SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: Continental Divide Trail

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

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

    By KX0R

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

    Key Points:

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

    Driving Directions:

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

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

    The Hike:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Skyscraper Peak is a SOTA Classic!

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

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

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

    Save this experience for a perfect day!

    73

    George
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers. Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!

  • WØC/SR-Ø35 (Mount Flora) – 3999 m / 13146 ft

    W0C/SR-035
    Mount Flora
    3999 m / 13146 ft
    August 29, 2013 First Activation
    July 5, 2014 Second Activation

    By KX0R

    Mount Flora is a classic SOTA peak on the Continental Divide west of Denver. This summit is relatively easy to climb via the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) from the trail-head at 11,300 foot Berthoud Pass. To reach Berthoud Pass, drive west of Denver on I-70 and exit northwest toward Winter Park on Route 40. Park on the east side of the highway at the Pass; there are facilities there.

    Follow the signs for the CDT. The trail starts up a gated dirt road behind the parking area on the east side of the Pass. The road leads up to a microwave facility on the Divide. Part way up to the facility, at a sharp switchback at about 11,700 feet, the CDT heads north off the dirt road at a signed junction. Leave the road and follow the CDT up across the tundra meadows to the Divide. This is a good, efficient trail. Do not continue up the road to the microwave facility on Colorado Mines Peak.

    Note that Google Maps show only the route going up to Colorado Mines Peak and then along the Divide. The new trail is not shown on Google Maps, but this trail is shown clearly on the Google satellite images when zoomed in. From where the trail reaches the Divide at about 12,150 feet, the route climbs progressively northeast for about 1-1/2 miles to Mount Flora. This section of the Divide is pleasant and easy to hike in good weather. There are spectacular views in all directions; Ethel Lake enhances the scene below the steep east side of Flora.

    The trail is about 3.5 miles one way from Berthoud Pass to Mount Flora, with a vertical gain of about 1800 feet.

    Mount Flora has two summits about 1000 feet apart horizontally. On the Google satellite image from the SOTA summits page for Mount Flora, the SOTA summit is shown by a red balloon marker on the NORTHERN summit; however, Google Maps shows the SOUTHERN summit as the peak! The USGS Empire quadrangle also shows the southern summit as the peak. There is a cairn near, but not on, the southern summit – this cairn is probably a trail marker.

    Mount Flora North Summit to South Summit
    Mount Flora North Summit to South Summit

    When I first climbed Flora, I pondered which summit was the real summit. The summits look about the same height, and they’re too far apart to judge by eye. Even though the northern summit requires a few extra minutes of hiking, I decided to go there. My GPS was running the whole time, and I checked the altitudes of both bumps on the mountain. On the first pass it appeared that the northern summit is a few feet higher, so I activated that point. GPS is not very accurate for altitude, but my GPS has a barometric altimeter that effectively integrates the altitude data over several minutes. Now I have been up to Flora twice with the GPS, with four trips from one summit to the other, and my GPS data indicates:

    1) The northern summit of Flora is the real summit.
    2) The difference in height is only about 10 feet
    3) The minimum point on the saddle between the summits is within the Activation Zone by about 10 feet
    4) Both summits are in the very large Activation Zone

    Therefore – it does not matter which summit you activate for SOTA!

    Each summit appears higher than the other when viewed from the other.

    The northern summit sees fewer visitors than the southern summit, which most visitors believe is the real summit. The northern summit is more private and has a spectacular view down to Ethel Lake. There is a pile of rocks on the summit that provides some shelter from the west wind, and there is a convenient spot to set up just below the rock pile, close to the cliff above the cirque, but wide enough to be safe. I guyed my pole to the rocks and suspended my wire above the cliff edge to the north.

    This is a fine radio site for HF as well as VHF/UHF. It’s a SOTA Classic!

    If you decide to climb Mount Flora, be sure to check the weather forecast and get an early start. The Divide is where thunder storms form, and Mount Flora is the highest point for several miles.

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

    ATTENTION !! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers. Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!

  • WØC/SR-Ø31 (James Peak) – 4044 m / 13294 ft

    W0C/SR-031 (James Peak)
    4044 m / 13294 ft
    First Activation
    August 15, 2013
    Second Activation
    August 02, 2014

    By KX0R

    James Peak is a prominent SOTA peak on the Continental Divide west of Boulder. There are several popular routes up to the summit. No regular roads are close to the summit, and all the trails require significant effort.

    The primary trail up the east side of James starts near Saint Mary’s Glacier above Alice. To get to Alice, take the Fall River Road 275 north of I-70 – this paved road begins about 2 miles west of Idaho Spings, north off I-70, at mile 238.

    Another way to start the hike is via the Rollins Pass road west of Rollinsville. Just west of Tolland, Mammoth Gulch Road 4-N heads steeply up southwest, and one fork eventually climbs the long northeast ridge of James. At the first road divide, take the east fork – don’t go into Mammouth Gulch. In a 4WD vehicle it is possible to drive up this rough road to about 11,400 feet, within about 3 miles of the summit.
    Note that Google Maps does not show this jeep road accurately – use the satellite image. Take a good topo map up this mountain! Hike either on the road or across the vast tundra, and continue up the east ridge of James. Eventually this route meets the trail up from Saint Mary’s Glacier. Continue up the gentle southeast side of James, up a few switchbacks, and climb to the pleasant peak.

    The alpine summit has enough room to activate east of the summit if there are other visitors. The views are fine in all directions, and this is an almost perfect radio site for UHF, VHF, and HF.

    It is possible to combine James with Parry Peak for a rugged dual activation. Hike south from James along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), descend the deep, rocky saddle to 12,600 feet west of Ice Lake, and climb up the moderately steep north ridge of Mount Bancroft. Hike west along the ridge about a mile and ascend up to Parry Peak. See the report on Parry Peak for the rest of the story.

    There is a long but interesting route up James from the Moffat Tunnel access to the James Peak Wilderness. Hike about 5 miles up to Rogers Pass Lake. Climb up past Heart Lake, and then hike up the switch-backed trail to Rogers Pass. Continue south along the Divide (CDT) about 1-1/2 miles, and up the broad north side of James to the top. This scenic route requires time and effort, but it goes through some of the best scenery in the area, and an ordinary car can drive to the trailhead at the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel.

    It is also possible to drive over Berthoud Pass to Winter Park, then up a dirt road, FR-128 and FR-149, route 80, up toward the west side of Corona Pass/Rollins Pass, and then climb James via the Rogers Pass jeep road and the CDT along the Divide. A 4WD high-clearance vehicle is required to drive up to Rogers Pass – otherwise hike up the 4WD road from the Corona Pass road.

    James Peak is a classic alpine SOTA peak during the summer and early fall. Get an early start, travel light, and enjoy SOTA at altitude!

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

    ATTENTION !! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers. Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!

  • WØC/SR-Ø19 (Argentine Peak) – 4179 m / 13738 ft

    W0C/SR-019
    Argentine Peak
    4179 m / 13738 ft
    July 19, 2014

    By KX0R

    Argentine Peak is a high alpine SOTA peak on the Continental Divide northwest of Guanella Pass. The Peak is close to the Denver area, but a significant hike is required to reach the top. The air is thin, and there is no marked trail part of the way. Awesome views and a fine experience are yours if you activate Argentine on a nice day!

    Argentine Peak from Wilcox
    Argentine Peak from Wilcox

    Drive up I-70 and exit at Georgetown. Drive through town and follow the signs to Guanella Pass. Drive up the steep, scenic paved highway to Guanella Pass campground at 10,800 feet. Look for a dirt road heading west – Naylor Lake Road. You may be able to drive up this rough 2WD road, depending on your vehicle. Drive or hike up the road about 0.7 miles to the Silver Dollar Lake trailhead at 11,200 feet altitude – there is limited parking. The remainder of the road to Naylor Lake is private.

    A good trail leads up about 1.5 miles to Silver Dollar Lake.

    Silver Dollar Lake below Square Top Mountain
    Silver Dollar Lake below Square Top Mountain

    The path continues up about ½ mile to Murray Reservoir at 12,150 feet. Before descending to Murray Reservoir, leave the trail at the ridge-top, and head WSW across the tundra. Climb to the 13,000-foot saddle between Square Top Mountain and Argentine Peak.

    Route of Argentine Peak Hike from Wilcox
    Silver Dollar Lake, Murray Reservoir, and Saddle from Wilcox

    Continue climbing NNW along the moderate ridge; some power lines cross the route partway up. The hike is gentle and pleasant close to the top of Argentine.

    Argentine Peak from South Saddle
    Argentine Peak from South Saddle

    There is a post marking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) near the summit. The dramatic view of twin 14-ers Grays and Torreys Peaks a few miles to the NW is stunning. 14-ers Mount Evans and Bierstadt stand high to the east. As long as there are no thunderstorms or strong winds, this is spectacular place to set up a pole and activate!

    The site is ideal for HF, and it looks OK for VHF/UHF also. I heard no noise from the power lines down the ridge. It was nice to have such a large area of alpine paradise all to myself for so many hours. Argentine Peak is also accessible from Argentine Pass to the north, so you may see people up there.

    It is possible to activate other summits along with Argentine. The day I was there I had good weather, so I went down the east ridge of Argentine to the saddle and then climbed and activated Mount Wilcox – please see the report on W0C/PR-024.

    Argentine Peak and East Ridge out to Mount WIlcox
    Argentine Peak and East Ridge out to Mount WIlcox

    Another alternative is to climb the NW ridge of Square Top W0C/PR-018 from the saddle – there is a path up through the rocks on the ridge – that route is easier than it looks from below.

    Route of Argentine Peak Hike from Wilcox
    Square Top and Saddle from Wilcox

    Please be careful with respect to the weather up there. Lightning is an obvious danger, but cold, windy, and wet weather are serious hazards as well.

    I’ll still remember Argentine as paradise…

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

    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!

  • WØC/SR-Ø4Ø (Vasquez Peak) – 3938 m / 12947 ft

    W0C/SR-040
    Vasquez Peak
    3938 m / 12947 ft
    First Activation Aug 9, 2014

    By KX0R

    My first activation of Vasquez Peak was a high country adventure. The surrounding Vasquez Peak Wilderness is named for this high, prominent summit. While there is no marked trail to the mountain, the climb is not difficult.

    Start by driving up I-70 west of Denver. Take the exit toward Berthoud Pass, and follow Route 40 about 6-1/2 miles up past Empire. Right before the big switchback curve below the Pass, there is a sign for the Henderson Mine – turn left on Road 202, which heads up toward Jones Pass. Drive about 1.7 miles west on 202, pass the huge Henderson Mine facility on your left, and take the right fork where the road splits off towards Jones Pass. After about half a mile, look for a trail sign marking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) access on the right of the dirt road. Park nearby and head up the trail.

    This well-built trail starts at about 10,400 feet elevation and climbs up the forested slope with several switchbacks. At about 11,300 feet the trail comes to a junction with the CDT, near where a creek comes down. Head east (right) on the CDT, cross the creek, and continue east about 500 feet or more. Head north up the obvious ridge that rises northeast of the creek. There are hints of a trail up this ridge. At about 12,000 feet, head off the ridge and traverse northwest up grassy tundra toward the 12,440 foot saddle between points near 12,880 and 12,680 feet.

    This is a beautiful alpine meadow high in the Wilderness. Hike up to the saddle, and you’re on the Continental Divide.

    Climb up the moderate ridge west of the saddle, traverse north around point 12,880, and follow the easy Divide ridge from point 12,880 north about 3000 feet and up to Vasquez Peak. This is a classic alpine hike with stunning views of the Wilderness. This route was easy in August, but earlier in the summer, there might be steep snowfields – point 12,880 might be a problem.

    Vasquez Peak’s summit is rocky, but it’s easy to climb.

    There is limited shelter from wind among the rocks within the activation zone. Be sure to bring a pole in order to erect a wire HF antenna. It’s a perfect HF location, but it has limited VHF/UHF coverage to the east.

    Needless to say, this is a place to avoid in bad weather – it’s the highest summit for miles in every direction! Start early and don’t mess with Vasquez unless the weather forecast is OK.

    The day I went up there, I saw no one else near the summit or on the high ridges. I did meet people on the CDT, and while I was on the air, I saw more than 50 elk in a secluded valley northeast of the summit.

    It looks like Vasquez also can be climbed by following the west fork of the CDT all the way around the west side of 12,880, and then climbing about 800 vertical feet directly up to the ridge between 12,880 and Vasquez. I have not tried this route, but it might be a convenient descent route if weather threatens on the high Divide.

    Vasquez is a SOTA Classic!

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

    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!