SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Category: WØC

SOTA (Summits on the Air) trip reports in W0 land with pictures and videos by K0MOS. Amateur radio mountain topping.

  • W0C/FR-029 (North Tarryall Peak) – 3628 m / 11902 ft

    W0C/FR-029
    North Tarryall Peak
    3628 m / 11902 ft
    Oct 15, 2016 – with N0TA

    By KX0R

    North Tarryall Peak is a classic alpine SOTA peak in the Tarryall Mountains east of South Park.

    • Pike National Forest
    • Somewhat challenging off-trail climb to the summit
    • Spectacular scenery
    • Exciting alpine summit
    • Superb radio site
    • ~ 3.5 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1250 vertical feet

    ** SOTA Classic **

    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 CR 56 about 13.3 miles up to Lost Pass at 10,680 feet
    • Park at the Pass

    ** Note that CR 56 may be closed seasonally – check with the  USFS **

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • A fence runs up the hill just south of the Pass
    • Hike southwest along the fence through the woods
    • Head west near the top of the hill, and go through open forest to a bench at about 11,000 feet
    • The bench is a large marsh
    • Follow a game trail southwest across the southeast side of the bench
    • Enter the forest at about 11,100 feet
    • Follow game trails south-southwest up the steep slope toward the summit
    • At about 11,650 feet, continue hiking up the rocky northeast ridge of the mountain
    • Continue on the ridge to the summit area at 11,800 feet
    • The rocky summit is visible to the southwest across a large alpine meadow
    • An impressive old triangulation station stands intact on the rocky peak
    • A convenient path leads up a gully to the summit

    Additional Details:

    The ascent route described above is direct and efficient. Since this way is up the northeast side of the mountain, it might not be so nice if there’s snow in the woods. Other possible routes start by driving (or hiking) south on FR-446 for a mile or two. Some old closed logging roads lead up roughly west from FR-446 and provide partial access to the upper part of the mountain. These roads are visible in the Google satellite images.

    Regardless of the route you choose, GPS navigation is a good idea up there, because the forest is so thick that the summit’s often hidden from view. A good map and a compass also can keep you on course.

    The huge activation zone definitely includes a broad sub-peak, with nice trees and shelter from wind, about 500 feet north of the triangulation station. Please see the enlarged topo map of the summit. Activating from the exposed triangulation station is also possible, but there’s little shelter from wind, and no trees are available.

    North Tarryall Peak is a perfect HF site. Far from development, the noise level is very low. The prominent summit falls away quickly in all directions. No nearby mountains significantly block HF skip signals.

    This mountain should be useful for VHF/UHF communication as well. It’s high enough to have coverage across South Park to the Divide and the Collegiate Peaks.

    North Tarryall Peak sits on the long, high ridge-top of the Tarryall Mountains. The open views from the cliffy summit are spectacular. Topaz Mountain W0C/SP-062 stands 2.4 miles to the southeast.

    Pikes Peak is visible far to the south, beyond Topaz Mountain, Bison Peak, and McCurdy Mountain.

    Most of South Park spreads out far below. Other mountain ranges are easy to see far in the distance.

    Peak X (W0C/FR-022) and Peak Y (W0C/SP-052) stand less than 4 miles north in the Kenosha Mountains:

    In the southeast the eastern plains are visible, behind Lost Park and various summits in the Lost Creek Wilderness.

    North Tarryall can be combined with other nearby SOTA peaks for a dual activation:

    W0C/SP-062 Topaz Mountain 2.4 miles southeast
    W0C/SP-075 11060 4.2 miles east
    W0C/SP-068 11423 6.2 miles southeast

    North Tarryall Peak is a SOTA Classic!

    • Spectacular rocky alpine summit
    • Awesome views all around
    • Near-perfect radio site
    • Large, pleasant activation zone
    • Challenging hike
    • Relative solitude

    Thanks to Mark N0MTN for his First Activation!

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange; also note that the willow swamps east of the summit are prime moose territory.

    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-097 (Sheep Mountain) – 2303 m / 7555 ft

    W0C/FR-097
    Sheep Mountain
    2303 m / 7555 ft
    Oct 20, 2015

    By KX0R

    Sheep Mountain is an obscure SOTA peak on the north side of the Poudre Canyon, right above The Narrows.

    Key Points:

    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Accessible trailhead
    • No marked trail
    • Old trails provide a path part way
    • Navigation and route-finding required
    • Minimal bushwhacking via correct route
    • Prominent open summit
    • Fine views of Poudre Canyon
    • Burned up in High Park Fire of 2012
    • Fine HF summit
    • Mount McConnel and 7612 are nearby
    • Trailhead elevation ~ 6500 feet
    • ~ 2.2 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1030 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins.
    • Continue northwest from Fort Collins on Highway 287 to Ted’s Place.
    • Turn west on Highway 14, and enter the Poudre Canyon after 4 miles.
    • Continue up the winding canyon road, and pass through the Narrows
    • Look for the Narrows Picnic Area on the left side of the highway
    • A good parking spot is nearby, on the west side of the highway. It’s about 20 miles from Highway 287 to the parking spot.
    • Parking is prohibited in some other pullouts nearby.

    The Hike:

    • Walk across the highway and hike northeast through an open area toward the obvious gulch.
    • Just to the right, above the gully, is an eroded hill with hints of a trail.


    • Climb up this steep spot, to the eroded orange dirt, rather than hiking directly up the rocky gully.
    • A hidden abandoned road 50-100 feet above the gully leads eastward.
    • A good game trail follows this track.


    • This route ascends efficiently up to the wide saddle at 6860 feet, north of Sheep Mountain.
    • Head south from the saddle and climb the north slope of Sheep Mountain.
    • It’s steep and eroded, but it’s probably easier than other routes to the summit – there are hints of an old trail.
    • At the top of the slope, follow the gentle ridge south.
    • Stay just east of a rocky sub-peak.
    • A shallow valley leads up toward summit.
    • Follow the valley and remains of an old trail
    • Climb up the northeast ridge to the top.

    Here’s an alternative trip report from K0MOS.  Matt ascended up the steep southeast side of Sheep Mountain from The Narrows.  I believe my route detailed here is much easier.

    Additional Details:

    The following photo shows the key details of the first part of the climb.  To find the secret trail up above the gully north of Sheep Mountain, you must ascend to the point where this photo was taken.  This is the start of the hidden path up to the saddle north of Sheep Mountain.  Note that this spot is directly across the highway from the south end of the Narrows Campground.  The parking spot is visible down the road to the left.

    Because the mountain was burned, there are great views of the Canyon in all directions from the summit:

    The prominent summit is very rocky; scorched trees stand all over the slopes.

    The large Activation Zone offers several good places to set up with shelter from wind. Plenty of dead trees are available to support an antenna.  The wind forced me to set up my gear down the northeast side below the top.

    Sheep Mountain is an excellent HF radio site. There are no higher mountains nearby to interfere with HF propagation. The only development is far down in the canyon, so the HF noise level is low. This is probably a poor VHF/UHF site, as there’s only a glimpse of the plains down the Canyon.

    I had a busy HF activation on 7-10-14 MHz, with 30 CW contacts in less than an hour.

    Several other accessible SOTA peaks are nearby:

    W0C/FR-205 7612                        1.7 miles west
    W0C/FR-088 Mount McConnel       2.2 miles southwest
    W0C/FR-198 7980                        3.0 miles east
    W0C/FR-095 Greyrock Mountain    7.3 miles northeast

    Of these, 7612 and Mount McConnel are the best choices for a dual or multiple activation. I had no problem activating 7612 on the same day as Sheep Mountain.

    Use caution during hunting season in the fall – wear orange; and be careful about lightning, especially in spring and summer.

    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-205 (7612) – 2320 m / 7612 ft

    W0C/FR-205
    7612
    2320 m / 7612 ft
    Oct 20, 2015

    By KX0R

    Peak 7612 is an obscure SOTA summit in the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins. It was surprisingly fun to climb and activate!

    Key Points:

    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Accessible trailhead
    • No marked trail
    • Abandoned roads provide a path almost to the summit
    • Good navigation required
    • Minimal bushwhacking via correct route
    • Exciting, open summit with great views of Poudre Canyon
    • No recent fire damage – live trees and bushes
    • Fine HF summit
    • Trailhead elevation ~ 6700 feet
    • ~ 2.7 miles round-trip
    • ~ 900 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins.
    • Continue northwest from Fort Collins on Highway 287 to Ted’s Place.
    • Turn west on Highway 14, and enter the Poudre Canyon after 4 miles.
    • Continue up the winding canyon road, past the Narrows, for about 23 miles to Mountain Park Campground.
    • This USFS campground is clearly marked.
    • Pass the bridge to the Campground, and drive west about 0.3 miles
    • Park on the right (north) side of the road at a large pull-out, directly across the River from the Campground.

    The Hike:

    • Avoid the obvious trail heading northwest up a gulch – it goes to an informal shooting area.
    • Hike northeast from the parking spot instead, along a less obvious, gentle path through ponderosa pines, for about 100 yards to an old abandoned road.


    • This overgrown road is the easiest way up.
    • First the road climbs progressively up into a large valley west of the mountain.
    • Then it continues up a long, gentle ridge leading north to the west ridge of the mountain.


    • The path intersects a more recent jeep road running along the west ridge.
    • This road comes up a steep hill from the northwest – a jeep road is visible in the distance.
    • This un-maintained trail leads to several old campsites northwest of the summit.
    • The jeep trail ends just beyond these campsites.
    • Most of this route is visible on the magnified Google satellite image.

    Beyond the end of the road, a path climbs southeast along the ridge, where it crosses a prominent false summit with a large buttress on the south side. The route continues along the ridge over several small false summits. The trail gradually disappears, but it’s an easy hike to the actual peak.

    The final climb up the north side of 7612 is steep but short. Most of the mountain is bare, but there are no black burned trees, either standing or down; live trees grow on the north side of the summit.

    Additional Details:

    There are great views for miles in all directions. Mount McConnel stands south of Mountain Park Campground, about a mile directly across the canyon.

    The views down into the canyon are exciting. The Plains are barely visible in the east, but the high peaks to the west are easy to see. The perspective up there is very different from what you have in a vehicle down in the canyon!

    A large classic cairn made from slabs of gneiss stands on the summit. A dead tree stands near the cairn – it’s anchored down in the rocks, and it’s ideal for holding an antenna pole.

    There’s some shelter from wind on the east side of the rocks by the dead tree, near the cairn; this is where I set up my gear.

    7612 is a fine HF radio summit. It’s very prominent, with little blockage from higher mountains nearby. The only development nearby is far down in the canyon, so the HF noise level is low. With my pole supported by the dead tree near the cairn, I tied the far end of my antenna wire to a piece of another tree stuck into a bush south of the summit.

    My 5-band activation on 7-10-14-18-21 CW was fun – I made 32 contacts in about an hour.

    This site is probably not very effective for VHF/UHF work. The location is too far west into the mountains to see the population centers to the east.

    Several other accessible SOTA peaks are nearby:

    W0C/FR-088 Mount McConnel       1 mile south
    W0C/FR-097 Sheep Mountain        1.7 miles east
    W0C/FR-198 7980                        4.7 miles east
    W0C/FR-095 Greyrock Mountain   8.9 miles east

    Of these, Sheep Mountain and Mount McConnel are the best choices for a dual or multiple activation. I had no problem activating Sheep Mountain on the same day as 7612.

    Use caution during hunting season in the fall, and wear orange clothing. Please be careful about lightning, especially in spring and summer.

    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-088 (Mount McConnel) – 2445 m / 8020 ft

    W0C/FR-088
    Mount McConnel
    2445 m / 8020 ft
    Oct 9, 2015
    Nov 8, 2015 with N0TA
    Sep 3, 2016 with N0TA

    By KX0R

    Mount McConnel is a fine SOTA peak in the Poudre Canyon area.

    Key points:

    • Maintained trail all the way to the top
    • Roosevelt National Forest
    • Accessible trailhead
    • Easy hike
    • Good views and scenery
    • Popular in summer
    • Large activation zone
    • Most of the summit area was burned in 2012
    • ~ 4.2 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1300 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fort Collins
    • Continue northwest from Fort Collins on Highway 287 to Ted’s Place.
    • Turn west on Highway 14, and enter the Poudre Canyon after 4 miles.
    • Continue up the winding canyon road, past the Narrows, for about 23 miles to Mountain Park Campground

    • This USFS campground is clearly marked.
    • Access is via a bridge on the south side of the main highway.
    • The trailhead is in the campground area.
    • Cross the bridge to find the trailhead.

    Across the bridge, a right turn leads to special parking for trail-users; parking is limited, and a fee may be charged. If the campground’s closed, park just east of the bridge along the main highway, and walk across the bridge.

    The Hike:

    The Mount McConnel Trail # 992 heads up the north side of the mountain from the campground area. After about ½ mile, the path meets the William Kreutzer Nature Trail # 936 – continue up the main trail, which ascends several switchbacks on the north side of the mountain.

    The route continues up a ridge northwest of the summit – there are good views of the Canyon.  The trail passes some interesting metamorphic rock formations with vertical beds.

    Part of the summit forest burned in the High Park Fire of 2012.

    As the trail approaches the mountaintop, an unmarked fork leads west 200 yards to the summit area. The actual peak is the top of a large rock formation. The spacious Activation Zone offers plenty of room to set up, either near the peak, or on other convenient rock formations in the Zone. When the forest burned, the summit area became more open and sunny.

    Additional Details:

    The main trail continues east from the fork near the summit, traverses several sub-peaks, and leads down the east ridge of the mountain. Then it descends steeply down a “primitive trail” – this is an accurate description. On my first trip up, I ascended via the primitive trail, and it’s steep, with large steps required on some big rocks. It would not be a good route in winter – the main trail is much better. The primitive trail is an alternate, more challenging route with great views down into the Canyon; this path eventually connects with the Kreutzer Nature Trail at a fork. The Nature Trail leads west and connects with the main trail above the Campground. The northern path leads down toward the River and ends by the bridge at the entrance to the Campground.

    Trail 992 is a popular trail. In summer an early start is advised, partly to avoid thunder storms, and also because parking is limited.  This trail is a National Recreation Trail and was built by the CCC in the 1930’s.  R.C. McConnel was an early National Forest ranger in the area.

    Mount McConnel is a superb HF radio site. The Activation Zone contains several large rock outcrops upon which you can set up radio gear and operate; there are trees to support a pole, and some shelter from wind is available. An activation “on the rocks” provides additional height for the antenna, enhancing HF propagation.

    The only development near the mountain is at the campground far below, so the HF noise level is very low.

    On Oct 9, 2015, I made 30 contacts on 7, 10, 14, and 18 MHz CW during my 1 hour, 5 minute activation.

    On Nov 8, 2015, N0TA and I activated McConnel together. John made 20 contacts on 14 MHz CW, while I made 28 contacts on 7, 10, 18, and 21 Mhz CW nearby.

    On Sep 3, 2016, N0TA and I again activated McConnel together. John made 30 contacts on 10 and 14 MHz CW, while I made 27 contacts on 7, 10, and 14 MHz CW.

    McConnel is probably a poor VHF/UHF site, due to its location in the Poudre Canyon. The Plains are hidden behind other mountains, and coverage of populated areas is limited.

    Several other SOTA peaks are nearby, and a dual activation is possible:

    Peak 7612                W0C/FR-205    ~ 1 mile north across the Canyon
    Sheep Mountain        W0C/FR-097    ~ 2 miles east
    7980                        W0C/FR-198    ~ 5 miles east
    Greyrock Mountain    W0C/FR-095    ~ 9.5 miles east

    These mountains are all 1-point summits, with rocky tops and challenging hikes. Many excellent higher SOTA peaks are farther west, near Cameron Pass, etc.

    Mountain Park Campground offers camping in the warmer months, and there are many other campgrounds in the Poudre Canyon. Numerous opportunities for mountain recreation are available across the area – hiking, fishing, rafting, climbing, backpacking, biking, etc.

    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-066 (Tappan Mountain) – 2724 m / 8954 ft

    W0C/FR-066
    Tappan Mountain
    2724 m / 8954 ft
    Nov 15, 2015 – with N0TA
    Nov 11, 2016 – with N0TA

    by KX0R

    Tappan Mountain is an easy summit in the Pike National Forest a few miles north of Lake George.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Jeep road most of the way
    • No marked trail, but path to the top
    • Navigation and route-finding required
    • Nice open summit
    • ~ 1.6 miles round-trip
    • ~ 450 feet vertical

    Driving Directions:

    THIS MAP is very useful in the Pike National Forest.

    • Drive to Woodland Park on Highway 24, west of Colorado Springs
    • Continue west through Divide, Florissant, and Lake George
    • Almost 1 mile north of Lake George, turn north, right, on Highway 77, Tarryall Road
    • Follow this road up a valley north for about 5 miles
    • At 8280 feet, just before Highway 77 reaches a low pass, turn right on dirt FR-210, Platte Springs Road
    • Google Maps are inadequate for navigation in this area
    • Drive up FR-210 about ¼ mile, and turn left on FR-292. This road may not be marked with a number.
    • FR-292 climbs up a short, steep hill and then continues through open forest toward Tappan
    • FR-292 is a jeep road, but 4WD may not be required, if the road’s dry and your vehicle has adequate clearance
    • Where the road splits, go left on FR-292.A
    • FR-292.A climbs up the south side of Tappan Mountain and eventually drops down a steep hill to a power line
    • Park off the road
    • If FR-292 is too rough, snowy, or muddy, park near the bottom and hike up – it’s about 1 mile to Tappan
    • FR-293 also could be used to access Tappan’s east side

    The Hike:

    • Drive or hike up near where FR-292.A reaches maximum elevation on the south side of Tappan
    • Head up the open southwest ridge toward the peak
    • There’s no marked trail to the summit, but game trails provide easy access.
    • It’s also possible to hike up the northeast ridge, or even the south side.

    Additional Details:

    The roads in this area are mostly easy 4WD or 2WD with adequate clearance. If the snow is deep, it would be better to hike or snowshoe the roads than to take a chance of getting stuck back there. From the bottom of Road 210 to the top of Tappan is only about 1.5 miles each way. The road could be gated in winter at the bottom – but it wasn’t closed on various winter dates when we’ve been up there the past two years.

    The summit of Tappan is a rocky point on an extended ridge; the activation zone is large, open, and pleasant.

    There are many good trees and rocks to support a pole or an antenna, and there are views all around.

    This is an excellent HF site – there’s no development near the summit, and the power lines southwest of the peak seem quiet.

    VHF and UHF contacts will be hard to get from Tappan, due to the isolated location.

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

    9036                W0C/SP-125   ~ 1.7 miles east
    9083                W0C/SP-124   ~ 2.6 miles southeast
    Blue Mountain   W0C/SP-123   ~ 10 miles south
    Signal Butte      W0C/FR-165   ~ 9 miles east

    9036 is the easiest to combine with Tappan, since they share road access.

    The National Forest near Tappan Mountain looks like good hunting territory – if you go there in the fall, be careful, and wear orange hunter clothing.

    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-125 (9036) – 2754 m / 9036 ft

    W0C/SP-125
    9036
    2754 m / 9036 ft
    Nov 15, 2015 with N0TA
    Nov 6, 2016 with N0TA
    Feb 20, 2017 with N0TA

    By KX0R

    Peak 9036 is an obscure summit in the Pike National Forest north of Lake George.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Trail most of the way to the top
    • Relatively easy climb
    • Some deadfall near the top
    • Summit area was burned up years ago
    • Great views
    • Excellent HF Site
    • ~ 2.8 miles round trip
    • ~ 530 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    THIS MAP is very useful in the Pike National Forest.

    • Drive to Woodland Park on Highway 24, west of Colorado Springs
    • Continue west through Divide, Florissant, and Lake George
    • Almost 1 mile north of Lake George, turn north, right, on Highway 77, Tarryall Road
    • Follow this road up a valley north for about 5 miles
    • At 8280 feet, just before Highway 77 reaches a low pass, turn right on dirt FR-210, Platte Springs Road
    • Drive up FR-210 about ½ mile, and then take the right fork, FR-601, east
    • FR-601 requires moderate clearance, but not 4WD, unless it’s snowy or muddy
    • Follow FR-601 east for about 1 mile: around the north side of a hill, across a fenced shallow valley, to a parking area with a gate
    • This is the trailhead

    The Hike:

    • A relatively new trail, marked 619, heads northeast from the parking area.
    • This route is shown clearly on the Google satellite image, but not on the Google map.
    • Don’t follow the gated Platte Springs Road east down the hill
    • Trail 619 starts out flat, and then it ascends northeast up a wide draw.

    • At the top of the draw, the trail reaches a saddle between the forested false summit on the east, and the actual summit farther west.
    • Before the saddle, leave the trail and climb northwest up a draw to the ridge
    • Hike west along the ridge less than 0.2 miles to the summit
    • The forest near the top was burned by fire.
    • Follow game and cattle trails around the aspen thickets

    Additional Details:

    The roads in this area are mostly easy 4WD or 2WD, with adequate clearance. If there’s considerable snow, it would be better to hike or snowshoe in than to risk getting stuck back there. When John Reilly N0TA and I climbed this mountain in mid-November 2015, it was fun, despite some snow on the roads and the trail.

    Great views spread out for miles in all directions. Chessman Reservoir is visible in the South Platte Canyon several miles to the northeast; Devils Head and Long Scraggy Peak stand many miles beyond.  Badger Mountain stands 8.5 miles to the west.

    The summit of 9036 is a rocky knob, and numerous trees and rocks are available to support a pole or an antenna.

    Some shelter from wind is provided by various large rocks. We found this to be an excellent RF-quiet HF site in 2015 and 2016, but in 2017 we heard significant man-made noise on 7 MHz. Nevertheless, this is a fine SOTA site, and we both made plenty of HF CW contacts on all three of our activations up there.

    The isolated location of 9036 suggests that VHF and UHF contacts may be hard to get.

    Peak 9036 is close to several other SOTA peaks and might be combined with any of them for a dual or multiple activation:

    Peak 9083 W0C/SP-124            2.6 miles south
    Tappan Mountain W0C/FR-066  1.75 miles west
    Blue Mountain W0C/SP-123      10.3 miles south
    Signal Butte W0C/FR-165          7.3 miles east

    The forest near Peak 9036 looks like good hunting territory – in the fall, be careful, and wear hunter orange clothing!

    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-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!