SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: First Activation

  • WØC/FR-164 (Visitor Point) – 2896 m / 9501 ft

    W0C/FR-164 (Visitor Point)
    2896 m / 9501 ft
    Sep 26, 2013 First Activation
    Mar 28, 2014 Second Activation

    by KX0R

    Visitor Point is like a secret SOTA peak in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. This seldom-climbed summit is close to the Denver metro area. Although the mountain is partly surrounded by private land, the access and summit are in the State Park.

    Visitor Point from Centralia Mountain
    Visitor Point from Centralia Mountain

    Drive to Golden and head west up Golden Gate Canyon. The road is on the north side of Golden at a light on highway 93. It’s about 15 miles up curvy paved Road 70 to the State Park. About a mile before the Visitors Center, the road runs across a low pass, with Visitor Point above on the right. There is even a road there marked Golden Gate Drive, but it leads into a private development. Stay on the main highway, and drive north and down into the Ralston Creek drainage. At the bottom, right after the road crosses the creek, there is a signed junction, and the Visitor Center is just 100 yards to the right, next to the creek. There are some interesting exhibits in the building, as well as restrooms and helpful State Park people. At the Visitor Center you can buy a Park Pass, which you must display in order to park your car in the Park.

    Amazingly, there is no trail from the Visitor Center to Visitor Point, which stands 1300 vertical feet up to the southeast. Most of the route is off-trail, but the navigation is not difficult. A compass and topo map are required; a GPS with a map-set is useful here.

    Park at the Visitor Center and follow the Nature Trail / Bear Trail that heads east from the parking lot, along the south side of the creek.

    After only about 100 yards, there is a marked junction. Turn right, follow the nature trail about 100 feet into a small draw, and head off the trail and uphill to the southeast. Climb the obvious ridge on the east side of the draw, and try to follow an old abandoned trail that leads south up the ridge for a short distance. There is no marked route to the summit, and most of the climb consists of picking your way up the north side of the mountain through a forest of lodge-pole pines and aspen trees. This is a “bushwhack trip”, except that there aren’t many bushes.

    Snowshoe Route up North Side of Visitor Point
    Snowshoe Route up North Side of Visitor Point

    There is a rocky steep section part way up, but it’s easy to switchback east and get around it. There are bits of game trails that provide useful routes here and there. Although the summit is always hidden by the forest, just head southeast and uphill and you’ll get there. There are no cliffs or talus – just a classic north-slope montane forest. In summer it’s a refreshing, shady morning hike, and in winter it’s a moderately-difficult off-trail snowshoe ascent. With deep powder it could be a tough route to do – but when I went up there in late March, the snow was crusty most of the way, and the 1 to 2 feet near the top covered up many logs and rocks, making for a very reasonable snowshoe trip.

    Visitor Point’s summit is a pleasant forested ridge about a hundred yards long. The actual high point is hard to identify – but operating in the Activation Zone, within 75 vertical feet of the top, is easy. A nice open area is available near the eastern end of the summit ridge, right below some rocks that may be the actual peak.

    There are sheltered, sunny spots among the rocks, with plenty of space to run a wire along the ridge, and some good trees are conveniently located.

    This mountain is an excellent HF radio site, open in all directions; for VHF/UHF it’s probably OK, but higher peaks to the east probably reduce coverage of the Denver Metro Area and nearby communities.

    The mountain falls away in most directions, and there’s a nice view south from the east end of the ridge. Centralia Mountain and Mount Tom stand higher to the east.

    Very few people climb this obscure summit – I saw no register, no jar, no fire ring, and no summit cairn. Visitor Point offers a special, private SOTA experience – the off-trail access is a small price to pay for an easy activation on such a pleasant summit!

    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/FR-Ø49 (Centralia Mountain) – 2986 m / 9795 ft

    W0C/FR-049
    Centralia Mountain
    2986 M / 9795 FT
    Sep 26, 2013 First Activation
    May 26, 2014 Second Activation

    by KX0R

    Centralia Mountain is a prominent peak located just south of Golden Gate Canyon State Park west of Denver.

    Centralia from Visitor Point
    Centralia Mountain from Visitor Point

    There are several roads to the Park – start by driving to Golden. Follow Highway 93 to the north side of Golden, and turn west onto Road 70, Golden Gate Canyon. Follow this winding paved highway up into the mountains until it drops down into the Ralston Creek Drainage – there is a sign for the park and the Visitors Center. Unless you have a pass, buy one at the Visitors Center, and drive east along paved Road 57, which leads down Ralston Creek. After about 3 miles there is sign for the Nott Creek parking area – turn north and park immediately in the first parking lot. Be sure that your State Parks Pass is displayed in your vehicle’s front window. This is the best place to start your climb up Centralia.

    Centralia Mountain is partly surrounded by private land, and there are no designated trails to the summit. Climbing and activating this peak requires good navigation and route-finding skills. There are probably several reasonable ways to climb Centralia, but private land and limited access reduce the good options. I found a surprisingly efficient off-trail route up from Nott Creek.

    Walk south from the parking area, cross the paved road, and then cross Ralston Creek on a foot-bridge west of the large barn.

    Bridge over Ralston Creek
    Bridge over Ralston Creek

    Look carefully and find an informal path that leads up the steep ridge south of the children’s play area.

    Start of Trail at Playground
    Start of Trail at Playground

    Climb about 100 vertical feet up to the ridge top, head uphill and west, and ascend near the top of the ridge. Continue climbing for several hundred vertical feet, and reach a large area where the forest has been cleared, probably for wildfire prevention.

    Cleared Forest on Centralia looking NE to Blue and East Blue Mountains
    Cleared Forest on Centralia looking NE to Blue and East Blue Mountains

    Stay within the cleared area, and climb south to the highest point that has been cleared. This leads to an interesting ridge that is easy to climb.

    Centralia Ridge Ascent Route
    Centralia Ridge Ascent Route

    There are several rocky points along the ridge that must be passed on one side or the other. The last of these “maxima” – near 8920 feet – has an exposed rocky knob from which you get a good view of the east side of Centralia Mountain. Take a good look, because visibility is somewhat limited in the forest. Backtrack down and pass the knob on the south side. The remaining part of the climb is forested, but the lower part is relatively open.

    Centralia NE Top Part
    Centralia NE Top Part

    The last thousand vertical feet up the east side of the mountain may be climbed directly. An ascending traverse heading southeast works well. Aim for a point several hundred feet southeast of the actual summit. If you aim for the summit, the slope is steep and covered with rocks that have come down from the top. The lichens on the rocks are slippery when wet. Heading southeast of the summit is more pleasant and avoids the rocky areas, and there is a natural route that goes right up toward the summit. There are useful game trails up there, and although there are some downed trees, most of them are easy to get over. This is an incredibly easy off-trail route, considering the length and the 2200 vertical feet of ascent required. A GPS is good for route-finding on the last steep section – the summit is not visible from down in the woods.

    It’s only about 2 miles and 2200 vertical feet to the summit of Centralia. I climbed it in 1-1/2 hours, when the woods were cool and damp, with hail from the previous day’s storm still on some of the slopes and near the summit. Don’t mess with this mountain, unless you’re OK with off-trail hiking and have the required level of fitness!

    The summit ridge is long and rocky, with a very steep slope on the west side.

     

    There is a nice flat spot southeast of the summit, within the Activation Zone, with several useful trees and a sheltered spot to operate from.

    The peak is very prominent, has low RF noise, and propagation is good in all directions. It should be a great site for VHF/UHF across most of the Denver Metro Area and beyond, as well as HF all over the world!

    Very few people visit this special summit. It’s 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!

  • WØC/PR-144 (Green Ridge) – 2747 m / 9012 ft

    W0C/PR-144
    Green Ridge
    2747 m / 9012 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 13, 2014

    Green Ridge is a broad, gentle mountain located south of Shadow Mountain Reservoir, west and above the Colorado River. There is no marked route to the summit, but there is a trail part of the way. Here’s how to access this peak:

    1) Drive to Shadow Mountain Reservoir, which is just south of Grand Lake, via US 34.

    Shadow Mountain Reservoir from Green Ridge Approach
    Shadow Mountain Reservoir from Green Ridge Approach

    2) Follow road 66 to the Green Ridge Campground. This is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area, and a fee may be charged to park.
    3) There is a small dirt road south of the Campground which leads to an osprey viewing area – limited parking is available along this road.
    4) Hike south and avoid private land located on the west side of the approach to the Ridge. It is possible to stay far enough east to stay in the National Forest, but this requires some bushwhacking and hiking through areas with fallen trees for perhaps 1/2 mile. Google Maps clearly shows the public land in green. In particular, a tempting access road that goes to some houses leads into the private land. Just head south up toward the Ridge, and once the route steepens, stay on the ridge.

    5) There is a good path along the NW ridge above about 8800 feet. This path comes from the private development on the west side; it’s the best route up the mountain; and it’s in the National Forest all the way up from where you’ll run into it after you hike up through the fields and woods below.

    Green Ridge Trail Looking North
    Green Ridge Trail Looking North

    6) The path goes SE all the way to the summit, but the mountain top is so broad that the real summit is not obvious. There are two possible summit areas, about 2000 feet apart, and both may be within the Activation Zone. The NW summit is shown as 8970 feet on the USGS map. There is a little saddle or dip in the path between the two summits. This dip may lie within the activation zone. Keep following the path SE, go through the dip, and then ascend slightly until the path crosses over the southeastern true summit, at 9012 feet. There the route heads down gently, with no close summits visible.

    The pine forest on Green Ridge has seen extensive beetle kill. Dead trees are everywhere – standing and on the ground. Some areas have been cleared of beetle kill.

    Typical Beetle Kill Terrain - Green Ridge
    Typical Beetle Kill Terrain – Green Ridge

    The forest is very open, and the summit is easy to activate, with or without a pole. The noise level is low, and few people visit this mountain – it is an excellent HF site. VHF-UHF coverage may be limited to local stations; this is a low summit surrounded by much higher peaks.

    The round-trip distance for this expedition is about 3.6 miles, with about 600 vertical feet to the summit. Overall, this is an easy 4-point SOTA peak, but the off-trail hike up the lower part of the peak is a challenge that may not be fun for everyone. I saw hunters the day I climbed the peak – and they saw me – be sure to wear bright colors and be careful in the fall.

    Green Ridge can be combined with other local SOTA Peaks, such as Green Mountain W0C/PR-110 in Rocky Mountain National Park, for a double activation.  This worked well for me, because I had a nice dry day in September.

    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/PR-11Ø (Green Mountain) – 3143 m / 10313 ft

    W0C/PR-110
    Green Mountain
    3143 m / 10313 ft
    First Activation
    Sep 13, 2014

    By KX0R

    There are many summits named “Green Mountain” in Colorado. Green Mountain W0C/PR-110 is a wild, rarely-climbed mountain on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The ascent is not difficult, but good planning and route-finding are necessary. Although there is no marked route to the summit, a major trail leads more than half way, followed by a good game trail up the northeast ridge.

    Green Mountain Route
    Green Mountain Route

    Here’s how to access this peak:

    1) Drive to the west side of the National Park via US 34.
    2) Find the Green Mountain Trailhead, located about 2 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance Station, and park there. The elevation at the trail-head is about 8800 feet.
    3) Hike up the easy Green Mountain Trail about 1.7 miles to a small saddle at 9480 feet, just before the trail descends a short distance into Big Meadows, the huge valley of Tonahutu Creek. From this saddle you can look south and see the NE ridge of Green Mountain.
    4) Head off the trail for the NE ridge of Green Mountain. First go over or around a small bump, east of a marshy pond. Stay east and out of the swamp. Start up the NE ridge of Green Mountain and continue up the obvious ridge.
    5) There is a good game trail most of the way up. The grade is moderate, and the forest is relatively open, with few fallen trees. It’s about a mile and about 900 vertical feet up the ridge. This is as nice an off-trail hike as you will find on a forested ridge in this part of the Park!
    6) There is a false summit at about 10,120 feet – continue past it to the WSW, climb over another false summit at about 10,280 feet, and continue south along the ridge about 0.2 miles to the actual summit at 10,313 feet. A pile of rocks marks the spot.

    Green Mountain Summit
    Green Mountain Summit

    The peak is forested with large live and dead trees. There are limited views in several directions from this very prominent peak.

    Green Mountain View Southwest
    Green Mountain View Southwest

    The summit area is craggy, but several good spots are available for a nice SOTA activation. The summit falls away steeply on the east and west, and it’s an excellent HF radio site. VHF/UHF coverage is probably limited by higher mountains nearby. No pole is needed, if you can get a line over a tree branch with a small fishing pole or other tool.

    Be sure to descend via the same route up the NE ridge that you came up. Descending via the shorter route down the north or NW slope of the mountain may lead into a lot of fallen trees and rough country below – perhaps an unpleasant ordeal. The NE ridge route is a proven no-hassle way in and out.

    Green Mountain Forest
    Stay on the Ridge or Pick Your Way Through This – or WORSE!

    The round-trip distance for this expedition is about 5.8 miles, with a vertical gain of about 1600 feet.

    Be aware that the entire area has a healthy population of elk, moose, and other wild animals. This is definitely a wilderness SOTA trip.

    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/PR-Ø92 (Gray Jay Mountain) – 3342 m / 10965 ft

    W0C/PR-092
    Gray Jay Mountain
    3342 m / 10965 ft
    August 24, 2014
    First Activation

    By KX0R

    Gray Jay Mountain is a minor summit near Mount Ida and the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. Because the peak is in the wilderness, far from roads, it takes a significant effort to activate it – but it’s fun! I combined this summit with an activation of nearby Jackstraw Mountain, and it was a long day. Most of the report for Jackstraw applies to Gray Jay as well.

    Gray Jay Mountain from Timber Lake Trail
    Gray Jay Mountain from Timber Lake Trail

    There is no trail to the top of Gray Jay, but a little-used, un-maintained trail runs to Long Meadows, about 1/2 mile east of the summit. The off-trail hike to the summit is a classic bushwhack trip through a swampy sub-alpine forest full of downed trees and slippery logs. Please do not attempt this trip, unless you actually enjoy this kind of travel, and only if you have enough navigation experience to do this right. The area around Gray Jay is wilderness, and the penalty for error might be extreme.

    Gray Jay Route 1
    Gray Jay Route 1

    To reach the trail-head, drive to Estes Park, continue into the Park, drive over Trail Ridge Road, and descend into the Colorado River drainage on the west side of the Park. Continue south for about 1.5 miles from the last switchback, and park at the marked Timber Creek trail-head.

    The trail starts at 9050 feet and leads south, gradually ascending the west side of Jackstraw Mountain. The route is steep from 9200 to 10,000 feet, and then it moderates. Unfortunately there is a huge mudslide at about 9900 feet, and a tricky detour is required to climb above the head of the slide and back down to the trail. There are strict warning signs; crossing the slide is virtually impossible, because it is a dense 3-D matrix of interlocked trees and branches. Getting around the slide is the hardest part of the hike – hopefully the trail will be restored in 2015.

    Landslide Warning on Timber Lake Trail
    Landslide Warning on Timber Lake Trail

    To climb Gray Jay, follow the Timber Creek Trail west past the mudslide, continue up to about 10,200 feet. Keep an eye out for a sign and a trail heading right (south). Other than the main trail up to Timber Lake, there is only one trail that splits off and crosses Timber Creek. You must find and follow the trail that goes to Long Meadows and eventually leads into the Onahu Creek area. Note that the Long Meadows trail is incorrectly located on the USGS maps, Google Maps, National Geographic-Trails Illustrated, and my Garmin GPS map – those maps show the trail junction and creek crossing place at about 10,600 feet, but my GPS track puts this spot near 10,200 feet. Perhaps the trail has been re-located. This junction was clearly marked in 2014.

    After the creek crossing – there was a bridge in 2014 – the trail heads southwest and ascends up the slope to the broad saddle at the head of Long Meadows. In 2014 this trail was un-maintained and had several large downed trees across it. “Long Meadows” is an understatement – this incredible, lush, sub-alpine swamp is almost two miles long. Look for elk, moose, and other animals.

    Long Meadows near Gray Jay
    Long Meadows near Gray Jay

    At the saddle, the trail heads south and initially leads along the east side of Long Meadows before disappearing. Gray Jay is the broad, forested summit west of this saddle. To climb Gray Jay, do not head into Long Meadows, but cross the north part of the saddle, head west through the boggy fallen-down forest, and aim for the northeast side of Gray Jay. Avoid the steep east side of the mountain. This is all easier said than done. You may find a game trail that leads right to the top, as I did. The elk know their territory, so use their trails, if they go in the right direction.

    Above 10,600 feet on the northeast side, the climb gets progressively easier – the forest opens up, the slope is less steep, and the route is pleasant. Kinnikinnick covers the forest floor, and you can see where you’re going. The broad summit is easy to find, and it’s bright and pleasant, unlike the route below.

    Gray Jay Mountain Summit Area
    Gray Jay Mountain Summit Area

    The top of Gray Jay has a large activation zone, with tall trees and plenty of open space for an antenna. There is a pile of rocks near the top, but there are few outcrops and no cliffs. Either take an antenna pole, or bring what you need to hang a wire in a tree. This is an excellent wilderness RF site, quiet and fine for HF, but probably not so good for VHF/UHF, due to the surrounding mountains blocking signals from many directions.

    Gray Jay Activation Rig
    Gray Jay Activation Rig

    Be sure to return back to the Long Meadows saddle and the trail that descends to Timber Creek. Don’t even think of shortcuts or alternate routes! Some of the slopes below are very steep, covered in heavy timber, with numerous fallen trees and other problems.

    The round-trip from Timber Lake Trailhead to Gray Jay is about 10 miles, with about 1900 vertical feet of gain – perhaps 2100 vertical feet with the detour around the mudslide.

    Weather and time permitting, Gray Jay can be combined with nearby Jackstraw Mountain, for a challenging dual activation. I did this when I was there, and it worked out OK. See the report on Jackstraw for the rest of the story.

    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/PR-Ø76 (Jackstraw Mountain) – 3567 m / 11704 ft

    W0C/PR-076
    Jackstraw Mountain
    3567 m / 11704 ft
    August 24, 2014
    First Activation

    By KX0R

    Jackstraw Mountain is a minor summit adjacent to Mount Ida and the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. Because the peak is in wilderness far from roads, it takes a significant effort to activate it – but it’s fun!

    View North across Plateau toward Jackstraw Summit
    View North across Plateau toward Jackstraw Summit

    There is no trail to the top of Jackstraw, but the popular Timber Lake Trail runs within 0.6 miles of the summit. The remaining 1-plus-mile off-trail hike is a nice introduction to the sub-alpine zone of the National Park.

    To reach the trail-head, drive to Estes Park, continue into the Park, drive over Trail Ridge Road, and descend into the Colorado River drainage on the west side of the Park. Head south for about 1.5 miles from the last switchback, and park at the marked Timber Creek trail-head.

    The trail starts at 9050 feet and leads south, gradually ascending the west side of Jackstraw. The route is steep from 9200 to 10,000 feet, and then it moderates. Unfortunately there is a huge mudslide at about 9900 feet, and a tricky detour is required to climb above the head of the slide and back down to the trail. There are strict warning signs; crossing the slide is virtually impossible, because it is a dense 3-D matrix of interlocked trees and branches. Getting around the slide is the hardest part of the hike up Jackstraw. Hopefully the trail will be restored in 2015.

    Landslide Warning on Timber Lake Trail
    Landslide Warning on Timber Lake Trail

    When I climbed Jackstraw, I followed the Timber Lake Trail to about 10,150 feet, and then I headed north up the slopes. After several hundred vertical feet of steep bushwhacking up through fallen trees, the mountain’s slope is more gentle, and the sub-alpine forest opens up. There are obvious game trails. The remaining 1000 vertical feet are along a pleasant ridge leading up to alpine meadows bordered by krummholz thickets. There is a false summit – Jackstraw’s peak is near the north edge of the alpine plateau.

    There is a nice alternate route up Jackstraw. Instead of heading up through the steep woods at 10,150 feet, as described above, continue climbing on the Timber Lake Trail to about 10,800 feet; near the “Rockslide” camp site, head up northwest into a deep valley leading up the south side of the summit. There are well-used game trails in the upper levels of this lush wilderness. Follow the drainage up a steep grassy slope to the saddle south of Jackstraw, between the two summits, and climb the ridge to the top. I descended this wonderful route, and I think it’s more scenic than the southwest ridge, provided most of the snow is melted out.

    Southeast Valley of Jackstraw and Mount Ida
    Southeast Valley of Jackstraw and Mount Ida

    The broad summit is almost flat, with convenient thickets providing protection from wind. You can set up and activate wherever you like in the large activation zone. This peak sees few human visitors, but there are signs of many animals. The views of Mount Ida high above – Specimen Mountain to the north – and Timber Lake in its cirque to the southeast – create a feeling of being deep in the wilderness.

    Because Jackstraw sits immediately below and west of the huge wall of the Continentental Divide, signal propagation to the east is surely reduced, especially at VHF and UHF. This is a wonderful HF site because it’s RF-quiet; I made 36 contacts on 20 and 15M CW, with no hint of a problem in any direction. Jackstraw might be difficult to activate at VHF-UHF, because except to the south, the summit is surrounded by higher mountains.

    It’s probably possible to climb Jackstraw from the trail leading from Milner Pass along the Divide to Mount Ida. When I activated Ida in 2013 and 2014, I had a good look at Jackstraw from above. There is a saddle at 12,000 feet on the Divide, about 1 mile north of Mount Ida. This saddle would be the best place to descend 800 vertical feet west to the Jackstraw saddle at 11,200 feet. From there a craggy ridge climbs 400 vertical feet up the southeast side of Jackstraw. Even if there are problems on this ridge, there surely is a practical route and game trail on the southeast side of the mountain. A detour southwest into the valley described above might work OK. However, the east and north sides of Jackstraw are very steep and should be avoided.

    The round-trip from Timber Lake Trailhead to Jackstraw Mountain is about 11 miles, with about 2600 vertical feet of gain – perhaps 2800 vertical feet with the detour around the mudslide.

    Weather and time permitting, Jackstraw can be combined with nearby Gray Jay Mountain for a challenging dual activation. I did this when I was there, and it worked out well.  See the report on Gray Jay for the rest of the story.

    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/FR-137 (10720) – 3261 m / 10720 ft

    W0C/FR-137
    10720
    3261 m / 10720 ft
    First Activation
    Nov 1, 2014

    by KX0R

    10720 is a seldom-visited summit located in the Roosevelt National Forest, several miles north of the flood-ravaged town of Glen Haven. Activating this peak requires a long, strong hike, culminating in a one-mile off-trail trip through the woods along the summit ridge. The summit itself is a prominent block with dramatic views of the mountains and plains of Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming. This hike is a natural follow-up to activating Signal Mountain.

    10720 Summit from Indian Trail
    10720 Summit from Indian Trail

    Drive toward Glen Haven from Estes Park on Road 43, or up from Highway 34 to Drake; find Dunraven Glade Road 51B; drive up this road almost 3 miles; and park at the convenient Dunraven Trail-head. This is the same trail-head as for Signal Mountain. Hike up the steep gated dirt road NW of the trailhead, and find the marked Bulwark Ridge Trail at the saddle at the high point of the road. Ascend the steep trail to about 8700 feet, and come to a signed junction with the Indian Trail.

    Bulwark Ridge Junction with Indian Trail
    Bulwark Ridge Junction with Indian Trail

    If the hike seems really hard so far, I recommend you not follow the Indian Trail as it descends 1000 vertical feet down to Miller Fork. You will have to come back up this trail near the end of the hike, and it’s steeper than the Bulwark Ridge trail’s first section. The Indian Trail is a built trail, with many switchbacks, and it exists to get past the private land that blocks hiker-access to the Miller Fork drainage.

    Once you drop down the Indian Trail, you can hike either up or down Miller Fork on a decent, scenic trail, as both routes connect eventually and go up to Donner Pass. Follow the signs to Donner Pass and stay on the trail.

    I traveled upstream less than a mile, where there is a marked fork to the right; there the trail crosses a tributary to Miller Fork and then heads up gently to the southeast, which is not intuitive. This is actually a very practical route. Don’t be fooled by the incorrect trail and other errors on Google Maps! Google Maps does not even show the Indian Trail descending to Miller Fork, or the Miller Fork Trail, or much of the well-built Donner Pass Trail. Instead Google shows an old abandoned trail – called Indian Trail – leading up a steep gulch; this is probably not a viable route now, due to floods and fallen trees.

    Follow the Donner Pass Trail – it crosses some steep old logging roads, but don’t be tempted to short-cut up or down these. Stay on the trail and march a few miles, and you’ll be up the sub-alpine zone before you know it. There are a couple of nice viewpoints along the route. The entire Donner Pass approach is never very steep – but it is long. The trail climbs about 2500 vertical feet from Miller Fork to near Donner Pass, and then there are 520 additional feet along the one-mile summit ridge to 10720, for a total of about 3000 vertical feet.

    As the route approaches Donner Pass, it passes by a beautiful meadow, and then the grade becomes very gentle – the only problem is fallen trees.

    After a while Donner Pass is almost visible ahead, and you must choose whether to head northeast up to the ridge-line on the right, or keep going toward Donner Pass. If you cut up the slope too soon, you will be in a maze of fallen dead trees. Wait until the route looks easy, and then head up to the ridge, perhaps ¼ mile before Donner Pass – or go all the way to Donner and avoid the hassle. Once on the forested ridge, follow it southeast. This ridge leads over several small sub-peaks, through a goblin forest with large twisted trees, and through sections with some dead and downed trees.

    Goblin Forest on 10720 Ridge
    Goblin Forest on 10720 Ridge

    There are hints of a game trail as the route climbs progressively to the summit. Near the summit the route steepens and finally leads up to a large block of crystalline pegmatite, which you must climb to see the stunning view.

    Remains of an old triangulation station – pieces of wood and wires – are on top of the summit rock.

    Survey Station Remains on 10720
    Survey Station Remains on 10720

    There is also a register jar with a few names – amazingly, the peak is actually climbed by others. The day I did it, I found the name of a runner I met on the trail earlier that morning!

    There are a couple of good spots to activate this mountain – I set up just northwest of the summit block, out of the wind, right on the ridge. With many useful trees on the site, you don’t really need a pole. Dead tree trunks are available to use as a mast, and you can also use the summit block!

    10720 First Activation
    10720 First Activation

    For the return trip, just backtrack along the ridge toward Donner Pass.

    10720 Ridge View North
    10720 Ridge View North

    If in doubt about where to descend, continue safely on to Donner Pass. If you descend too soon, you will find yourself in a hell of fallen trees on steep slopes!

    I recommend using GPS with a topo map set to navigate this and other off-trail mountains. GPS navigation facilitates perfect backtracking, catches errors, and makes off-trail travel more efficient.

    The return trip is fast and easy, down to the junction where the Indian Trail climbs back up to the Bulwark Ridge Trail.

    Miller Fork Junction with Indian trail
    Miller Fork Junction with Indian trail

    This section is 1000 vertical feet up, and it will test your tired legs. From the top of the Indian Trail, there remains 1000 vertical feet back down to the parking area. The total vertical gain – and loss – is about 5000 vertical feet for the complete 14.9-mile round trip. The trail quality is much better than what Google Maps suggest. Donner Pass and 10720 may be climbed from the north and east, but I have not done this. It might be possible to reduce the amount of vertical gain by coming up from one of the alternate routes.

    If you like activating Signal Mountain, by all means try 10720. The latter summit is longer and harder than Signal, because of the additional work required to descend and later ascend the Indian Trail. They make a nice pair, because each summit is visible from the other.

    Unless you are Superman, forget about a dual activation of Signal and 10720 in the same day. However, if you are Superman, the way to do both summits together would be to climb Signal first, hike north one mile to the points near 10,500 feet, head southeast about 2.5 miles along the ridge toward Lookout Mountain, head for Donner Pass, and then pick up the ridge that leads southeast to 10720. To complete the loop hike, descend via the Donner Pass Trail to Miller Creek, and then return via the Indian and Bulwark Ridge trails. I have not tried this huge hike, so you are on your own – it would require a full day for sure!

    10720 is a big hike with a SOTA activation of the Peak included for a nice rest break.

    73

    KX0R
    George Carey Fuller

    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/SP-Ø5Ø (Geneva Mountain) – 3752 m / 12335 ft

    W0C/SP-050
    Geneva Mountain
    3752 m / 12335 ft
    Oct 19, 2014 First Activation

    By KX0R

    Activating Geneva Mountain for the first time was one my SOTA high points for 2014. Although it’s relatively high and exposed, I had the good fortune to climb it during a period of Indian Summer, on a calm, sunny day. I was up there for hours, and I had it all to myself.

    Geneva Summit and Two Sub-peaks
    Geneva Summit and Two Sub-peaks

    To reach the trailhead, drive up I-70 to Georgetown, exit, and follow the signs to Guanella Pass. A fine paved highway leads steeply up to the Pass. This high road may not be open at all times due to winter conditions – check in advance if in doubt. On busy weekends in good weather, the available parking may get filled – get up there really early. Park near the road crest and find the well-marked Rosalie Trail # 603 that leads south from the parking area into the Mount Evans Wilderness.

    Trail 603 Trailhead - Shower on Bierstadt
    Trail 603 Trailhead – Shower on Bierstadt

    From the trail-head, contour east around a small summit for about a mile, until the trail splits at a sign; don’t follow Rosalie Trail 603 down toward Scott Gomer Creek, but take the right (west) path along an old closed road.

    This pair of ruts efficiently follows the ridge south. In the distance three bumps are visible – Geneva Mountain is the last of the three.  Follow the road almost as far as it goes along the ridge. Eventually you’ll come to a cairn marking a place where the ruts turn southwest, but a path leads south.

    Trail Split North of Geneva
    Trail Split North of Geneva

    Leave the road and follow the path – first flat, and then up along the ridge. Just head for the ridge tops and follow the obvious route south across the tundra. There are hints of a trail, but most of the remaining route is in the grass and rocks. You can skirt or climb the small sub-peaks as you approach Geneva Mountain. Geneva is distinctly higher than the other bumps, so keep going until you’re really there. It’s almost 4 miles from the parking area, but it goes fast. The net vertical gain is only about 600 feet, but there’s some additional gain because of the bumps.

    This is an easy alpine hike – but it’s at over 12,000 feet; don’t underestimate the weather – the entire route is above tree-line, with little shelter. It takes a long time to hike four miles south to Geneva, activate it, and hike four miles back. With a long multi-band activation, I was gone from my car for 7-3/4 hours. It takes at least two hours to hike each way.

    I thought I didn’t have to worry about hunters at such a high altitude, but I was wrong – I saw two parties dressed in bright orange and scouting the ridges. Fortunately they didn’t climb Geneva, and I had the mountain to myself the entire time. The summit is a small rock outcrop, and there is little protection from wind. With only a light breeze, I was able to set up next to the top. Bring a pole, and be prepared for conditions. I was able to run my 67-foot wire out from the pole with a 150-foot cord to the northern sub-peak, to give it some extra height – it looked nice flying up there along that high ridge!

    One of the big questions I had as I climbed this summit was “who can I work from this spot?” Even though the mountain towers above the drainages below, it’s dwarfed by 14,000 foot Square Top Mountain, Mount Bierstadt, Mount Evans, and Rosalie Peak, which block low-angle signals to the north and east. The paths west and south are better, but there are higher mountains in most directions. Just for kicks I started out on 21.063 MHz CW, not expecting any miracles. Immediately I was working all around the country, going right over the huge 14-ers to the east. Then I got EA2LU, DJ5AV, EA2IF, as well as many other eastern US stations. With the high solar flux, plus the big horizontal end-fed wire correctly oriented, the high angle path did the trick! On 14 Mhz signals were strong in all directions – it was an outstanding activation! On 40M I worked John, N0TA, 599-579 in Louisville, and that was totally off the sky NVIS! Then I worked several stations on 30M, including Frank, K0JQZ near Colorado Springs – not sure if that was NVIS or more direct. I went back to 20M and made a couple of S2S contacts, plus a whole bunch of other guys, including OK2PDT and CU3AA. It actually was one of my best activations! There were 53 contacts, and I was on the air for over 2 hours. It proved one more time that a low wave angle and power are not required to work DX.

    This is a spectacular place to activate – surrounded by snowy higher peaks, away from cars and development, and well inside the Mount Evans Wilderness. The air is thin, the noise level is very low, and Geneva Mountain was a big surprise to me after many high activations. I would never have gone there, were it not for SOTA.

    Check it out – on a good day, Geneva Mountain is a SOTA Classic!

    KX0R
    George Carey Fuller

    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/FR-Ø26 (Saint Vrain Mountain) – 3700 m / 12162 ft

    W0C/FR-026
    Saint Vrain Mountain
    3700 m / 12162 ft
    First Activation August 2, 2013
    Second Activation July 6, 2014

    By KX0R

    Saint Vrain Mountain is a prominent SOTA peak west of Allenspark, on the boundary between the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a pretty good trail most of the way up to the top, so it’s a popular hike in summer.

    Saint Vrain Trail near Saddle
    Saint Vrain Trail near Saddle

    To climb Saint Vrain Mountain, first drive along the Peak to Peak Highway 7 to the town of Allenspark. Turn south at the big hilltop, drive south a couple of blocks past some houses, and find dirt road USFS 107. Follow 107 about 1.5 miles south up the valley of Rock Creek. At about 8700 feet the road splits – take the right fork, USFS 116.1, uphill about 1/2 mile to about 9000 feet, where the road dead-ends at the trailhead. There is very limited parking, and access is free, so get up there early!

    The beautiful trail climbs steeply up through the forest through aspen groves along a pretty creek.

    After about 3 miles the trail reaches a scenic alpine saddle just south of Meadow Mountain at 11,200 feet. Follow the trail south about a half mile through the sub-alpine forest and across the tundra to a point just east of Saint Vrain Mountain. Leave the trail and climb 800 vertical feet up the moderate east side of Saint Vrain. Depending on the season, this will either be snow fields or grassy slopes and rock. The route follows the marked National Park boundary.

    The hike is 4.4 miles and about 3200 vertical feet from the trail-head to the summit. Views from the peak are spectacular in all directions, and many SOTA Peaks are visible.

    The rocky summit has plenty of room to share with other visitors. It may be better to set up just below the peak to escape people or wind. Saint Vrain is an excellent radio site for HF and VHF/UHF – it is east of the Divide, and it has a wide view across the Eastern Plains, as well as the east side of the Front Range.

    The region around Saint Vrain Mountain forms many thunderstorms in summer. Small cumulus clouds can turn into dark-bottomed monsters in a short time. Get an early start, and don’t push your luck.

    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-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!