte Canyon area near Cheesman Reservoir.

    Key Points:

    • Mountain and surrounding area were burned up
    • Pike National Forest
    • No trail
    • Accessible trailhead
    • Incredible views of the Hayman Burn area
    • Superb HF site
    • Unique summit composed of orange Pikes Peak Granite
    • Seldom climbed
    • ~ 2.6 miles round-trip
    • ~ 725 feet of vertical gain, plus ~ 100 feet on the return

    Summary:

    Chessman Mountain stands high on the north side of Chessman Reservoir. The entire area burned in the huge Hayman Fire of 2002. There’s no trail, the route’s rough, but the reward is a fine radio site with spectacular views. This is another Colorado 1-point SOTA mountain to be climbed more for the total experience than for the points!

    Driving Directions:

    Drive to the town of Deckers in the South Platte Canyon.

    • Deckers may be reached from the south via Highway 24 west of Colorado Springs to Woodland Park, then north on Highway 67.

    Northern routes are:

    • Highway 285 west to Pine Junction, then Highway 126 south to Deckers

    • Highway 85 to Sedalia southwest of Denver, then Route 67 across the Rampart       Range and south down the Canyon

    • Highway 285 west to Conifer, Foxton Road 97 to the Canyon, Road 96 southwest to Highway 126, and 126 south to Deckers.

    • Highway 285 west to Conifer, Foxton Road 97 to the Canyon, 97 southeast to Road 67, and 67 south to Deckers

    All of these routes are scenic mountain drives!

    About 2 miles west of Deckers, marked dirt road FR-211 heads off Highway 126, goes south across a bridge, and then ascends west up Wigwam Creek. The first section of the narrow road along the shadowy north side of Cheesman Mountain is scary if it’s snowy or wet. After about a mile, the road leads south up a hill toward Cheesman Reservoir; the road reaches a pass near 7200 feet, and the reservoir is visible about half a mile down to the south. Cheesman Mountain stands high above the east side of the road.

    At the pass, FR-211 forks off to the southwest. A good designated parking spot is available a short distance up road 211, on the south side. I parked there and hiked back to the pass to climb Cheesman Mountain. Parking along this road is restricted and is allowed only at the “P” signs – however, parking is free, and the land near the summit is in the Pike National Forest.

    The Hike:

    From the pass at 7200 feet, hike up a moderate slope and ascend to the long south ridge of Cheesman. The easiest route ends up on the ridge at about 7500 feet. There’s no need to do any steep scrambling. Once on the Cheesman ridge, ascend progressively north, dodging burned trees and numerous rocks.

    Soon the twin summits of Cheesman appear. From the ridge the rocky west summit looks like it’s the peak, but it’s not; contour around either side of this false summit and hike to the saddle between the two knobs.

    The actual summit block of Cheesman looks impossible from the saddle. This huge rock has steep sides all around.

    Fortunately it’s not necessary to climb the rock to access the Activation Zone. Simply follow a small trail from the saddle around the south side of the summit, ascend southeast of the big rock, and climb up to a convenient flat area just east of the summit. This flat area is about 15 feet below the peak.

    Useful Details:

    The flat area is large enough for an HF antenna. No good trees are available, but there are some large, useful rocks. I anchored my pole to one large rock and ran my wire west to another rock near the summit block. I was on the air in minutes.

    Climbing the summit block is technical. There are some old wire loops hanging from the east side – someone has used these as aids to ascend, but they’re dangerous. It would be possible to get a rope across the summit block to use for an antenna support, but it’s not worth the hassle, since the site is practically perfect for HF already – just bring a pole and maybe a few guy lines.

    Cheesman Mountain is very prominent above the South Platte Canyon, and it’s good for HF in all directions. There’s little development nearby, and the RF noise level is low. Chessman is probably a poor VHF/UHF site because of its isolated location in the South Platte Canyon. It has a view of the land north of Pikes Peak, but there’s no clear path out to the east.

    Cheesman Mountain can be combined with nearby Sugarloaf Peak, W0C/FR-077, for a convenient double activation. Another local SOTA peak is prominent Thunder Butte, W0C/FR-048, about 6 miles southeast of Cheesman Mountain.

    73

    George
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! 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-099 (Livermore Mountain) – 2287 m / 7504 ft

    W0C/FR-099
    Livermore Mountain
    2287 m / 7504 ft
    First Activation
    Nov 02, 2015

    By KX0R

    Livermore Mountain is a prominent, seldom-visited summit several miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Prominent summit
    • Private land blocks access from County Road 74E
    • Long, difficult access
    • Adventure trip in the backcountry
    • Fine HF site
    • No marked trail for miles
    • Game trails and bushwhacking
    • Challenging navigation and route-finding
    • Area burned by wildfire
    • North Greyrock W0C/FR-094 included on the return
    • Total round trip of 14 miles, including North Greyrock
    • Total round-trip vertical ascent of 4200 feet, including North Greyrock

    Livermore Mountain is at the north end of a long ridge running from the vicinity of Greyrock Mountain. Livermore is rarely climbed, because private land partially surrounds the mountain. It’s possible to access this peak from the south, by hiking through the National Forest, along the ridge, all the way from Greyrock. This is an interesting trip!

    My key to this route was climbing Greyrock Mountain a few days earlier. From the north side of Greyrock, Livermore Mountain and the rugged terrain between it and Greyrock are clearly visible. Much of this rocky, forested land was burned by wildfire; deadfall and post-fire growth make travel challenging. The view from Greyrock revealed that it might be practical to access Livermore from Greyrock Meadows.

    A long valley immediately north of Greyrock leads down to the northeast, all the way to Seaman Reservoir. I viewed this valley from Greyrock, and I took pictures for additional study. I devised a plan for approaching Livermore via Greyrock Meadows and the valley north of Greyrock – this plan worked out well.

    My hike began at the Greyrock Trailhead in Poudre Canyon. For more information, see the K0MOS report on Greyrock Mountain W0C/FR-095. There are two possible routes – the main Greyrock Trail #946, or the Greyrock Meadows Trail #947; I chose the Meadows Trail.

    The Meadows trail is slightly longer, but since the route to Livermore runs through the Meadows, the two routes are approximately equal in time. The Meadows Trail offers wonderful views of Poudre Canyon, Greyrock Mountain, and Greyrock Meadows.

    When I reached Greyrock Meadows, I walked north across the brown, dry grass and climbed up to the saddle northeast of the Meadows and northwest of Greyrock Mountain; a good game trail leads up from the Meadows to this saddle. The path continues northeast from the saddle and then leads down the valley. I followed this pleasant trail – which is occasionally used by horses – for about 1/3 mile, down to about 6740 feet. Then I left the path and headed directly north, up a steep, rocky slope, for about ¼ mile horizontally, until I reached a large bench at about 7200 feet. I didn’t find a good game trail up the open slope – this was the roughest part of the trip.

    The large flat bench at 7200 feet was like paradise compared to what preceded it. It was very grassy, with many elk beds and other signs of game – elk heaven.

    I followed game trails north through the grassy bench, and then I found remains of an old road continuing north. I avoided possible routes on north-running ridges nearby, because the road was so inviting. The road leads out onto the main ridge and stays near 7040 feet for a long time. I made very good time from the elk bench via this road. Eventually the road leads off to private land on the west side of the main ridge – horses use this trail. Near the 7000 foot contour I left the road, continued north along the ridge a short distance, and descended to a large, open saddle at about 6840 feet. There’s a fence-line running north through this area – the land on the east side is public. It’s not necessary to cross west of the fence – but none of the land I saw was posted along the ridge.

    From the big saddle the next challenge is to climb the peak that looms to the north at about 7440 feet. I stayed east of the fence and climbed up the ridge toward the top. At about 7060 feet, I spotted a game trail, followed it northeast, and then continued up the southeast ridge and up “Peak 7440”. I went over the rocky top and saw Livermore Mountain out to the northwest. From the north ridge of “Peak 7440”, there’s a game-trail leading down to the next saddle; and from that saddle, there’s another game trail leading up the southeast ridge of Livermore to the top.

    Livermore Mountain’s summit is the high point of a long, crescent-shaped ridge that curves down toward the northeast. From the summit the land drops away to about 6000 feet, so the small mountain seems large and prominent! It has a wide view all around – the Red Feather Lakes Highway CR 74E is visible about 2 miles to the north. Greyrock looks very far away to the south! Even though the Google Maps show a small road northwest of Livermore Mountain – suggesting possible easy access – I barely spotted the small tracks. This is probably an old ranch road, and it’s probably not accessible to the public.

    The rocky summit has been used for a survey. There are remains of the survey station, and there’s a brass USGS bench mark.

    Because it was very windy, I set up my radio gear slightly down the north side of the ridge. There are some trees in the activation zone, so it’s easy to set up and get on the air. To save time, I got on the air as fast as possible, and I only operated 20M CW. I made 22 contacts in about 20 minutes. This is an excellent low-noise HF site!

    Livermore Mountain has a partial view across the northeastern plains, so it’s probably OK for a few VHF/UHF contacts.

    I returned toward Greyrock Meadows by the same ridge-route I used to travel to Livermore. When I reached the elk bench at 7200 feet, I headed directly up a burned-up gully toward North Greyrock; eventually I arrived on a rocky ridge southeast of the summit – the top was not far.

    I set up and activated North Greyrock very quickly. I was on 20M CW for about 30 minutes – I made 22 easy contacts, including EA2LU Jorge in Spain, and XE2ES Marco in Ensenada! North Greyrock is a fine, quiet HF summit. It looks out across the far eastern plains, so it’s likely good for a few VHF/UHF contacts.

    This side trip to North Greyrock is not far, but it requires an additional rough bushwhack climb and descent of over 400 vertical feet. It’s probably as difficult to climb North Greyrock from the east side as from the west side. Both sides are rocky and burned-up; both sides have false summits and other problems. On the way up from the elk bench through the burned forest, I found the rock foundation of an old road or trail built running southeast up the slope. I was unable to follow it due to the deadfall – it remains a mystery – I have no explanation for why it was built.

    On the trip back I was rewarded by sunset in Greyrock Meadows. I was all alone – it was a beautiful place and time to enjoy, after hiking for hours through rough country.

    A few points are worth mentioning:

    1. The trip from Poudre Canyon, out to Livermore Mountain, and back to the trailhead is a long day. An early start is required to reach Livermore, do the activation, and return to the trailhead before dark.
    2. If an additional activation of North Greyrock or Greyrock is added, much more time is required.
    3. I was able to activate Livermore and North Greyrock and get back to the trailhead before dark on November 2. If I had done the trip much later in the year, I would have been in the dark for part of the route.
    4. Take a headlamp and the 10 Essentials!
    5. Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Parts of this route are through rough country, so be careful.
    6. Don’t attempt this hike unless you have done and enjoyed comparable off-trail trips before, including tricky navigation with map, compass, GPS, etc.

    7. In the fall expect hunters to use this area. This is particularly true north of Greyrock Meadows, in the valley, on the elk bench, and along the ridge. This land is accessible from nearby private ranches. I met one friendly hunter the day I was there. Wear bright colors if you go during hunting season.

    ***  There’s little available water on most of the route detailed here – be sure to pack           enough water !!

    This is a big, challenging cross-country hike with a couple of one-point SOTA activations included for rest stops!

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! 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-098 (Cook Mountain) – 2298 m / 7540 ft

    W0C/FR-098
    Cook Mountain
    2298 m / 7540 ft
    Nov 30, 2014 1st Activation
    May 23, 2015 2nd Activation
    Apr 25, 2016 3rd Activation

    By KX0R

    Cook Mountain is a hidden mountain west of Lyons, Colorado. This peak offers a pleasant SOTA activation in a special place.

    Key points:

    • Access from Roosevelt National Forest and Buttonrock Preserve
    • Cook Mountain is within Buttonrock Preserve – special rules apply
    • Trailhead at Coulson Gulch
    • Navigation and route-finding required – some off-trail hiking
    • The trailhead is at 7650 feet, higher than the summit
    • ~ 5.4 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1100 feet vertical gain, including about 600 feet back up to the trailhead

    Driving Directions:

    Starting at Lyons, follow Highway 36 northwest for several miles. About 1-1/2 miles beyond Pinewood Springs, turn left, west, onto dirt road 47. Follow 47 about 3-1/2 miles southwest as it climbs up a valley. Just before a sharp bend in the road, a USFS dirt road leads off to the left.  Follow this lumpy road up to a large parking area, at a saddle between two large hills. Don’t continue on up to the jeep road leading to Johnny Park. The trailhead is at the southeast side of the parking area.

    The Hike:

    The route is down to Higgins Park via Coulson Gulch, and then up the north ridge of Cook Mountain to the top.

    Hike south down the Coulson Gulch Trail #916. Sometimes there are shooters here – use caution. The trail descends along a little creek, and it’s very scenic below the parking area. The route descends steeply into Higgins Park, where an old cabin stands near the trail. Continue along the creek, and follow marked Trail 916 through the huge meadows.

    Where the trail splits, take the dirt road left, east, and cross the creek where a bridge has been washed out. Follow the road up a short hill into Buttonrock Preserve.  This is a good place for a short break.

    Enjoy the nice view of the Preserve from the saddle at 7000 feet. Don’t continue down, but find an unmarked jeep track leading south along the ridge toward Cook Mountain. Follow this road for almost ½ mile to the end; continue up a faint, rough game trail ascending south along the rocky, forested ridge. Stay close to the ridge-top, and follow it all the way to an obvious high point.

    The northern high point is not the summit shown on the SOTA map, but it’s in the Activation Zone. There are three or four high points, all at about the same elevation, and the saddles are shallow. It’s just a matter of selecting which summit you want to activate.

    The east side of the mountain looks down over 1100 feet to Buttonrock Reservoir, and the west side looks down into the rugged North Saint Vrain Canyon. This canyon is one of the wildest areas in Boulder County.

    Many good spots are available for setting up radio gear in the large Activation Zone. Granite outcrops and trees provide shelter from wind. With essentially no development in the area, this site has a very low HF noise level.

    HF propagation is wide open to the east, and is minimally impaired by a few higher mountains in other directions. This is an excellent HF site! However, there is only a very limited view out toward the plains, and the Denver metro area is mostly blocked by other mountains, so Cook Mountain is probably a poor VHF/UHF site.

    On Nov 30, 2014, I made only 26 contacts, all on 17M CW. However, seven of these contacts were DX stations:

    EA2LU
    DJ5AV
    DL3JON
    G4OBK
    F6EAZ
    CU3BL
    GI4ONL

    This was rather incredible, as I was running 5 watts to an end-fed inverted-L antenna up 19 feet. Perhaps it helped that I was on the north side of one of the summits, looking down the slope toward the northeast.

    On May 23, 2015 I made 33 contacts on 20 and 30M CW from Cook Mountain. This was pretty good for a 1-point activation. There was no DX, but there were four S2S contacts with operators on other summits. I was using the same rig and antenna as in 2014.

    The April 25, 2016 activation covered 40, 30, 20, and 17M CW. I made a total of 39 contacts, including one S2S contact on 40M with KT0A in the Black Hills.

    Don’t be fooled by the one-point SOTA designation – Cook Mountain offers other rewards, with its secluded near-wilderness location, low HF noise, and large, rugged summit. The area is home to many wild animals, and few people venture up this quiet peak. Keep your eyes open if you go up there. Climbing Cook Mountain is a wonderful mini-adventure!

    Hiking in Buttonrock Preserve is a special privilege. This is a watershed for the City of Longmont, and it’s a protected area. Longmont is very generous in allowing access to the public. It’s important to understand and obey the rules while in the Preserve. Fortunately, these rules are simple and clear:

    • NO Camping
    • NO Overnight parking
    • NO Bicycles
    • NO Horses
    • NO Fires
    • NO Hunting
    • NO Firearms
    • NO Boats or Floating Devices
    • NO Swimming
    • NO Resource Collection or Removal
    • Fishing in the Reservoir requires a special permit

    Note that hiking off-trail is NOT prohibited. Please respect and obey the Preserve rules so that continued access will be allowed.

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

     

     

    ATTENTION !! 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!