SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Category: SOTA trip report

SOTA (Summits on the Air) trip reports with pictures and videos by K0MOS

  • W0C/SP-123 (Blue Mountain) – 2813 m / 9230 ft

    W0C/SP-123
    Blue Mountain
    2813 m / 9230 ft
    Dec 09, 2015 with N0TA
    May 21, 2016 with N0TA
    Feb 20, 2017 with N0TA

    By KX0R

    Key Points:

    Blue Mountain is an easy, fun SOTA summit a few miles south of Lake George.

    • Pike National Forest
    • West of Colorado Springs
    • Relatively easy to climb
    • Short hike
    • Relatively good access, even in winter
    • No marked trail to the peak
    • Excellent SOTA Peak
    • ~ 1.0 mile round trip
    • ~ 300 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    THIS MAP is very useful for driving in the Pike National Forest.

    • Drive west on Highway 24 from Colorado Springs.
    • Pass through Woodland Park, Divide, and Florissant.
    • Continue to the small community of Lake George.
    • Turn left, southwest, on CR 96 at Lake George.
    • After less than a mile, turn south on good dirt road CR 61.
    • Drive about 3.3 miles on CR 61 – pass the Blue Mountain Campground, and continue south along the east side of Blue Mountain to an intersection with CR 98.
    • This intersection is south of the summit, and it would be possible to park near here and climb the mountain directly, as the terrain is open.
    • Head west on CR 98 for about one mile, to where two roads lead off to the right.
    • The left fork goes to an obvious ranch property.
    • The right fork is USFS FR-244 – it leads east toward Blue Mountain.
    • If this road is dry, it’s passable in cars with adequate clearance.
    • If the road’s open and in good condition, drive northeast about one mile, up near the mountain, to a turn-around at a campsite.
    • This is the trailhead.
    • Otherwise park farther down, and hike up the road to the trailhead.

    The Hike:

    • Blue Mountain is a long ridge running roughly N-S.
    • The actual peak is near the south end of the ridge.
    • From the end of the road, hike up toward the mountain on a jeep trail.
    • The summit is on your right.
    • Pass the remains of a miner’s shack.
    • Continue north about 150 feet, and find a crude trail leading up to the right (south).
    • Don’t follow any route farther to the north.
    • Hike south up the faint, rough trail – it soon fades out
    • Continue diagonally southeast up game trails through bushes to the broad saddle at 9200 feet, north of the peak
    • Hike south along the ridge on a path for about 200 yards to the summit
    • The route passes by some old prospect holes and a trench
    • The summit is south of the diggings – a small cairn marks the top

    Additional Details:

    The activation zone is large, open, and pleasant, with some large pine trees. We found dry, sunny spots just south of the peak, out of the wind. This area offers nice views of Pikes Peak and the area south and west of Blue Mountain.

    The peak is a good radio site, and the HF noise level is low.  It’s easy to set up a SOTA activation and make contacts up there.  VHF/UHF coverage is probably limited to the area around Lake George, and the north side of Pikes Peak.

    Blue Mountain is close to several other SOTA peaks and might be combined with any of them for a dual or multiple activation:

    9083 W0C/SP-124 – about 7 miles to the north
    9036 W0C/SP-125 – about 10 miles to the north
    Tappan Mountain W0C/FR-066 – about 10 miles to the north
    Signal Butte W0C/FR-165 – about 11 miles to the northeast

    The forest near Blue Mountain looks like a good place for hunting. Wear hunter safety orange if you go there in the fall!

    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/SP-124 (9083) – 2769 m / 9083 ft

    W0C/SP-124
    9083
    2769 m / 9083 ft
    Dec 9, 2015 – First Activation by N0TA with KX0R
    Nov 6, 2016 – Second Activation by N0TA and KX0R

    By KX0R

    Peak 9083 is a modest SOTA summit hidden in the South Platte Canyon a few miles north of Lake George.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • No marked trail, but paths most of the way
    • Not difficult
    • Navigation and route-finding required
    • Nice partly-forested summit
    • Fine SOTA peak
    • “South Trailhead” at ~ 8170 feet
    • ~ 3.3 miles round-trip hiking from “South Trailhead”
    • ~ 910 vertical feet hiking from “South Trailhead”
    • “North Trailhead” at ~ 8740 feet
    • ~ 0.9 miles round-trip hiking from “North Trailhead”
    • ~ 360 vertical feet hiking from “North Trailhead”

    Driving Directions to the “South Trailhead”:

    • Drive to Woodland Park, either from Colorado Springs on Highway 24, or via Highway 67 from Deckers, etc.
    • Continue west on Highway 24 through Divide, Florissant, and Lake George
    • About ½ mile northwest of Lake George, turn right, north, on paved Tarryall Road 77.
    • After driving about one mile on Highway 77, turn right on unpaved CR 112.

    Use THIS MAP for the details of the forest roads. Note that Peak 9083 is not shown on this USFS map.

    • After several hundred feet, CR 112 comes to a T – turn left on a small forest road, 295/296.
    • This road leads north past some private land on the west
    • About 2/3 mile from the original T, there’s another split.
    • The left fork FR-295 the main fork – it leads north several miles into the National Forest (see alternate route details below).
    • FR-295 isn’t shown on Google Maps, but it’s on the satellite images.
    • The straight-ahead fork FR-296 continues north up a long draw, past several campsites, until it dead-ends.
    • This road requires high clearance, and it might be 4WD when snowy or muddy.
    • Park near the end of the road – this is the “South Trailhead”.

    The Hike from the end of FR-296:

    • From the parking spot, continue up the draw, following the remaining tracks of the closed road.
    • The route climbs gently and passes through open forest and meadows.
    • The ruts gradually disappear, but an old trail and game trails continue on.


    • Less than a mile up the draw from the “trailhead”, a large power line is visible ahead in a cleared right-of-way.
    • Follow the power line northwest – this is the most challenging part of the trip.
    • Downed trees and bushes obstruct passage through the cleared land beneath the wires.
    • When we were there, this part of the route was covered by snow.
    • Follow the power line north almost ¼ mile.
    • Peak 9083 is visible to the north.


    • Contour northwest around a gully that drops below the lines.
    • Continue to an obvious saddle at 8680 feet.
    • The power line runs around the west side of Peak 9083, but don’t follow it past the saddle.
    • From the saddle, climb about ½ mile up the pleasant south ridge to the summit.

    Driving Directions to the “North Trailhead”:

    • With a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and good road conditions, it’s possible to drive much closer to the summit via FR-295.
    • At the split between FR-295 and FR-296, take FR-295, the left fork
    • Drive north up FR-295 for about 2.5 odometer miles to this point:

    N39 02.697     W105 22.052 Deg Min    WGS 84
    39.04495        -105.36753    Deg          WGS 84

    • This is the “North Trailhead” – there’s room to park and turn around
    • It’s also possible to access the north end of FR-295 via the Platte Springs Road FR-210.
    • The “North Trailhead” is about 1.7 odometer miles south of FR-210
    • FR-295 is not suitable for ordinary cars – it’s a jeep road

    The Hike from the “North Trailhead”

    • There’s no marked trail, but game trails are available
    • Hike southeast from the parking spot
    • Cross under the large power lines
    • Aim for the visible saddle north of the summit
    • From the saddle, hike south, up the north ridge of the southern peak – don’t climb the northern sub-peak
    • The climb is only about 0.45 mile and 360 vertical feet
    • This hike requires only about 20 minutes in good conditions

    Additional Details:

    The hikes up the partly-forested south and north ridges of 9083 are pleasant – nice views reveal the surrounding terrain. Little of the local area has been burned by wildfire.

    The actual summit of 9083 is a small, pleasant flat spot among trees and rocks – views are somewhat limited.

    This peak is an almost perfect SOTA site – the large activation zone extends down the south ridge, where there are sunny, grassy areas with nice trees and few rocks. Even though the power line is only a couple hundred yards west of the peak, we heard no HF line noise. Since we heard no corona noise when we walked under the high-voltage wires in 2015, it’s possible that the lines weren’t energized while we were there. In 2016 we also heard no obvious line noise.

    N0TA and I activated 9083 simultaneously on different bands:

    On Dec 9, 2015, KX0R logged 22 contacts on 7, 10, and 18 MHz CW; N0TA logged 25 contacts on 14 MHz CW.

    On Nov 6, 2016, KX0R logged 22 contacts on 7, 10, and 18 MHz CW. N0TA logged 19 contacts on 10 and 14 Mhz CW.

    VHF and UHF coverage from Peak 9083 is limited by various surrounding mountains, but views suggest that contacts might be possible toward the Denver area to the northeast, as well as the area north of Pikes Peak.

    Even though the routes described require a high-clearance vehicle and good conditions, Peak 9083 could be reached by hiking or snow-shoeing from FR-295/296 in the south, or from Platte Springs Road 210 up north.

    Peak 9083 lies close to several other accessible SOTA peaks and might be combined with any of them for a dual or multiple activation:

    Peak 9036           W0C/SP-125    ~ 3 miles north
    Tappan Mountain  W0C/FR-066    ~ 3 miles northwest
    Blue Mountain      W0C/SP-123     ~ 8 miles south
    Signal Butte          W0C/FR-165    ~ 7 miles east

    The trailhead for Peak 9036, W0C/SP-125 is at the same place on Road 210 where FR-295 heads south about 1.7 miles toward Peak 9083

    In 2015 we activated Blue Mountain the same day, and that worked well, even on December 9, a short day near winter solstice. In 2016 we activated 9036 the same day, for an easy dual activation.

    Hiking through the forest near Peak 9083 requires caution during hunting season. Wear hunter orange there in the fall!

    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-156 (9986) – 3044 m / 9986 ft

    W0C/FR-156
    9986
    3044 m / 9986 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 15, 2016

    By KX0R

    Peak 9986 is a challenging SOTA peak near Barnes Meadow Reservoir in the Poudre Canyon of Northern Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Obscure summit, rarely visited
    • No obvious trailhead
    • No marked trail
    • Steep, off-trail ascent through thick forest with plenty of deadfall
    • Challenging navigation most of the way
    • Excellent HF radio site
    • ~ 5.4 miles round trip
    • ~ 1000 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins
    • Go north on Highway 287 about 10 miles
    • Turn west on Highway 14 at Ted’s Place
    • Drive up the Poudre Canyon to where CR-103 heads off to the north to Chambers Lake, Gledevey, etc.
    • This junction is about 51 miles from Ted’s Place
    • Pass this intersection and go about ¼ mile further up Highway 14 to Barnes Meadow Reservoir.
    • This reservoir is not visible from the highway, but the dam is visible; there’s no marked trail-head.
    • Park just off the highway, near the southwest corner of the Reservoir.
    • The parking spot is northwest of some red rocks piled along the shore – see the Google satellite image.

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • Hike from the parking spot to the southwest corner of the reservoir.
    • From there, a trail leads east along the south shore of the lake. This is easy to see on the satellite image.
    • This trail is mostly used by fishermen.
    • The south shore is open to the public.


    • Follow the path along the shore for a bit more than a mile, all the way to the northeast corner of the reservoir.
    • Even though it’s tempting, DO NOT hike across the dam on the west side of the lake to access the north shore – the entire area is posted and closed to the public.
    • The south shore is not posted, and it provides good legal access to the National Forest and Peak 9986 northeast of the Reservoir.
    • The path gets primitive toward the east end of the lake.
    • At the northeast inlet, cross the small creek and head north into the forest.
    • The remaining route to 9986 is off-trail.
    • The general idea is to climb steeply north to about 9600 feet, and then follow the moderate east ridge of the mountain up to the summit.
    • The summit is not visible until you get on top of the ridge.

    Useful Details:

    GPS is helpful for navigating up through the rocky gullies, thick forest, and deadfall on the route to 9986.

    Only strong hikers with backcountry, off-trail experience should attempt to climb 9986. Avoid steep, cliffy areas southwest of the summit, as well as the deep Cache la Poudre River Canyon east of the mountain.

    There are many game trails that help make the southeast ridge route work. Most of the gulches and ridges have game trails. This is a good area for deer, elk, and moose.

    The actual summit of 9986 is a large boulder; I didn’t see a register in a jar, etc.

    The activation zone extends a long way along the east-west ridge-top, so many good spots are available for setting up and operating on the radio. The summit is essentially in the wilderness, more than a mile from a bit of development near the highway, and the RF noise level is very low. While not the highest point in the area, it has enough prominence to be a nice HF site. Because of the surrounding mountains, the peak probably has poor VHF/UHF coverage.

    With wet weather moving in quickly, I set up my radio gear just east of the summit under an evergreen tree.

     

    In spite of some snow flurries and wind, my activation went well, with 30 CW contacts logged on the 40-30-20M bands.  The sun came out after I was done!

    9986 is not far from several other SOTA peaks near the Poudre Canyon; it might be combined with another hike for a dual activation. Nearby possibilities include:

    W0C/FR-131 10980
    W0C/PR-072 North Diamond Peak
    W0C/PR-061 Iron Mountain
    W0C/PR-006 Lulu Mountain
    W0C/FR-027 Cameron Peak

    It would be a long day. A trip up 9986 and back is a pretty good workout by any standard.

    Here’s an excellent report of a winter expedition to 9986.

    Numerous campgrounds and other facilities are available in the Poudre Canyon area. North Park is only a half-hour drive to the west. Opportunities for recreation are numerous!

    73

    George
    KX0R

    Aspen Gallery:

     

    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-004 (Ute Peak) – 3750 m / 12303 ft

    W0C/PR-004
    Ute Peak
    3750 m / 12303 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 7, 2016

    By KX0R

    Ute Peak is a fun alpine SOTA peak in the Williams Fork Mountains north of Silverthorne.

    Key Points:

    • Arapaho National Forest
    • Somewhat challenging hike at high altitude
    • Marked trail most of the way
    • Trail is inefficient and confusing
    • Superb scenery – nice alpine area
    • Excellent HF site
    • 11 miles round-trip
    • ~3100 vertical feet total

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west on I-70, pass through the Tunnel, and exit to Silverthorne
    • Turn north on Highway 9
    • Drive along the Blue River for about 11 miles to Ute Pass Road CR 15
    • Turn east on paved CR 15, and drive up to Ute Pass at 9570 feet
    • The trailhead is on the east side of the road
    • Park off the road near the Pass

    The Hike and Climb:

    • Google Maps show none of the Ute Peak Trail
    • Use an up-to-date map to navigate this area – part of the route has been changed
    • GPS is very useful up there
    • Follow the marked Ute Pass Trail #31 as it ascends southeast along the ridge
    • The trail leads up through dense sub-alpine forest
    • After climbing up the ridge to about 10,200 feet, the trail leaves the ridge, contours to the east, and descends to about 9900 feet
    • This is contrary to what’s required to ascend the peak – this part of the trail seems designed to connect with a trailhead down in the valley to the east, near the Williams Fork River
    • Eventually a fork leads southwest, and Trail #24 climbs steeply back up toward the ridge


    • The trail continues ascending south along the northwest ridge
    • The path becomes smaller near treeline, but it continues up the steep tundra and flattens out near 12,000 feet


    • The trail runs along the west side of the ridge and gradually climbs toward the prominent summit
    • To climb Ute Peak, head slightly east on a climbers trail that ascends around the north side of the summit and up to the top

    Additional Details:

    Perhaps a more direct trail previously ran right up the northwest ridge, all the way from Ute Pass to tree-line. This route is shown on my GPS map-set, but I didn’t find it when I was up there. It’s possible that this route still exists, but it might be covered with deadfall now.

    When I ascended the mountain, I realized that the current trail was taking me too far to the east and downhill, so I decided to head off-trail, up through the forest, to re-gain the ridge. My route was steep and involved some bush-whacking. Before long I met the designated trail at about 10,400 feet. When I went down from the summit, I followed the main route all the way to see how it works.

    Even though the current trail is inefficient, it’s a better route to the summit than bushwhacking up the thickly-forested northwest ridge!

    Above tree-line, the hike to Ute Peak goes fast. The alpine scenery is exciting, and the trail runs close to the ridge-top. The peak looks tricky at first sight; but the path around the north side makes the final ascent easy. There’s a pole marking this route.

    There was a triangulation station on the summit, and parts of it lie on the slope below – wood posts, steel pole, wires, etc. The peak was windy when I was there, so I set up my radio gear about 30 feet below the top, on the east slope.

    Ute Peak’s the highest point in the area, so it’s a fine HF summit. No trees are available so high, so a guyed pole is appropriate. I used a wood post from the trig station to help support my pole.

    No development’s nearby, and the RF noise level is very low. Even though my wire antenna was no higher than the summit, I had fun with my 3-band activation. My log shows 42 CW contacts on 7-10-14 Mhz.

    VHF/UHF coverage is probably limited to the Blue River Valley and parts of Middle Park up north.

    The views from the ridge and summit are spectacular. The Gore Range stands wild and rugged only a few miles to the west. Other mountain ranges are visible to the northeast and northwest.

    The Byers Peak Wilderness is about 5 miles northeast, Vasquez Peak Wilderness is about 8 miles east, and the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness is just south along the ridge.

    The view down the coulours to the cirque far below the summit is scary – be careful here. This is no place to take chances, especially if there’s snow or ice on the slope.

    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/SP-074 (Burntop) – 3379 m / 11085 ft

    W0C/SP-074
    Burntop
    3379 m / 11085 ft
    Sep 11, 2016

    By KX0R

    Burntop is a surprisingly fun sub-alpine SOTA peak in the northern Puma Hills, on the east side of South Park. The west side of the mountain and the summit ridge were burned by a forest fire many years ago.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Burned area
    • Good unmarked trail part of the way
    • Relatively short, steep climb
    • Great views of South Park and beyond
    • Fine HF site
    • ~ 2.7 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1570 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive down 285, across Kenosha Pass, to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77 and go about XX miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Just past Tarryall Reservoir, turn right, west, on CR 23
    • CR 23 is a bumpy 2WD dirt road
    • Drive about 1.5 mile to a split in the road
    • Turn left, south, on FR 144 into Packer Gulch
    • FR 144 is a good 2WD dirt road if dry

    • Drive south on FR-144 about 3.5 miles
    • Look for Burntop on the left, east, side – the burn scar is obvious
    • A left-right dog-leg in the road precedes the “trailhead” at 9520 feet
    • A closed forest road will be visible at the second bend of the dog-leg, directly below Burntop – look for a fiberglass USFS marker
    • Park here

    The Climb:

    • Hike up the closed road about 0.6 mile, first through a meadow, and then into the aspens – the road/trail gradually disappears.

    • Climb left toward an obvious gully
    • Near 9900 feet, cross the steep gully below the burned area, and start hiking up the steep burn scar
    • Small game trails lead up through the dead trees and bushes

    • Stay north of the gully, and hike ENE up to the ridge-top

    • Turn north at the ridge-top
    • Hike along the ridge through an open burned area, all the way to the top

    • There are several large rock outcrops within the Activation Zone
    • The summit has a jar with a register
    • Google maps are OK for this area
    • The Google satellite image is superb – it shows the dog-leg in the road, the trailhead, the closed road as far as it goes, the steep gully, the burn scar, and the summit area.

    Additional Details:

    The closed road provides a good route to this accessible SOTA peak. It’s “secret”, because it’s not shown on the Pike National Forest map, nor does it have a marked “trailhead”. It has no number, and its only marking is that it’s closed to motor vehicles. This old trail leads to the best place to cross the gully, in order to climb the burn scar.

    The climb from the upper end of the road to the ridge-top south of the summit is only about 0.4 miles, but the vertical gain is 900 feet. The final ascent along the ridge is about 0.3 miles, with a vertical gain of about 280 feet. It’s sad that the fire burned up the mountain, but the open views near the top create an intense experience.

    The pointed summit is small but spectacular. It’s perched at the craggy top of a very steep slope, and the views will take your breath away. A small cairn with a jar marks the peak.

    The day I was there, it was a windy day, so I set up my radio gear in a sunny spot southeast of the peak. A few dead and live trees are available to support a pole or a wire.

    I found a card from first-activator Steve WG0AT in the jar on the summit! What a pleasant surprise!

    Burntop is almost an ideal SOTA peak. It’s prominent in all directions, and it’s radio quiet, with no development around the mountain. No higher mountains block HF skip signals significantly. The peak is probably a poor VHF/UHF site, with coverage limited to the northern part of South Park.

    This peak can be combined with nearby Puma Peak W0C/SP-065 for a dual activation.

    Dispersed camping is allowed in Packer Gulch – but it’s really busy there on nice weekends.

    Be aware of hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    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/SP-065 (Puma Peak) – 3527 m / 11570 ft

    W0C/SP-065
    Puma Peak
    3527 m / 11570 ft
    Sep 10, 2016

    By KX0R

    Puma Peak is an interesting sub-alpine SOTA peak in the northern Puma Hills, on the east side of South Park.  It’s the highest summit in the Puma Hills.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Jeep road most of the way
    • Relatively short off-trail climb to peak
    • Prominent summit
    • Fine HF site
    • ~ 7.5 miles round-trip, hiking from 9770 feet
    • ~ 1800 vertical feet, hiking from 9770 feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive down 285, across Kenosha Pass, to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77 and go about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Just south of Tarryall Reservoir, turn right, west, on CR 23
    • CR 23 is a bumpy 2WD dirt road
    • Drive about 1.5 miles to a split in the road
    • Turn left, south, on marked Packer Gulch Road FR-144
    • FR-144 is a good 2WD dirt road up the valley if dry
    • Drive south on FR-144 about 4 miles


    • The road ascends the drainage and then makes a big turn to the right as it enters thick forest
    • Very soon there’s a junction with FR-237
    • This is a good place to park, unless you have a high-clearance vehicle

    The Climb:

    • It’s possible to drive up this road to a saddle at 11,040 feet, provided conditions are good
    • The road doesn’t require 4WD or high clearance for the first couple of miles, but it’s very narrow, and it gets considerable use from ATV’s, Jeeps, and trail-bikes
    • The road gets rougher above about 10,000 feet, with large rocks in a few spots

    • There was a tree blocking the road about a mile below the end when I was there – some 4WD drivers were able to go up and around it – steep, serious detour!
    • The road isn’t steep, so it’s an easy hike – but it’s so gentle that it’s inefficient
    • This would be an ideal MTB or motorbike climb – but listen for motor vehicles
    • From the saddle at 11,040 feet, hike southwest, up through the forest, on a small, steep path
    • The path is less distinct toward the top – just follow the ridge up through the bristlecone pines and a little deadfall


    • After about 0.3 mile and over 500 vertical feet, the rocky summit appears

    Additional Details:

    Puma Peak is heavily forested with bristlecone pine trees. Views across South Park are spectacular but limited by the trees. You can look down at Eagle Rock W0C/SP-113 and Observatory Rock W0C/SP-102 far below, and much of South Park and other mountains far to the west.

    I set up my radio gear just east of the summit, because of rocks and deadfall on the peak. There’s plenty of room to set up among the trees.

    Puma Peak is a fine SOTA peak. It’s prominent in all directions, and no higher mountains block HF skip signals significantly. The site has very low noise – there’s no development near the mountain. The peak is probably an OK VHF/UHF site, with coverage limited to the northern part of South Park.

    This peak can be combined with nearby Burntop W0C/SP-074 for a dual activation.

    Thanks to WG0AT Steve for his First Activation of Puma Peak!

    Which Summit is the Peak?

    Puma Peak has a sister summit about ¼ mile along the ridge to the southwest. This peak’s elevation is similar to that of the designated SOTA peak. The SOTA location of Puma Peak on Google Maps agrees with the location of the red balloon summit shown by Lists of John – both show the northeastern peak as the summit. This location is 39.1572, -105.5815. The SOTA elevation is given as 3527m, or 11570 ft.

    The problem is that the USGS topography on the 7.5 minute quadrangle (Farnum Peak quad) clearly shows the southwestern peak at 11570 feet and the northeastern peak at 11550 feet; the printed numerical elevations for both peaks agree with the contour line data. I looked at the digital version of Farnum Peak quad on the USGS site, and the mapped topography indicates that the southwest summit is the peak. It isn’t clear why this discrepancy exists.

    When I climbed the mountain, I first hiked out to the southwestern summit. I ran my GPS track out and back, and I recorded waypoints on both summits and the saddle. My GPS has a barometric altimeter which tends to stabilize the GPS altitude measurements. The various altitude measurements along the track strongly suggest – but don’t confirm – that the northeast peak is the real SOTA peak.

    Without more accurate instruments, there’s no way to verify which summit is higher. In their book “Colorado’s Lost Creek Wilderness”, Gerry and Jennifer Roach say that they made careful checks with a hand level and determined that the northeast summit is the real peak.  That’s pretty solid.

    Unfortunately the saddle between the peaks appears to be too low for both peaks to share the Activation Zone – my GPS data shows the saddle almost 100 feet below the northeast peak. The USGS map has it even lower.

    After I ran my GPS track out to the southwestern sub-peak and back, I did my activation on the northeastern summit.

    Be aware of hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    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/SP-071 (Schoolmarm Mountain) – 3454 m / 11332 ft

    W0C/SP-071
    Schoolmarm Mountain
    3454 m / 11332 ft
    Aug 22, 2016

    By KX0R

    Schoolmarm Mountain is a fun sub-alpine SOTA peak in the west-central Puma Hills, on the east side of South Park.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Closed logging road ascends most of the way
    • Relatively short off-trail climb to peak
    • Prominent summit
    • Fine HF site
    • 2.6 miles round-trip
    • 1200 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west on Highway 285, across Kenosha Pass, to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77, and go about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Just past Tarryall Reservoir, turn right, west, on CR 23
    • CR 23 is mostly a pretty good 2WD dirt road, with some bumpy sections and washboarding
    • A detailed map is essential for the rest of the drive. Google maps doesn’t include some of the relevant forest roads and other details.
    • The Pike National Forest map is very useful
    • Follow CR 23 generally west several miles, around several bends, and past a few splits, until it eventually leads south around the western base of the Puma Hills. This road is called Turner Gulch Road, CR 23, even though it’s slightly west of the actual Turner Gulch Road FR-145.  Don’t drive into Packer Gulch:

    • Drive south on CR 23 for about 6 miles from the fork where FR-146 goes northwest toward Eagle Rock, etc.
    • Turn left, east, on marked FR-237
    • FR-237 is an OK, lumpy, narrow 2WD road if it’s dry – at least medium clearance is needed for this part of the trip; there are humps.
    • Drive up FR-237 about one mile from CR 23 to a fork.
    • At the fork go right, southeast, on FR-237A, into the upper part of Turner Gulch


    • Ascend about ½ mile up FR-237A to the gated end of the road
    • Park here – this is the “trailhead”, but it’s not so marked.

    *** CR 23 can also be accessed easily from Highway 24 ***

    The Climb:

    • Hike up the closed road behind the gate
    • Not far up from the gate at the trailhead there’s a fork, and a road leads left, up a hill, and off to the east
    • Stay on the road leading south up Turner Gulch
    • Unfortunately for hikers, the USFS wants this road permanently closed to vehicles, so they have spread hundreds of old tree trunks across the road for at least ¼ mile up.

    • In some parts it’s easier to hike along the road than on it.
    • Eventually the route is mostly clear of obstacles, and hiking becomes more efficient


    • The road ends at a large cleared area.
    • Continue climbing up the hill on game trails, through relatively open sub-alpine forest, to a saddle at 11,000 feet.
    • Hike steeply southwest from the saddle for about ¼ mile and 330 vertical feet to the summit of Schoolmarm Mountain.  Most of the route is along an old trail up the partly-forested ridge.

    • An intact triangulation station from 1953 stands on the rocky peak
    • The related USCGS Benchmark is beneath the wooden station

    Additional Details:

    Thanks to Steve WG0AT for his earlier SOTA activations of Schoolmarm!

    A little rain shower started when I reached the top, and I found some shelter under a tree. I set up my radio gear slightly southeast of the peak. There’s plenty of room to set up near the rocky summit. You could even set up right by the triangulation station – just be careful of the steel guy wires!

    The views from the actual summit are somewhat limited by the bristlecone pines, but what you can see is still awesome – South Park, the Collegiate Peaks, the Divide, etc. There’s a special rocky spot just south of the summit with excellent views.

    Schoolmarm is a fine SOTA peak. It’s prominent in all directions, and no higher mountains block HF skip signals significantly. The site has very low noise – there’s no development on the mountain. The peak is probably an OK VHF/UHF site, with coverage limited to areas of South Park.

    This mountain can be combined with several nearby SOTA peaks for a dual activation:

    Puma Peak W0C/SP-065
    Burntop W0C/SP-074
    Eagle Rock W0C/SP-113
    Observatory Rock W0C/SP-102
    Badger Mountain W0C/SP-072

    Be aware of hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    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/SP-061 (Payne Benchmark) – 3591 m / 11780 ft

    W0C/SP-061
    Payne Benchmark
    3591 m / 11780 ft
    First Activation
    Oct 27, 2016

    By KX0R

    Payne Benchmark is a fine SOTA peak in the wilderness near Bailey, Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Platte River Mountains
    • Lost Creek Wilderness
    • Good marked trail much of the way
    • Off-trail final climb, about 0.6 mile to a pleasant summit
    • Nice scenery – wilderness
    • Summit is rarely visited
    • ~ 15.5 miles round-trip
    • ~ 3750 vertical feet
    • “SOTA Classic”

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west from Denver via Highway 285 to Bailey
    • Turn south on CR 64, at a bridge next to the lumber-yard
    • Where the road forks, continue left, mostly west on 2WD dirt road CR 64
    • After about 2 miles, look for Payne Gulch Road on the left (closed to public)
    • Drive past Payne Creek on CR 64 about 0.2 mile
    • Turn left, south, on a small forest road, and continue about 100 yards to the parking area
    • Park here – this is the Brookside-McCurdy Trailhead
    • There is no charge to park or enter
    • Google Maps shows the roads in this area OK

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • Google Maps only shows fragments of the trails here – the Trails Illustrated/National Geographic maps are much better.
    • The trail first leads roughly south – it’s not very efficient, because it was built to bypass private land.
    • At about one mile from the trailhead, the trail splits.
    • Head southwest on Brookside-McCurdy Trail 607.
    • Follow Trail 607 as it leads across a small creek, crosses a large ridge, and climbs high into the Lost Creek Wilderness.

    • The trail continues up McArthur Gulch and gains plenty of vertical feet.
    • Eventually the grade moderates, and the route reaches a broad saddle at about 11,250 feet, near the crest of the Platte River Range.
    • Be sure you have a good map and/or a GPS unit with topo map data for the final off-trail climb
    • Leave the trail and head southeast into the forest – the summit is not visible
    • Hike steeply up the slope toward the peak – the exact route is not critical – it’s about 500 vertical feet to the top.

    • The route ascends to a broad bench at 11,600 feet – this area is covered with young bristlecone pine trees

    • Climb east from the bench, up through a thick forest of much older bristlecone pines, and finally up a few rocks to the craggy summit.

    Details:

    The summit’s small, but it has a convenient flat spot right at the top. A few live and dead trees are available for supporting a pole or a wire. Since the weather was perfect, I decided to set up right next to the summit block, so I guyed my pole to the rocks.

    I tied the far end of the wire to an erect dead tree, the old SOTA trick for a second pole! Payne Benchmark is a near-perfect HF radio site – very prominent and RF-quiet. I logged 48 CW contacts on 4 HF bands during my activation.

    UHF/VHF coverage probably is significant, because the peak looks east across lower mountains to some large areas out on the plains.

    The peak feels even higher than it is. The vast, open views into the Lost Creek Wilderness reveal peaks and other features not visible from the highways in the valleys below.

    Many SOTA peaks are visible. Lost Platte Peak stands a few miles to the east, and Pikes Peak is visible in the south. Windy Peak and Buffalo Peak are not far away; Green Mountain, Wellington Lake and The Castle stand far below! South Twin Cone and North Twin Cone command the western view, along with higher peaks on the Divide further west. Peaks X and Y stand right across the immense glacial valley of Craig Creek that runs 1000 feet down below.

    These views pulls you in – the more you look, the more you see. As a relative newcomer to the Lost Creek Wilderness, I was stunned by the vastness and intricacy of the views. This is true wilderness – there’s no one else – and it’s all perfect and incredible – for too short a time. Only the radio connects you to civilization.

    Payne Benchmark is a true “SOTA Classic”. The excellent challenging hike, the fine scenery, the pure wilderness, the summit climb through the bristlecone pines, the small rocky summit looking out across incredible views for miles in every direction, and the perfect radio site make this one of the best SOTA peaks around!

    Save this summit for the best day you have free.

    Please don’t visit this summit when cumulus clouds threaten. It’s certainly a dangerous place in a storm. The tiny summit is the highest point for miles, and it’s just reaching up toward the clouds for a lightning strike. Most of the central trunks of the old bristlecone pines there have been struck and killed hundreds of years ago – it’s obvious. Only a few branches are still alive on some – and many others are all dead.

    Lost Platte Peak W0C/SP-086 is only about 4 miles east of Payne Benchmark, and it might be reached by hiking along the heavily-forested top of the Platte River Range, but activating both peaks in one day would be difficult.

    Lost Platte Peak can also be reached from the same trailhead as Payne Benchmark, via the Payne Gulch Trail 637.

    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/SP-086 (Lost Platte Peak) – 3248 m / 10657 ft

    W0C/SP-086
    Lost Platte Peak
    3248 m / 10657 ft
    First Activation
    Oct 14, 2016

    By KX0R

    Lost Platte Peak is a fine SOTA peak in the wilderness near Bailey, Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Platte River Mountains
    • Lost Creek Wilderness
    • Good marked trail much of the way
    • Off-trail final climb, about one mile to a pleasant summit
    • Nice scenery – wilderness
    • Summit is seldom visited
    • ~ 12 miles round-trip
    • ~ 2500 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west from Denver via Highway 285 to Bailey
    • Turn south on CR 64, at a bridge next to the lumber-yard
    • Where the road forks, continue left, mostly west, on 2WD dirt road CR 64
    • After about 2 miles, look for Payne Gulch Road on the left
    • Payne Gulch Road is gated and closed to the public
    • Drive past Payne Creek about 0.2 mile
    • Turn left, south, on a small forest road, and continue about 0.1 mile to the parking area
    • Park here – this is the Brookside-McCurdy Trailhead
    • There is no charge to park or enter
    • Google Maps shows the roads in this area OK

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • Google Maps only shows fragments of the trails here – the Trails Illustrated/National Geographic maps are much better.
    • The trail first leads roughly south – it’s not very efficient, because it was built to bypass private land.
    • About one mile from the trailhead, the trail splits.


    • Head left, southeast, on Payne Gulch Trail 637. This trail is less traveled than Trail 607.
    • Follow Trail 637 as it leads toward Payne Creek and up into the Lost Creek Wilderness.


    • The route climbs along old logging roads to a broad pass or saddle.


    • It’s over 4 miles from the trailhead to the pass at 9900 feet:


    • At the pass, leave the trail and climb east-souteast through aspens
    • Ascend the nearby ridge at about 10,100 feet, and follow the ridge southeast toward Lost Platte Peak.

    • It’s more than 1 mile from the saddle at 9900 feet to the summit.
    • The ridge is mixed aspen and conifer forest, with some deadfall.
    • Most of the route is easy, with useful game trails.
    • Climb over a small sub-peak at about 10,280 feet, and Lost Platte Peak comes into view.

    • The final climb to the summit is about 500 vertical feet – just follow the ridge; stay slightly left, north, of any craggy spots.

    Here’s an excellent report on a winter expedition to Lost Platte Peak.

    Details:

    Lost Platte Peak has several rocky points, and they’re all in the large activation zone. Many trees are available for holding a pole or a wire. Because of wind, I set up slightly below the top in a nice aspen grove.

    The peak is a fine HF radio site – very prominent and RF quiet. I logged 58 CW contacts on 4 HF bands during my SOTA first activation.

    UHF/VHF coverage probably is limited to the area around Bailey, plus a few places out east.

    The peak feels very high when you’re up there. The open views into the Lost Creek Wilderness reveal peaks and other features not visible from the highways around the area. Windy Peak W0C/SP-056 and Buffalo Peak W0C/FR-032 stand high in the southeast; Wellington Lake and The Castle W0C/FR-161 stand far below!

    The summit of Bison Peak W0C/FR-021 stands behind other mountains. There’s even a glimpse of the Plains far to the east, as well as a few peaks on the Divide in the west.

    Despite being so close to the Denver Metro Area, the Payne Creek Trail leads to some wild country not visited by the masses. This is a special place; it provides intense solitude and wonderful vistas for the fortunate few who go up there.

    Payne Benchmark W0C/SP-061 is about 4 miles west of Lost Platte Peak, and it might be reached by hiking along the top of the Platte River Range; but activating both peaks in one day would be very difficult. Payne Benchmark also can be climbed from the same trailhead as Lost Platte Peak, via Brookside-McCurdy Trail 607.

    Mount Bailey W0C/FR-062 is only a few miles east of the Brookside-McCurdy Trailhead, and it’s a practical second summit to combine with Lost Platte Peak for a dual activation.

    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/SP-075 (11060) – 3371 m / 11060 ft

    W0C/SP-075
    11060
    3371 m / 11060 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 18, 2016

    By KX0R

    Peak 11060 is a fun sub-alpine SOTA peak in the Tarryall Mountains east of South Park.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Just outside the Lost Creek Wilderness Area
    • Good trail half way
    • Short off-trail climb to the summit
    • Nice scenery
    • Excellent HF site
    • 2.0 miles round-trip
    • ~500 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west on Highway 285, and cross Kenosha Pass
    • About 2 miles beyond the Pass, turn left, south, on CR 56, the Lost Park Road
    • This unpaved road is rocky and rough, but it’s normally a 2WD road, and high clearance is not required
    • Follow the road about 13 miles to Lost Pass at 10,680 feet
    • Continue on CR 56 for about 2.3 miles southeast, down the valley
    • At a signed junction, turn left, north, on FR-134
    • FR-134 is a humpy 2WD dirt road, but many vehicles can use it


    • Ascend about a mile to a saddle at almost 10,600 feet
    • About 500 feet northwest of this saddle, a closed road heads south into a logged area
    • This road is on my older Garmin GPS map-set
    • This logging road is clearly visible in Google satellite images with magnification
    • Park near the closed road

    The Hike and Climb:

    • GPS is recommended for navigation
    • Walk south along the closed logging road – it’s almost level at first
    • The road first passes a large, dark pile of logging waste – see Google satellite image
    • Follow the road about ½ mile, until it approaches the north side of 11060 and curves to the east-northeast
    • Leave the road and hike southeast up through open sub-alpine forest
    • The route’s a bit steeper toward the top
    • Stay on the northwest ridge, and avoid any cliffs
    • Hike over some rock outcrops near the top, and continue a short distance along the forested ridge to the summit
    • The peak is near a prominent rock outcrop overlooking the South Fork of Lost Creek

    Additional Details:

    Very few people visit 11060. Even though the peak is over 11,000 feet high, distant views are limited by higher peaks in most directions. Bison Peak and Peak 11423 are visible a few miles to the south; Topaz and North Tarryall Peak stand out to the west. This summit is surprisingly pleasant and uplifting, with so many visual delights all around.  The peak has a convenient balcony for looking out at the sights!

    There are several summits along the ridge of 11060. The sub-peak ¼ mile southeast of the actual peak looks like it’s almost the same elevation as the northwest summit.

    Most of the rock on the ridge is gneiss or similar; this hard, gray, metamorphic rock forms several interesting outcrops along the top.  This is not the massive orange Pikes Peak granite found in many other Tarryall Range summits.

    11060 is a fine HF site. Miles from development, the noise level is very low. The summit’s quite prominent and falls away quickly in most directions. The peak’s surrounded by slightly higher mountains, but they’re too far away to affect HF skip signals much. However, VHF/UHF coverage is probably poor and limited to the immediate area.

    My SOTA First Activation was fun, with 25 CW contacts logged on 7, 10, and 14 MHz.

    11060 can be combined with another local summit for a dual activation.
    Possibilities include:

    W0C/FR-029 North Tarryall Peak
    W0C/SP-068 11423
    W0C/SP-062 Topaz Mountain
    Etc.

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    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!