W0C/PR-080 (11543)
3511M / 11543ft
Sep 21, 2013
by KX0R
Please see the trip report for W0C/PR-071 Ethel Mount for most of the details about the route used to climb 11543.
Peak 11543 sits about 2 miles east of Ethel, but the peaks are on opposite sides of a deep glacial cirque.
11543 can be climbed easily as a side trip from Trail 1130 that runs from the Divide to the Slide Lakes and Rainbow Lakes to the east. The summit of 11543 is less than a mile east from Trail 1130. There is a game trail or path up most of the northwest ridge of 11543, and it’s a pleasant ascent. The actual summit of 11543 is the rocky eastern summit, and there are other points up there that differ little in altitude. The broad top of the peak is right at treeline. Small trees and large rocks are available for some shelter from wind. There are several good spots to set up and activate. You’ll do better with an antenna pole.
Please see the USGS topo map for this area, as Google Maps omit many key trails.
Note that 11543 looks nice on top, but don’t be fooled into trying to descend by a different route than the NW ridge. There are steep cliffs around the west, south, and east sides of this large mountain.
It is possible to combine an activation of 11543 with another nearby summit, but this requires an early start, a long day, and good weather.
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
View NE from 11543 Summit
11543 Activation
Ceanothuse Lake below 11543
Red Canyon NE of 11543
11543 View East
!! 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!
Mount Ethel sits atop the Continental Divide in the heart of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in northern Colorado. At 11924’ it is very prominent, and it can be seen from some peaks of the Front Range. Climbing and activating Ethel is best done as part of an overnight backpack trip into the Wilderness. The trip up the peak is just a long hike, but it requires traveling above tree line for hours, with considerable exposure to weather.
There are several practical routes up Ethel. I parked at the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead, on the east side of the Park Range, and camped at Big Rainbow Lake. This is an easy backpack trip of about 3-1/2 miles. I climbed Ethel as a day hike from Rainbow Lake, using the fine Trail #1130 that ascends to Slide and Upper Slide Lakes and then climbs up to the Divide. This is a fun, scenic route, and you can see Mount Ethel high above most of the way. At the junction with the trail to Roxy Ann Lake, at about 11,000 feet, I headed off-trail, directly west up to the Divide, via open meadows and gentle rocky slopes. Once on the Divide, I made an approximate beeline south, almost 2 miles, toward the gentle west slope of Ethel; from there I hiked southeast up to the summit. Please see the USGS topo map for this area, as Google Maps omits many key trails and has other serious errors.
If you prefer to stay on marked trails, just follow Trail 1130 all the way to the Divide, turn south on the Wyoming Trail #1101, follow it to just west of Mount Ethel, and pick a convenient route to the summit.
These routes require several miles of hiking across tundra above treeline. There is no shelter, and this is no place to be in bad weather. The day I was there was dry, sunny, spectacular, and quite windy. People climb Ethel often, as it is a short detour from the “Wyoming Trail” 1101, but you may not see anyone up there. The peak has gentle meadows on the west side, and steep cliffs on its northeast and southeast faces. The summit is on the Continental Divide; the north summit is considered the peak. There is a rocky outcrop at the top, and it provides some shelter from wind. It’s not hard to set up a pole on the east side of the peak, and tie the far end of the wire to the top of the peak. I had a great first activation up there, with 35 Q’s and strong signals on 20M.
I combined activating Ethel with a first activation of W0/PR-080, 11543, which is east of the Slide Lakes and Trail 1130. This is practical if you have time, but it’s a long day, and it requires an early start. Please see the report for Peak 11543 for the additional route description.
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Rainbow Lake Sunrise from Camp
Rainbow Lake & Ethel
Ethel Summit
Ethel View South
Ethel Summit and Antenna
Ethel Summit Activation
ATS-3B & Tuners
Ethel Benchmark
!! 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-150 (Thunder Peak) – 3083 m / 10134 ft
May 7, 2014
by KØMOS
According to the WX forecast, today was the best chance to bag another summit for the remainder of the week. After a nice thunderstorm over night, more thunderstorms were in the forecast starting at noon, and even some snow was forecast over night. Getting on the trail early was key. So was to travel light and I therefore exchanged my 30′ mast with a lightweight 16′ fishing rod and the Bazooka and J-Pole antennas with a linked EFHW before I left my QTH.
Thanks to some fresh intell from KX0R/Carey (who activated this summit two days ago) I took a new route which shaved off ~0.5 miles – not much but if you are competing against the clock, every bit helps. I hit the trail under blue skies and not a cloud in sight. I bushwhacked my way up through dense forest and was greeted on the summit by dark clouds all around . Thanks to the abundance of dead trees on the summit, the antenna was up in no time and I got my QRP signal out just in in time to correspond with my posted SOTA alert.
W7RV/Tom picked up my signal on 20m and posted a spot (thanks Tom). Within nine minutes I had 10 contacts and no more takers on 20m when I switched to 15m – just to take a peak… clouds were moving in fast and a cold breeze had me add a new layer of clothing.
My CQs on 15m were answered by M1DXU and shortly after by G2YT/Peter near London (UK). G2YK is a call sign originally issued to ‘Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited’ at the Poldhu Radio Station in Cornwall (you can read more about it here) – pretty cool :)
After this short QSO it was definitely time to pack up my radio and head downhills. The activation only lasted 17 minutes and with ice pellets falling from the sky I slid down the steep and sandy slopes of Thunder Peak, trying to reach the forest to get some protection. By the time I arrived at the TH, the ice pellets morphed into a nice rain shower… exactly what we currently need here in N-Colorado.
!! 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-165 (Signal Butte) 2877M /9459 FT
Feb 28, 2014
by KX0R
Signal Butte is a fine SOTA peak located in the southern part of the huge Hayman Burn area. I first saw it from the top of Thunder Butte, about 7 miles to the north. It looks like a little volcano. The 9459-foot summit is only about 570 feet above the saddle to the southeast – but the conical mountain is over 1000 feet above Trail Creek to the northwest. It stands high above endless tens of thousands of acres of burned forest, and it calls out to be climbed and activated!
Reaching the trailhead on February 28, 2014 was harder than climbing the mountain. I drove down from up north via Highway 285, Highway 126 to Deckers, and via a network of forest roads SW of Westcreek. I drove down past Sheep Nose and Thunder Butte on road 68 – no problem there. I took route 33 in, and soon I found myself on route 367 in the middle of the burned area. Road 367 has hump-bumps and gradually degenerates as it goes south to Trail Creek. Rutted snow-piles across the road suggest that maintenance is minimal in winter. Signal Butte is visible to the south – it looks really cool with snow on its north side – it beckons for you to come closer. A sign warns “no trespassing” – but driving the OHV road through the posted land is apparently OK. At Trail Creek there’s a huge wood fence and a 4-way intersection. If you have a 4WD vehicle this place is paradise! However, I was driving my 1970 VW bug – actually just fine until I got to Trail Creek.
My original plan was to take forest road 364 up the hill north of Signal Butte, then meet road 362, and take that south to the Butte. Road 362 accesses the trailhead east of the Butte and is suggested by others who have described this mountain online. When I saw the start of 364, it looked very jeep-trail, and knowing that it goes up 500 vertical feet in a gully on the northwest side of the hill, I decided to change my plan and take Road 3 that runs SW down Trail Creek. As soon as I started down Trail Creek, I encountered slimy, cheesy mud and huge puddles that looked to be a couple of feet deep. A sign proclaimed “End OHV Area” – that seemed like good news, except the road got worse than what I’d already driven! I was able to drive at least half a mile before I came into a very wet, soft, cheesy section that seemed to be getting wetter and softer the further I went. I could see deep ruts and puddles ahead, and I decided that I’d better turn around before I got stuck trying to turn around!
If I’d ever done these roads before, the story here might be different. On a cold morning, with everything frozen, there would be no problem with cheesy mud. On the other hand, when you don’t know what lies ahead, where few people go in a burned-out forest on a weekday in February, you better play it safe if you want to activate and get home OK. So I turned around and drove back to the 4-way intersection with a plan to park and walk up the roads to Signal Butte.
Just for kicks I tried driving road 364 up the gully – I cleared the hump-bumps OK – don’t try this road with an ordinary road car – but there was more of that cheesy mud from the melting snow all along the road. When I came to a particularly steep, slick spot, I decided to turn around and park. I looked at the map, got my pack and pole, and headed up the muddy road, wondering how long it would take to walk to Signal Butte.
Of course it turned out that the road got steeper but less muddy just past where I had parked. However, up on the ridge there were rutted snowdrifts with shiny ice, so walking was the right plan. Your results may vary – if you have a 4WD vehicle, this area of roads and trails may be a fun place to mess with, as long as the snow isn’t really deep.
I walked the 2-1/2 miles to the Signal Butte trailhead in one hour. I could see a trail leading around the snowy north side of the mountain, but the wind was blowing steadily from that direction; I realized that if I went directly up the cone from the trailhead, I could avoid most of the snow, and the peak would block the wind.
The direct route was easy at first, just a steep slope with rocks and downed burned trees. Most of the soil is gone, exposing more rocks, but visibility up the hill was great. In a short time I was up near the top, where snow drifts covered the rocks and logs, so I had to pick through that part carefully. I followed the snow tracks of a recent climber, likely a fellow activator.
The summit was sunny and spectacular, but the wind was the boss. I was a little late for my activation, so I chose a place to operate just off the top, on the east side, in a pleasant sunny spot among rocks – almost free of wind. I tied my pole to a dead tree and strung the 66 foot wire north along the windy summit ridge, climbing over rocks and in and out of the snowdrifts. In a few minutes I had the big end-fed wire up and ready to go. Even though the north end was only 6 feet up, the wire was well above the summit ridge, and I knew I was going to be OK. The temperature was well above freezing, I had sunshine, the weather was stable, and what had seemed like a dubious adventure was looking pretty good all of a sudden. It’s amazing how things change when the antenna is up!
I matched up the wire on 15M, and N4EX called me before I signed my call, as soon as I sent “QRL?” He spotted me, and then there was a pile. Propagation was great with the solar flux at 170. After about 10 minutes of Q’s, I heard DX, and EA2IF called and worked me. After I worked 21 stations, things came to a stop, so I tuned up on 20M, and there was an instant pile – signals were great – EA2IF worked me again – and then I heard Steve, WG0AT, not far away, out east across the Rampart Range. Near the end of the run EA2LU worked me. I finally went down to 40M but contacted only K5ACO in Arkansas – suggesting that band conditions and the antenna were OK – just no chasers. I was tempted to try other bands, but it was 2:30 and I had a long way to go home, and a cold front was expected to arrive before I would get there. I packed up, hiked down the cone, then back to the car – I enjoyed Road 367 knowing I was going home!
Although I haven’t driven it, I suspect that Road 362 from the south is the preferred access route. I don’t know if it’s OK for ordinary cars or not – it’s likely a high-clearance road, but since it’s on the south side of the ridge, it may be better than the northern route I used. The southern end of 362 is accessible from Divide. If you can drive 362 to the trailhead, the only thing you have to do is climb the 560 vertical feet up the cone, set up, and activate. Since there are some dead trees near the summit, activating without a pole is possible – but a pole makes it easier. In warm weather the trail on the north side may make the ascent easier.
The origin of this odd mountain is fascinating. It’s not a volcano – but it’s the remains of a Tertiary intrusion of light-colored igneous rocks that pushed up through the much older Precambrian rocks about 40 million years ago. I found a fine summary of the geology of Signal Butte.
The 360-degree view from the summit is worth the trip. Thunder Butte stands prominently about 7 miles to the north, and Pikes Peak dominates the picture, roughly 16 miles to the southeast. Some high peaks of the Sawatch are visible about 60-70 miles across South Park to the southwest. Burned-out forest fills the scene to the north and west, almost as far as you can see. The horror of the Hayman fire is beyond our ability to understand – it is what it is. Signs of recovery are everywhere, but I’m glad I never saw that area before it burned.
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Signal Butte Summit
Signal Butte East Side
Signal Butte Climb
Signal Butte N Side
Signal Butte
Signal Antenna
Signal Summit and Pikes Peak
Signal Station Gear
Forest Road 364
!! 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-098 (10140) – 3085M / 10140 ft
Oct 24, 2013 First Activation
by KX0R
Summit 10140 is the little sister of W0C/SP-090 (Crooked Top Mountain) 3183 M / 10465 ft. 10140 is about 1 mile west of Crooked Top. Both mountains can be climbed using the same approach to the 9550 foot saddle (pass) between them. When climbed and activated along with Crooked Top, 10140 provides a rewarding dual SOTA outing.
The route to 10140 and Crooked Top begins with a drive west from Denver on Highway 285. 10140 is located about 4 miles NW of Bailey, but the best road approach is via Road 43, the Deer Creek Road. The marked turn to Road 43 is about one mile east of Crow Hill. From 285, turn right (north) on 43A, continue north about 0.4 mile to 43, and then drive northwest on 43 about 6 miles. Find Saddlestring Road, turn left, cross over Deer Creek, and follow Saddlestring past several other roads to a large parking area and a marked 4WD road (997/P-63) leading uphill – south – into the Pike National Forest. The entire route is shown accurately on Google Maps. Follow FSR 997/P-63 about two miles, first west and then south, to a marked junction with FSR 105, where it becomes FSR 101. Continue left, southeast, on 101, approximately along the 9400 foot contour line, for more than a mile.
Road 101 has two junctions with FSR-105, a 4WD loop road leading over the ridge to the SW. There is a large gate at the second (SE) junction. When I went up there in late October, that gate was closed across road 101. If the gate is open, you may be able to drive all the way to the Pass at about 9550 feet between Crooked Top and 10140; if the gate’s closed, just park there and walk up the gentle road to the Pass.
A couple of key points:
1. The route from Saddlestring Road to the Pass at 9550 is called a 4WD road on signs, but it’s not a true 4WD road – 2WD vehicles with medium to high clearance can handle this road, as long as conditions are OK and the driver is careful. There are plenty of rocks and other problems, and it’s over 4 miles of bumps, but there are no really steep spots, big humps, mud-holes, or large rocks. It appears that dispersed camping and fires are permitted along the road.
2. There is no open road from the 9550 Pass to the southeast. You cannot drive NW from Crow Hill (285) and reach the 9550 Pass from the south. There may have been such a road (101) through Crow Gulch – as shown on some maps – but it’s no longer an option. Google Maps is correct – FSR 101 continues SE down from the Pass for about 1.5 miles, but it’s closed. There also was a locked gate at the Pass the day I was there, and there’s a fence across the Pass. Despite the barriers, much of the land immediately south of the Pass, including 10140 and Crooked Top Mountain, is in Pike National Forest.
From the Pass, head west up the moderate east ridge of 10140. This forested slope is easy to climb, and it’s less than 600 vertical feet and about ½ mile to the top. The route is more open just south of the ridge, and there are game trails near the summit. Note that there is another summit about 2000 feet south of 10140 that is almost as high – but the SOTA summit is the northern one, as shown on USGS maps. 10140 is a local maximum on a long, high ridge that runs for miles, from Mount Logan to Crow Hill.
The 10140 summit has convenient spots to set up a rig, with good trees and some shelter from wind. The view is nice, but the view from higher Crooked Top is more impressive. It looks like there’s another hiking route up 10140 via the NW ridge, from either FSR 101 or jeep trail FSR-105.
10140 and Crooked Top offer a classic dual SOTA activation – weather and time permitting. These two peaks are very convenient to each other. Start early and do them both!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
View of 10140 from Crooked Top
10140 Summit
Area NW of 10140 Summit
View South Down Crow Gulch from 10140
KX0R First Activation Site on 10140
Crooked Top Mountain from 10140
Sign at Junction of FSR 101 and FSR 105
!! 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-090 (Crooked Top Mountain) – 3183 M / 10465 ft
Oct 24, 2013 – First Activation
by KX0R
Crooked Top is well-hidden, but it’s a fine SOTA peak. It takes some effort to find it and climb it, so it gets few visitors. When climbed and activated along with its sister summit 10140, W0C/SP-098, Crooked Top provides a rewarding outing.
The route to Crooked Top begins with a drive west from Denver on Highway 285. Crooked Top is located about 4 miles NW of Bailey, but the best road approach is via Road 43, the Deer Creek Road. The marked turn to Road 43 is about one mile east of Crow Hill. From 285, turn right (north) on 43A, continue north about 0.4 mile to 43, and then drive northwest on 43 about 6 miles. Find Saddlestring Road, turn left, cross over Deer Creek, and follow Saddlestring past several other roads to a large parking area and a marked 4WD road (997/P-63) leading uphill – south – into the Pike National Forest. The entire route is shown accurately on Google Maps. Follow 997/P-63 about two miles, first west and then south, until it becomes Forest Road 101, at a junction with FSR-105. Continue southeast on 101, approximately along the 9400 foot contour line, for more than a mile.
Road 101 has two junctions with FSR-105, a 4WD loop road leading over the ridge to the SW. There is a large gate at the second (SE) junction. When I went up there in late October, that gate was closed across 101 – if the gate is open, you may be able to drive all the way to the Pass at about 9550 feet, between Crooked Top and 10140. If the gate’s closed, just park there and walk up the gentle road to the Pass.
A couple of key points:
1. The route from Saddlestring Road to the pass at 9550 is called a 4WD road on signs, but it’s not a true 4WD road – 2WD vehicles with medium to high clearance can handle this road, as long as conditions are OK and the driver is careful. There are plenty of rocks and other problems, and it’s over 4 miles of bumps, but there are no really steep spots, big humps, mud-holes, or large rocks. It appears that dispersed camping and fires are permitted along the road.
2. There is no open road from the 9550 Pass to the southeast. You cannot drive NW from Crow Hill (285) and reach the 9550 Pass from the south. There may have been such a road (101) up Crow Creek in the past – it is shown on some maps – but it is no longer an option. Google Maps is correct – 101 continues down SE from the Pass for about 1.5 miles, but it either dead-ends or is blocked. There also was a locked gate at the pass the day I was there, and there is a fence across the Pass. Despite the barriers, much of the land immediately south of the Pass, including Crooked Top Mountain, is in Pike National Forest.
Crooked Top Mountain towers about 900 feet above the 9550 Pass; from the Pass, head up east along the fence until you come to the remains of an old road. Follow this road up SE a short distance until it ends, and then climb directly east, up the moderately steep west slope of Crooked Top, all the way to the ridge just NW of the summit. Once on the ridge, follow the ridge SE up to the summit. There are several rocky knolls on top – the actual summit is toward the SE. There are great views there, as well as nice spots to set up and activate. With some shelter from wind, ample space, and trees suitable for antenna supports, the summit is friendlier than many. This wild peak sees few visitors – but it’s a classic SOTA peak.
The descent is the reverse of the climb. Strong knees are required to descend – it’s 900 vertical feet down to the Pass, and 700 of those feet are directly down the slope. The west side of Crooked Top is relatively open, with little talus, no cliffs, and few fallen trees – but avoid the steep south slopes below the summit.
After returning down to the Pass, you can decide whether to activate 10140. See the trip report for that peak – the route is simpler and easier than Crooked Top, so doing them both for 8 points is a great idea if weather and time allow. These two peaks make for a classic dual SOTA activation!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Sunset on Crooked Top
Junction with FSR-105 and FSR-101
Crooked Top Viewed from 10140
Activation Antenna 66 ft EFFW on Crooked Top
KX0R First Activation Site on Crooked Top
Summit Rocks on Crooked Top
Sunset on Crooked Top and 10140
!! 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/SR-054 (Tremont Mountain) 3160M / 10388 ft
Sep 7, 2013 First Activation
Tremont Mountain is conveniently located near Gap Road in beautiful Golden Gate Canyon State Park, west of Golden, Colorado. I climbed it from a designated parking spot about ½ mile east of Panorama Point, on the south side of Gap Road. A fee and pass are required to park in the State Park.
For this trip you need a topo map, compass, and good navigation skills; a GPS is helpful. The hike is moderately strenuous, but it’s only about a mile each way.
The route appears to be an off-trail bushwhack trip almost 1000 vertical feet all the way up. However, if you’re sharp, you can find old abandoned logging trails that go directly up, almost to the top. I found two of these trails.
Go south from the parking spot and immediately intersect the hidden Mule Deer Trail. Hike west and climb slightly on this maintained trail about ¼ mile, and find an old trail or trails heading off uphill to the south. I found two of these unmarked trails. If the Mule Deer Trail is descending to the west, you have gone too far. The western of the two routes works pretty well – I descended that way. The route goes up directly, east of the craggy northern ridge of Tremont Mountain. These trails resemble gullies and may have been used decades ago to drag logs down from the mountain. There are old cut stumps near the summits.
Climb up the old trail, and try to stay with it through occasional thickets of new growth. There are significant trees growing in this trail – but it’s a much better route than the off-trail ascent I did through fallen trees, rocks, and bushes. The old route is an obvious game trail. Stay east of the northern ridge, until you get near the summits.
The name “Tremont” may mean “three summits”, because that’s what’s up there. The northwestern summit at 10,388 feet is the highest – but I couldn’t see through the trees, so I climbed the southeastern knob first, then the middle one, and then the northwestern summit before knowing which crag was the top. It’s easy scrambling over large rocks up the northeastern side of the northwestern summit. The actual peak is out at the northwestern end of the slightly exposed granite summit ridge. It’s a spectacular place, with views of the high Front Range peaks, Boulder and Gilpin Counties, Thorodin Mountain, Pike’s Peak, Mount Elbert, and the Eastern Plains.
Despite being included in the Sawatch Range group of SOTA peaks, Tremont is far from the Sawatch area – it’s really in the eastern Front Range.
Tremont is a fine SOTA peak! There are small trees along the summit ridge, and if you bring an antenna pole, you can just stick it in a tree. Even with no pole, the trees could support a wire 6-8 feet above the granite ridge-top. I used a 66 foot end-fed wire supported by a Black Widow pole at 18 feet above the rock, with the NW end tied to a tree. I got 57 contacts of 40, 20, 17, and 15M CW. The solar flux was only 101, and I still managed to get six S2S contacts on 20M, 42 contacts on 20M, DJ5AV on 17M, and 5 contacts on 15M.
This eastern peak has nice coverage of much of the Denver Metro Area, and I made good local contacts, as well short and long skip Q’s. This is surely a great VHF/UHF peak.
Tremont is very prominent and should be avoided if there is any threat of electrical activity! It was nice while I was there, just breezy, but it’s often very windy during the colder months. There are sheltered spots near the ridge-top with some protection from the wind. Since the ascent described here is totally on the cold north side of the mountain, a winter ascent would probably require a strenuous hike on snowshoes. A much longer and stronger south-side ascent might be practical as well.
I would never have climbed Tremont were it not for SOTA, but it ranks high on my list of fun summits!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
NW Summit Ridge of Tremont
Forest near Tremont Summits
KX0R First Activation on Summit Ridge
KX0R Antenna in Tremont Summit Ridge
Thorodin Mountain from Tremont Summit
Tremont Summits from NW Summit
!! 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-035 (Meridian Hill) 3495M / 11490 ft
Oct 9, 2013 by KX0R
Meridian Hill is a fine SOTA site located in the Mount Evans Wilderness. Despite its proximity to the Denver metro area, it is rarely climbed. This mountain presents significant physical and navigational challenges; the route detailed here climbs 2500 vertical feet from the trailhead in about 5.5 miles, with about 2.5 miles off-trail. This peak requires preparation, map study, and accurate navigation, but the trip can be a rewarding adventure.
The climb starts at the Meridian Trailhead east of Harris Park. Start by driving west of Denver on Highway 285. Drive past Conifer and Pine Junction, and turn north on paved County Road 43. Drive about 7 miles up Deer Valley, and then turn right on paved road 47. Drive up over a ridge, descend a little, and turn left on Prospectors Way, road 102. There’s a small sign for the Meridian Trailhead at this key junction. Follow dirt road 102 up Elk Creek about a mile, past private Camp Rosalie, to the small USFS trailhead; road 102 is OK for most cars.
The Meridian Trail starts by crossing a bridge to the east side of Elk Creek, and then it ascends continuously for about 3 miles, from 9040 feet to the 10,700 foot Pass east of Mount Rosedale. This is a high-quality trail with nice views from meadows below the pass. At the Pass there is a sign at the boundary of the Mount Evans Wilderness. This is a good place to turn on your GPS unit and look carefully at your map.
Leave the trail and head east into the forest, staying either on the ridge east of the Pass, or just north of that ridge. There are faint trails near the ridge and closer to Mud Lakes. Navigate about 1-1/2 miles through mostly open forest toward the Lakes, and eventually emerge from the forest into a huge marshy basin at about 10,700 feet. There are several shallow lakes in this sub-alpine swamp. It was here that I encountered a surprised moose! Hike around the northwest side of the marsh, and then head southeast along the northern edge of the open area. Old log cabins are hidden in the woods just north of the lakes. This is real wilderness – but the terrain is not difficult – and it’s grand!
You can see Meridian Hill from the Mud Lakes basin, and the ascent is straightforward. Northeast of the large eastern lake, head up into the forest and climb up the forested slope over rocks and fallen trees. Head for the 11,200’ saddle west of the summit and reach a large, open boulder field. The big rounded rocks are mostly stable and are fun to climb. Head up the boulder-covered ridge to the top. The west summit is the SOTA summit – which is good, because the top of the mountain is about 2/3 of a mile long and covered with granite boulders. There is a register jar on the top, with a few names written on papers inside. Large rocks near the exposed summit provide some shelter from wind. There are a few trees nearby, so it’s not essential to carry an antenna pole. With no higher mountains to the east, Meridian Hill is an excellent radio site for HF, VHF, and UHF. It’s also a grand place, with Rosedale, Mount Rosalie, and Mount Evans to the west, and a panoramic view from Longs Peak to Pikes Peak.
The trip out is best done by returning to the Pass where the developed trail crosses the Meridian-Rosedale ridge. Heading west from Mud Lakes, avoid descending significantly until you’re on the ridge east of the Pass; remember to head for Rosedale as you approach the Pass, and you’ll meet the trail.
Meridian Hill is a classic SOTA destination, mostly because of its wilderness location and the interesting off-trail route. Save this trip for a dry day in late summer or fall. The off-trail part of the route is probably a snowy ordeal in winter or spring, and the Mud Lakes area is likely infested with mosquitoes in early summer. Be sure to tell someone of your intended route and return time before you start out.
If anyone knows anything of the history of the Mud Lakes cabins, please email me…
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Meridian Hill Trail South of the Pass
Meridian Hill from near Mud Lakes
Wilderness Sign at the 10,700 ft Pass
Moose near Mud Lakes
Old Log Cabin below Meridian Hill
Mud Lakes from Meridian Hill
View West from Meridian Hill
Meridian Hill Summit and Mount Evans Summits
Meridian Hill’s Huge Summit Ridge
KX0R Activation on Meridian Hill
KX0R First Activation – ATS-3B and Tuners
Rosemont and Rosalie from Mud Lakes
!! 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-048 (Thunder Butte) – 2992 M / 9836 FT
Jan 03, 2014
by KX0R
Thunder Butte is a prominent mountain located in the Pike National Forest southwest of Deckers. It’s an interesting off-trail climb with convenient access and immense vistas – it’s also a great SOTA peak!
Get up early, drive west of Denver on Highway 285, and turn left (south) on Highway 126 at Pine Junction. Drive down through Pine, stay on 126 through Buffalo Creek, and continue south on the good paved road all the way to Deckers. Continue south from Deckers on paved Highway 67 for 9 miles to Westcreek. Turn right at Westcreek on unpaved Abbey Road, drop to Road 73 and turn south, go about ½ mile to the Volunteer Fire Station, and turn right – west – on Highway 68 (W Stump Road). Drive west 2 miles on this good dirt road, past a large rock formation called the Sheep Nose, and turn sharply right on marked 9-J Road.
(You can also drive up from Colorado Springs via Route 24 to Woodland Park, and then take Road 67 north to Westcreek.)
9-J is a maintained forest road. It was not gated on Jan 3, 2014 when I was there, and the snow had been recently plowed. I met a propane truck coming out when I was driving in, so some one lives up the road. There was no problem driving up about 1.3 miles to the marked parking area at the top of a ridge, west of Sheep Nose, where the road turns sharply west. Park here in the designated spot. A sign warns that this is a burn area, with possible hazards like falling trees, flash floods, and destroyed trails. This is a real fun place!
There is no trail-head sign or trail at the parking area. You can see Thunder Butte about 1.5 miles to the north. The route up to the summit is not difficult, and route-finding is easy if you’re prepared; however, it’s essential to study the topo map of this area before starting in. Take a compass, topo map, and perhaps a GPS unit. Note that it would be easier to go wrong on the return than on the ascent – be sure to look back every so often and to learn what the return route looks like.
Hike approximately north on the broad ridge-top from the parking area. This ridge heads roughly toward the summit, which is on the left side of the elevated part of the mountain you see. Stay on the ridge as it veers slightly east and west of north, while mostly climbing gradually. Follow this ridge for about 1-1/2 miles through a nice forested area that was spared by the Hayman Fire (that fire burned most of this region, over 135,000 acres, more than ten years ago). There may be a few cairns along the ridge, and there are sections where a faint trail is visible. The route I followed climbs up a faint trail section near the top of the ridge near various rocky outcrops, and then when the outcrops become obstacles, the route drops northeast a short distance and crosses a shallow gulch. This place is just before the whole landscape begins to get steeper to the north.
After crossing the small gulch, climb generally northeast, on an increasing grade, through the burned forest. The route heads up to the obvious saddle between the summit ridge and the sub-peak to the south. Stay north and above the valley that leads to the saddle – the valley is choked with bushes and trees. The route above ascends northeast through open, burned forest – there are bits of trail if you look – try to follow the natural route up to the saddle. Don’t try to climb up to the summit directly – just head over to the north part of the saddle, get on the summit ridge, and then climb on up to the top. Follow the narrow ridge, staying mostly on the top or west side, where there are bits of trail. Be sure to look down to the east, at the huge craggy ridge system below!
After about 300 vertical feet of climbing rocks and bare soil among dead trees on the summit ridge, you’ll reach a sub-peak; from here you can see the summit not far above – the final ascent is no problem. There’s no exposure on the class 2 summit ridge route, until you reach the top.
The summit is a small exposed rocky area, with an incredible view of Pikes Peak and the huge Hayman Burn to the south and west. There was a “register” in a plastic bottle down in the rocks when I was there. People do climb this remote peak – I saw fresh footprints in the snow when I was there, and another man reached the summit not long after I did. I noticed that Gerry and Jennifer Roach signed the register in 2009 – but there are not many names in the notepad.
The day I climbed Thunder Butte was abnormally warm for Jan 3. It was sunny, and it followed a warm dry spell with little snow. The temperature on top at 9836 feet was about 40 degrees. The south side of the mountain was mostly free of snow, but there were 4-6 inches of snow in the shade. On the narrow summit ridge it was windy, especially on the west edge. I was able to set up my activation on the ridge – this required stringing my 66 foot wire north along the ridge, across snowy rocks, and through bushes and small trees. I tied the 20 foot fiberglass pole to a small tree – then I found a dead aspen trunk and used it as a mast to raise the far end of my wire 10 feet above the ridge-top.
The whole time I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this on January 3. I never needed gloves the whole time I was on top, even though the wind was hissing across the summit cliffs! I set up my ATS-3B, resonated my homebrew high-Z tuner on 15M, matched up the main tuner, and called CQ on 21.062 – I was earlier than my alert time. After two or three calls, N1EU called with a big 599 signal from NY, and I knew it was going to happen! K6EL in CA was next, and then there was a big pile. After 15 Q’s on 15M, I retuned to 20M and worked 25 additional stations. Conditions were great on both bands! Since the 66 foot wire is 3/2 wave on 15M and a full wave on 20M, my high-Z tuner matched it quickly on both bands, with no counterpoise. Somehow the antenna stayed up, even though the pole and wire were both moving around with the wind gusts.
A few comments about propagation from Thunder Butte are in order. This mountain is in a remote part of the South Platte Canyon region, but at 9836 feet, I could see over the Rampart Range and into a small part of the South Denver area. I had solid 21 MHz direct signals from N0TA, up north in Louisville, and K0FNR, in Arvada. For HF, Thunder Butte is an almost perfect site, with huge prominence in all directions and no larger peaks for many miles. VHF/UHF propagation is probably limited by the Rampart Range to the east, as well as in other directions, though local coverage is likely excellent. The site is quiet, and there is little development in the area.
I recommend descending by the same route used for the ascent. Avoid going down into any valleys, except for the small gulch you crossed previously before starting to climb up toward the saddle. Hike out on the long ridge you came in on. Head toward the west (right) side of the Sheep Nose rock on the way out. Use a compass or GPS to make sure you backtrack accurately.
This could be an unpleasant hike in summer, with little shade, no water, and hot, bare ground. The peak is called Thunder Butte for good reason. Don’t test your luck on this summit if dark clouds approach!
One trip report I found warned about thorny bushes, but I didn’t have any problem with them. Most of the burned forest is open and easy to deal with. This should be a nice hike on a dry spring or fall day. Even though there’s no marked route, this ascent is relatively easy, with only 2.5 miles each way, and 1400 vertical feet of gain. The ridge route is easy and pleasant, better than many trails!
Thunder Butte is close enough to the Denver-Colorado Springs area that it should see more SOTA activations. The vast, unique view is both awesome and heartbreaking. With its south-facing route and good road access, this mountain is a SOTA Classic!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Warning Sign at Thunder Butte “Trailhead” Parking
Thunder Butte from the “Trailhead” Parking – the Broad Ridge Route
Thunder Butte and Pikes Peak from Little Scraggy Peak
Hiking Route to Thunder Butte along Broad Ridge
Hike along Ridge Part Way to Thunder Butte
Thunder Butte Summit from Ridge Route, about Halfway
Thunder Butte Summit, Saddle, and Southern Sub-Peak
Thunder Butte Route below the Saddle
South Side of Thunder Butte from Burned Forest Route
Thunder Butte Summit Ridge above Saddle
Thunder Butte Summit Ridge
View South from Thunder Butte Summit – Hayman Burn and Pikes Peak
First SOTA Activation on Thunder Butte Summit – 66ft WIre on Black Widow Pole
ATS-3B, Tuners, and Battery – 1st Activation of Thunder Butte
View from Thunder Summit West to Lost Creek Wilderness
View South from Thunder Butte Summit, across Hayman Burn to Pikes Peak
Complex Ridge System SE Side of Thunder Butte
!! 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/SR-052 Thorodin Mountain 3206 M / 10540 Ft
Sep 14, 2013 – First Activation
KX0R
Thorodin Mountain is a very prominent peak located in Golden Gate State Park, west of Golden, Colorado. The summit is conveniently located north of Gap Road. To reach the de-facto trailhead, follow Gap Road (good quality unpaved 2WD) about ½ mile east from Panorama Point; find a marked parking spot on the south side of the road. A fee and pass are required to park and hike in the State Park.
For this trip you need a topo map, a compass, and good navigation skills. A GPS device is helpful. The hike is moderately strenuous, but it’s only about 1.3 miles to the summit.
There is no designated trail to the top of Thorodin Mountain. On the USGS topo map, the route appears to be an off-trail bushwhack trip ascending about 1100 vertical feet. However, there’s an old abandoned logging road leading up to a route marked with cairns that leads right to the top. From the parking spot, walk north across Gap Road, hike west about 500 feet to the highest spot along Gap road (elevation 9440 feet), and then head north into the woods. You may find a short section of new trail – head north on this trail for a short distance, but veer right and head northeast, about 100 feet before that trail starts to head northwest and down. Soon you’ll intersect the old logging road shown on the USGS 7.5 minute Tungsten quadrangle map. Climb northeast on this unmarked, un-maintained trail. Where the old road heads east, resist the temptation to leave the road; instead stay on the road until it ends at about 9840 feet.
Near the end of the old road, you should find a cairn marking the start of the cairned route up to the summit. Simply follow the numerous cairns up the logical route that follows the broad steep valley up the south side of Thorodin. There is one section where the enthusiastic cairn-builders marked the route up through a slope of large boulders – you may choose to stay slightly east of the cairns on an easier route up the slope until you get past the boulders – then follow the cairns up from there.
Thorodin has several summits. The one marked on the SOTA maps is the southwest summit, marked 10540 on the USGS quad. The middle peak is shown as the summit on Google maps, but that’s not what SOTA or USGS mark as the summit. The northeast summit is called Starr Peak, shown at 10511 on the USGS map, and even though it may appear higher, it’s not the SOTA summit. There is a radio facility on Starr Peak, and legal access over there is doubtful.
The view from prominent Thorodin is awesome. You can see many high Front Range peaks, the area around Central City and Rollinsville, Tremont Mountain to the south, and far out over the Plains.
Thorodin is a superb radio site and SOTA peak! There are small trees along the extended summit ridge, and if you bring an antenna pole, you can just stick it in a tree. Even with no pole, the summit trees are sufficient to support a wire 8-10 feet above the granite ridge-top. There are larger trees close by. I used a 66 foot end-fed wire supported by a Black Widow pole at 18 feet above the ridge, with the west end tied to a tree. I got 25 contacts on 20M CW, plus one on 40M, before I had to shut down because of lightning nearby. The peak has nice coverage of most of the Denver area, and I made good local contacts as far away as Fountain, south of Colorado Springs, as well as short and long skip Q’s on 20M. This is surely a great VHF/UHF peak!
Needless to say, Thorodin should be avoided if there is any threat of lightning. It was mostly nice while I was there, but it may be very windy often. There are sheltered spots near the summit ridge with some protection from the wind. With the good road access and route up the south side, winter activation may be practical at times.
If you’re strong and the weather is good, you could activate both Tremont and Thorodin in one big day from the same parking spot, for a 10 point day.
Because of its easy access from the metro area and great prominence, Thorodin deserves your attention if you want to activate local summits or operate portable radios. If you have lightweight equipment and can hike directly up a mountain without a switch-backed trail, Thorodin will delight you – this is a SOTA classic!
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
South Side of Thorodin and Gap Road from Tremont Mountain
View toward Thorodin from the Parking Spot
South Side of Thorodin – This is the Climb
Black Widow Pole and EFFW Antenna on Thorodin
Starr Peak Radio Facility from Thorodin Summit
View of Tremont Mountain from Trail up Thorodin
View of Starr Peak and Middle Summit from Thorodin Summit
Summit Rocks on Thorodin – Looking North
View North from Thorodin, with Rain Developing
!! 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!
!! 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!
