I spent the last two weeks hiking in RMNP and of course activating some SOTA summits. As one of the highlights, I was attempting to do part of the Mummy Mania (a long day hike to climb six peaks between 12,500 and 13,500 ft (3800m-4100m).
Mount Chapin: 12454 ft / 3796 m
Mount Chiquita: 12,454 ft / 3983 m/
Ypsilon Mountain: 13,520 ft/ 4121 m
Fairchild Mountain: 13,508 ft / 4117 m
Hagues Peak: 13,560 ft / 4133 m
Mummy Mountain: 13,430-ft / 4,093 m
The BOLD peaks qualify for SOTA.
Mummy Range Overview
‘Killing’ all of the Mummies requires two cars (shuttle), excellent weather, strong hiking and path finding skills and stamina. The terrain varies wildly between (Class II to Class III max) and some exposure if you choose so. Trying to activate 3 summits in addition to the 15+ miles and ~7000 ft elevation gain – impossible, at least for me. So I split it up in two sections on different days.
During my activation of Hagues Peak (13,560 ft/4133 m), the highest of the Mummies, I could see the Cameron Pk fire and how it blackened the skies (see pictures).
KØMOS with Hagues Pk in the background
KØMOS On Hagues Pk with Cameron Pk fire in the background (Aug. 15, 2020)
Cameron Pk fire from Hagues Peak (Aug 15, 2020)
ROMO Repater Site with smoke from Cameron Pk Fire (Aug 15, 2020)
KØMOS Hagues Pk activation
The smoke from several fires in Colorado thickened over the last 14 days, making for nice sun sets in Boulder and along the Front Range but also for very poor air quality. Early mornings air quality was better but the easterly winds pushed the smoke over the Mountains during the day making the views from peaks mediocre at best and breathing difficult.
Never the less, I decided to ‘finish’ the Mummies yesterday (Sunday 8/22/2020), starting at Chapin TH to summit Chapin/Chiquita/Ypsilon and as the big finale Fairchild Mtn which got away from me several times.
Ypsilon to Fairchild is a steep and treacherous route, descending and ascending 1000+ feet over ~1 mile across terrain littered with talus and huge boulders. It takes all your extremities to get up to Fairchild Mtn.
Traverse as seen from Ypsilon side
Traverse as seen from Fairchild side
The smoke from the fires increased along our route and made breathing more difficult as we went along (slowing us down measurably). By the time we hit the ridge on Fairchild the smoke was pretty bad, hurting nose and throat and burning in the eyes. We abandoned the idea to activate the peak 1385 ft/422m before reaching the summit (no, we were not within the activation zone yet). The idea to spend another 1h+ in these conditions before hiking back an approx. 5h to the car with burning eyes and coughing was not pretty.
Disappointed that Fairchild got away again again, but sort of happy at the same time for reaching (and playing with the radio on) 3 summits and the satisfaction that I made the treacherous traverse over to Fairchild – I could have made it without the smoke. I know now how a chain-smoker must feel every day.
So, bottom-line of the story is that you please pay attention to the wind/fire/smoke conditions when you are planning to activate in/near RMNP.Check their Website, large areas are already closed (no roads yet). Right now it’s neither pretty (no visibility) nor healthy I presume.
Oh, yeah, and if we had a QSO at ~14:40 UTC and I told you I am on Ypsilon Mtn (WØC/FR-ØØ9) I was wrong… I was on Mount Chiquita (not a SOTA Pk) and realized my mistake later (I blame lack of oxygen and smoke inhalation for my mistake – could be my age too). I was on Ypsilon Mountain at 16:30 UTC – I apologize for that.
Stay safe and healthy.
Best, Matt/KØMOS
!! 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!
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Wilderness Trip
• Seldom climbed
• No marked trail
• Navigation and route-finding required
• Game trails all the way to the top
• ~ 8.5 miles round trip
• ~ 2750 vertical feet
• SOTA Classic !
Mount Patterson from Green Mountain
Figuring out how to climb MountPatterson, navigating up to the summit, and doing the first activation on a fine day in September was a lot of fun!
The ascent required a little more than 2-1/2 hours, and the descent took slightly less time. I was on top almost three wonderful hours! This is not a family hike.
Driving Directions:
• Drive to the west side of Rocky Mountain Park.
• The only road is US 34
• Either motor across Trail Ridge Road, or
• Drive via Grand Lake
• Continue to the Green Mountain Trailhead, about 4 miles north of Grand Lake
• This popular trailhead is on the east side of the highway.
The Hike:
• Follow the easy trail about 1.5 miles to Big Meadows
• The vertical gain in this sections is 600 feet
• Turn right, south, on the Tonahutu Creek Trail
• Continue south about 0.4 mile
• Find a marked path leading east toward the Meadows
Mount Patterson Route – Trail Sign to Campsite
• This trail leads to a backcountry campsite called Paintbrush #1
• This path includes a very useful bridge across the large creek
Mount Patterson Trip – Big Meadows
• Follow the path east across the meadow to the forest
• Choose a route up the big mountain
Key Details:
Several game trails lead up the slope, and a few contour through the forest. The easiest way to climb Patterson is to ascend to the broad saddle at 10,880 feet, northwest of the summit. A ridge route leads all the way up, starting southeast of the Paintbrush campsite path. Study a topographic map carefully before going up there – the navigation is really easy with preparation!
The immediate goal is to find a game trail leading southeast to the ridge that climbs towards the saddle northwest of Patterson – many game trails are available on the slope. The ridge is the northern edge of the basin west of Patterson’s summit. This ridge route is the key to the climb.
Mount Patterson – West Side Game Trail Route
There’s an established game trail up this ridge, all the way to the high saddle. This major game trail provides an efficient, pleasant ascent through open pine woods. It climbs east, up along the ridge, or slightly north (left) of it, all the way up the slope, for 1500 vertical feet to the saddle! This route even includes a couple of nice overlooks, with views down the Tonahutu Creek valley toward Grand Lake; Green Mountain W0C/PR-110 stands across the valley at 10313 feet. This route is as efficient as many constructed trails!
Mount Patterson – West Side Route Overlook, View Southwest, Green Mountain at Right
In the image above, the ridge leading to Mount Nisa is on the left. This provides another route to the summit of Mount Patterson. Nisa Ridge is south of the ridge route described here.
Plan on spending well over an hour to climb from the valley to the saddle at 10,880 feet – I did it in 1:08 on a good day. From the saddle, hike southeast up through open sub-alpine forest on the gentle northwest ridge of Patterson; it’s about ½ mile and 500 vertical feet from the saddle to the top. There are good game trails there also.
Mount Patterson North Slopes
The mountain top is a huge meadow of many acres – I was stunned when I first saw it! Wide views extend out in all directions. Chiefs Head and Mount Alice stand high behind the Divide to the east; lakes shimmer down below to the south; several high peaks along the Divide are visible to the north. The Never Summer Range extends like a wall across the western horizon.
Mount Patterson – Chiefs Head and Mount Alice
The actual peak is at a cairn on the west side of the meadow.
Mount Patterson Summit Cairn – View South
Mount Patterson Summit Cairn – View East
The vast activation zone offers choices. Large trees north of the summit offer shelter from wind; smaller trees in the meadow are ideal for supporting a pole; the southern part of the meadow is wide open, with fine views and flowers in summer.
Mount Patterson Summit – Radio Activation
Mount Patterson is miles from any development, so the RF noise level is very low. The summit is high, but higher mountains stand a few miles away – HF propagation is still be OK in most directions. The only VHF/UHF coverage is down the valley to the south. I was on the air for over 1-1/2 hours on the 7-10-14-18 MHz bands, CW only. The log has 34 QSO’s, including 6 amazing summit-to-summit (S2S) contacts!
Mount Patterson offers a wilderness experience combined with a scenic SOTA activation. There are many deer, elk, and moose, and other wild animals in that area. There’s no hunting, but camping is allowed at specific backcountry sites, with a formal permit. It’s possible to camp at one of the sites below Mount Patterson, and then hike up the mountain from camp. Information on camping is available online.
If you climb Patterson, start your drive very early; tell someone exactly where you plan to go and when you expect to return. Take the Ten Essentials. GPS is not required for this hike, if you have a detailed topographic map, a compass, and a good sense of direction. However, a GPS unit with internal topo map data is good for resolving questions about the route, keeping a record of the track, and helping to backtrack accurately.
Mount Patterson Northwest Saddle
Mount Patterson could be combined with other SOTA peaks in the area for a dual activation, or for a group of activations while visiting the National Park:
Mount Patterson is a SOTA Classic in every way. It offers a combination of the best characteristics of Colorado SOTA peaks:
• A challenging, fun hike
• Superb high-mountain scenery
• Wilderness experience
• Nearly ideal quiet radio site
• Huge activation zone
• Accessible in summer and fall
• Summit is rarely visited by people
• No access to vehicles
If you go up there, tread lightly on the meadow, and please leave things just as they are…
73
George
KX0R
!! 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!
• Wilderness summit
• Trailheads near Cameron Pass
• Access via Thunder Pass, west of Lulu
• Unmarked climbers trail up the northwest ridge
• This trip is Grade I, Class 2, with Class 2 on part of the summit ridge
• Wonderful views
• Fine HF site
• The total one-way distance ~ 4.8 miles
• The total elevation gain ~ 2400 feet
• SOTA Classic !
Lulu Mountain Trail Approach
Driving Directions:
• Drive to Fort Collins
• Follow Highway 287 about 10 miles northwest to Highway 14
• Drive up the entire 60 miles of Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass
• Continue past Cameron Pass about 2 miles
• Turn left on marked Road 62 into the Colorado State Forest.
• This 2WD road is passable by most cars to the American Lakes Trailhead
• Drive about 1-1/2 miles east from the turnoff at Highway 14
• The American Lakes Trailhead is at about 9800 feet
• There’s room for several vehicles
• A Colorado State Parks Pass is required for parking and entry
• There’s a fee for a day pass.
An alternate place to park and enter this area exists – a large parking area off the main highway is just north of Cameron Pass. This is a popular spot; get there early, especially on weekends. There is no fee to park.
Cross Highway 14 and look for a gated dirt road that parallels a ditch. A fee is requested to walk this road into the State Forest. Follow the almost level road for about two miles southeast along the ditch to where it intersects the American Lakes Trail near 10,400 feet elevation. The route is mostly the same as via the American Lakes Trailhead.
Lulu Mountain – American Lakes Trail Signs
Lulu Mountain – American Lakes Trail Sign
The “ditch route” adds an easy mile each way, but it avoids several miles of driving on the highway and the dirt road. The total time to the summit is about the same with either route.
Note: The “ditch route” was closed for construction during the summer of 2016. Hopefully it will be open in 2017.
The Hike:
• Follow the pleasant American Lakes Trail up the grade to American Lakes at 11,200 feet
Lulu Mountain Northeast Side
• This is a beautiful area, with moose, deer, elk, trout, lush vegetation, and wildflowers in summer.
• Continue southeast via the trail to Thunder Pass at about 11,340 feet.
Lulu Mountain West Ridge
• Climb up the moderately steep west ridge of Lulu Mountain to the peak.
• It’s almost 900 vertical feet, and less than half a mile, from Thunder Pass
• The route’s somewhat rocky near the top – follow the ridge all the way up
Additional Details:
The summit of Lulu Mountain is small, with a large rock shelter on top. Incredible views are all around. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is to the south; Mount Richthofen and the Nokhu Crags stand to the west; neighboring Thunder Mountain is northeast; Iron Mountain is two miles north; the Diamond Peaks are about four miles northwest; and Clark Peak stands high up north in the Rawah Wilderness. The Park Range reaches up beyond North Park in the west; Longs Peak is visible far to the southeast. The views enhance the radio operating!
There’s plenty of space for an HF activation right on top. It was sunny and just breezy when I was there, so I set up at the rock shelter. I guyed my pole to three rocks – this is sometimes the only good choice on alpine summits. A pole is required for a wire antenna. Lulu Mountain is miles from development – it’s a very quiet site on HF.
Lulu Mountain Activation
Lulu Mountain Radio Gear
Lulu Mountain is a SOTA Classic for several reasons:
• Spectacular views
• Fun sub-alpine and alpine hike
• Prominent summit
• Less traveled
• Wilderness site
• Low RF Noise
Lulu Mountain – Thunder Pass and Mount Richthofen
Lulu Mountain is one of the highest summits for several miles around. The area around Thunder Pass breeds lightning storms in summer. Get an early start, and don’t climb Lulu if storms are likely!
Lulu Mountain – View of Iron Mountain
Lulu Mountain to North Diamond and Clark Peak
Lulu might be combined with other nearby SOTA peaks for a dual activation. It would be a long day:
Iron Mountain W0C/PR-061 2 miles northeast along the ridge
North Diamond Peak W0C/PR-072 4 miles northwest, near Cameron Pass
There are many opportunities for camping, backpacking, fishing, and other recreation in the nearby National Forests, the Colorado State Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Lulu Mountain also is accessible from the Colorado River Trailhead, in Rocky Mountain National Park, off Highway 34. This long, scenic route is 7.7 miles one-way, with a vertical gain of about 3200 feet; it’s Grade II, Class 2.
73
George
KX0R
Lulu Mountain – Mt Richthofen and Nokhu Crags
Lulu Mountain Columbines along the Trail
Lulu Mountain Indian Paintbrush along the Trail
!! 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!
I waited until everything was just right to activate Richthofen, and the experience was superb. Mount Richthofen demands plenty of respect, and only climbers with off-trail alpine experience should venture near it. Decades ago I climbed this peak, and I thought it was hard then. It certainly wasn’t any easier in 2015!
Key points:
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Wilderness journey
• There are two primary routes – the east side and the west side
• The east side route can be accessed from either the Colorado River Trailhead in RMNP, or from the Thunder Pass route starting near Cameron Pass
• The west side route is accessed from near Cameron Pass via Lake Agnes
• This report is about the longer route from the Colorado River Trailhead
• The total round-trip distance is 15.4 miles
• The total elevation gain is about 3900 feet
• This trip is Grade II, Class 2, with Class 2 on some of the summit ridge
• The route is via the big ridge southeast of Richthofen, and then up the rocky southeast slope to the top
• Most of the route above 10,400 feet is off-trail, in wilderness
• It takes a long day to climb and activate Richthofen
• My ascent required about 4-1/2 hours, including breaks, etc.
• I was on top about 1-1/2 hours
• My descent time was about 4-1/3 hours
• The driving time from Boulder to the trailhead was about 2 hours each way
Richthofen, Static Peak, and Nokhu Crags from Lulu Mountain
A few details:
The Colorado River Trailhead is on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The easiest route from the Denver Metro Area is across the Divide via Trail Ridge Road, Route 34.
From the Colorado River Trailhead, hike north, and take the trail to Lulu City at the first junction. The trail follows the valley of the Colorado River to the site of an old mining town. Continue north to a major split just south of Lulu City; take the left fork to Lulu City and Thunder Pass; don’t follow the trails to Little Yellowstone or La Poudre Pass. Where the trail splits north of Lulu City, again take the left fork toward Thunder Pass; don’t go to Little Yellowstone Canyon. The correct trail ascends northwest, following the path of an old stage road up to about 10,160 feet, where the path divides again. This junction is well-signed; take the left fork southwest toward Ditch Camp #3 Campsite, Skeleton Gulch, and Mount Richthofen; don’t go right, northeast, toward Box Canyon Campsite or Thunder Pass.
Key Sign to Mount Richthofen East Ridge Route
Follow the trail about ¼ mile, past the campsite, to the Grand Ditch. Turn right on the Ditch Road, walk a short distance north, and find the marked trail leading over a bridge across the Ditch, and into Skeleton Gulch.
Cross the bridge and take a break. This is a good spot to pump some water, have a snack, and prepare for the climb; there’s no water on Richthofen above Skeleton Gulch.
The route to Richthofen requires climbing the long east-west ridge southeast of the summit.
East Ridge Route of Richthofen – View SE from near the Summit
There are various ways to ascend the ridge from the Skeleton Gulch Trail. I walked about ½ mile west on the Skeleton Gulch trail from the Ditch; then I chose a route up the south side of the ridge, at a place where the slope looked reasonable.
Game Trail up from Skeleton Gulch ot East Ridge
Further west in the Gulch, the slope becomes steep and craggy. There’s no marked route, but several game trails lead up to the ridge. It’s also possible to climb up the southeast end of the ridge without going very far into Skeleton Gulch.
The open ridge-top is a grand place with fine views; an easy hike leads west across the grassy tundra toward Richthofen.
East Ridge of Richthofen – View toward the Southeast
This is a good place to see bighorn sheep. At 12,000 feet, the easy ridge-route ends with a steep ascent up a rocky gully to a dark buttress southeast of Richthofen.
Route up East Slopes of Richthofen to Buttress
Class 2 Route up Rocky Gully to top of Buttress
There are climbers’ trails up through the talus. You have to get over or around the east side of the buttress – no difficult moves or serious exposure are required. A route through the obvious notch is OK, as well as a traverse east of the notch.
Looking down at Buttress Route
Past the knob descend to an easy saddle, and then do a steep, challenging ascent up about 600 vertical feet of loose rocks. Pick the best route you see, and avoid any really steep areas. The Class 2 route leads right up to the east end of Richthofen’s summit ridge.
Richthofen West Ridge to Mount Mahler – North Park Beyond
On Richthofen you may feel suspended above all the other local summits! Many more high peaks stand far beyond the local summits. The Medicine Bow Range runs north in the distance, the Never Summer Range leads south for miles, and the Park Range stands like a wall on the west side of North Park.
View North to Clark Peak – Medicine Bow Range Beyond
Richthofen has a nice rock shelter right on top. If no one else is there, you can set up radio gear in the shelter and run a wire along the ridge.
First SOTA Activation of Mount Richthofen
The summit is all rocks, and a pole is required for a good HF activation. As Richthofen is the highest mountain in the area, it’s a great HF site. No development lies within several miles of the peak, so man-made RF noise is minimal. The only possible problem with Richthofen is that because its slopes are so steep, it offers no ground plane to reflect and enhance HF signals toward the horizon.
I was concerned about time, so I limited my activation to 20M CW. Propagation was excellent, and I made 28 contacts in 25 minutes; these included an S2S with W7TAO on W7W/OK-164 in Washington, and S58AL in Slovenia, about 5500 miles to the northeast! If I had it to do again, I would have operated on more HF bands.
KX0R Radio Equipment on Mount Richthofen
Mount Richthofen probably is a poor summit for VHF/UHF contacts. It looks out across North Park and southern Wyoming, but not many people live there; the eastern Plains are barely visible to the northeast, but again, not a very populated area. All the major population centers are mostly blocked to VHF/UHF signals by numerous mountains standing south, east, and north of Richthofen.
Mount Richthofen is a SOTA Classic for many reasons:
• Superb views
• Beautiful sub-alpine journey
• Challenging alpine hike
• Very prominent summit
• Lightly visited
• Interesting geology
• Pristine wilderness in Rocky Mountain National Park
• Miles from development
• Low RF Noise
The Never Summer Range breeds lightning storms in summer. Avoid this area if storms are likely! The entire ridge route is dangerous in bad weather! Don’t go near this place, unless the weather is good and predicted to stay dry.
There are many opportunities for camping, backpacking, fishing, and other recreation in the nearby National Forests, the Colorado State Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park. There are nice back-country campsites in Skeleton Gulch and near the trails below Mount Richthofen – reservations are required.
Unfortunately Mount Richthofen is too difficult a mountain for most hikers and SOTA activators. This summit calls to the few who seek the challenge of a long, hard day combined with an incredible alpine activation.
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Suggestions for the north approaches:
Starting from Cameron Pass might be a better choice from Fort Collins or other northern areas; this requires driving about 60 miles up the Poudre Canyon via Highway 14. Both the American Lakes Trailhead and the parking area near Cameron Pass provide access to the Thunder Pass Trail, for the eastern route, as well as the Lake Agnes Trail, for the western route.
About 2-1/2 miles southwest of Cameron Pass, Road 62 leads east, down from Highway 14 into the Michigan River Valley. This 2WD road is passable by most cars to the American Lakes Trailhead – it’s about 1-1/2 miles east of the turnoff from the highway. Part of the trail is in the Colorado State Forest, and a pass is required for parking and entry – there is a fee.
An alternate place to park and enter this area exists – a large parking area off the main highway is just north of Cameron Pass. This is a popular spot; get there early, especially on weekends. There is no fee to park.
Cross Highway 14 and look for a gated dirt road that parallels a ditch. A fee is requested to walk this road into the State Forest. Follow the almost level road for about two miles southeast along the ditch to where it intersects the American Lakes Trail near 10,400 feet elevation. This route adds about one easy mile each way, but it avoids several miles of driving on the highway and the dirt road. The total time is about the same with either route. This is a beautiful area, with moose, deer, elk, trout, lush vegetation, and many wildflowers in summer.
The American Lakes Trail leads up past American Lakes to Thunder Pass, and then down southeast about 1-1/2 miles to Grand Ditch and the Skeleton Gulch Trail. From there, the climb up Richthofen via the big ridge southeast of the summit is the same as described above. Unfortunately the north route via the Thunder Pass Trail requires an ascent of about 1100 vertical feet up from Grand Ditch on the return trip north, so this adds to the difficulty. The total vertical gain of the climb from the American Lakes Trailhead to Thunder Pass, the climb from Grand Ditch up Richthofen, and the return climb from the Ditch to Thunder Pass is about 5250 feet. This is somewhat extreme.
The alternate more-efficient route is to climb the west side of Richthofen via Lake Agnes. I have not done this route. The climb is steep, but it requires only about 2700 feet of vertical gain from the Lake Agnes Trailhead, accessible from Road 62. This climb is Class 3, with plenty of talus and steep rocks above Lake Agnes. From the top of Richthofen, the west route looks harder than the southeast route, but it’s much shorter.
Please be careful!
KX0R
!! 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!
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Accessible trailhead
• Rugged alpine summit
• Incredible views
• Challenging hike
• Infrequently climbed
• No marked route
• No trail to the top
• Navigation and route-finding required
• Fine HF site
• 14 miles round-trip
• 4675 vertical feet
• Grade II
• Class 2
Copeland Mountain sees few visitors, but it offers a fine alpine SOTA activation. This high peak combines a challenging bushwhack hike with great scenery. Climbing to the top requires a sustained, steep hike in thin air. Only activators with off-trail experience and excellent fitness should attempt to climb Copeland. Since part of the route is far above tree-line, this expedition should be reserved for a day with good weather. The mountain is most accessible in summer and fall.
The trailhead is at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. An easy dirt road leads two miles west from the Peak to Peak Highway, Route 7, to the trailhead. An entry fee or pass may be required to enter the National Park. The popular trailhead is not large, and it often fills before 8 AM on summer weekends. With the early start needed for Copeland, parking should not be a problem. An early start may avoid the entrance fee.
From the trailhead, follow the signed, marked trails through Wild Basin to Ouzel Lake. The route leads west along the roaring North Saint Vrain Creek; across a bridge at about 1.5 miles; west to Calypso Cascades; northwest past Ouzel Falls; and west on the Bluebird Lake Trail to Ouzel Lake. Ouzel Lake is about 5 miles from the trailhead. Copeland Mountain looms high above the south side of the Lake.
Ouzel Lake
The hike to Ouzel Lake is just the introduction. While only two miles of the journey remain, more than 3000 vertical feet must be ascended from the Lake, and there is no real trail!
To access the mountain, Ouzel Creek must be crossed. This is best done east of the lake outlet. When I was there, a convenient log-bridge was available about two hundred feet from the Lake. From the creek crossing, hike around the east side of beautiful Ouzel Lake. Climb up the forested drainage south of the Lake – follow the available game trails. Try to maintain a heading slightly east of south. The primary goal is to ascend the east slopes of Copeland far enough southeast to minimize the gradient of the climb. A second objective is to avoid the thickets and swampy parts of the densely-forested, north-facing drainage.
The animals know where to go. Game trails lead through the forest and up the slopes; I was able to climb through the sub-alpine jungle by following the deer, elk, and moose. A couple of slide paths just below tree-line helped guide me higher. These steep slopes have been partly cleared of trees by avalanches. The game trails led me up to the slide paths.
The most challenging part of the hike is the first half-mile or so up through the dense forest above Ouzel Lake. The worst problem is the lack of visibility – a GPS unit is useful for navigation, and for recording the track. The climb becomes easier above 10,600 feet; avoid thickets, and pick a route through the trees toward timberline. It’s easy to see where to go above the forest. Soon wonderful views open up!
View of Longs Peak from Copeland’s East Ridge
The steep northeast ridge of Copeland is a mix of talus and tundra. I saw no marked route or cairns, but there are useful game trails and a few climbers’ paths. Climb southwest toward the summit. The route is steep, but there are almost no other problems; no scrambling is required. The climb up the alpine slope to the peak ascends about 2000 vertical feet in one mile – this is a real test! I thought it was more difficult to descend than to ascend.
Copeland Mountain East Ridge Route
Copeland Mountain location provides incredible views of all the high peaks of Wild Basin: Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, Pagoda Mountain, Chiefs Head, Mount Alice, Isolation Peak, Ogalalla Peak, and Saint Vrain Mountain.
View North from Copeland Mountain across Wild Basin
Several large lakes lie below Copeland. The entire area is heavily glaciated – this is some of the most rugged terrain in the National Park. The Indian Peaks Wilderness and its craggy alpine peaks are only a few miles to the south. Copeland is high enough to see over the Divide to the west. The Never Summer Range, Parkview Mountain, the Park Range, the Gore Range, and the Flat Tops are all visible from Copeland!
View of Indian Peaks from Copeland
Ogallala Peak and Cony Lake from Copeland Mountain
I was surprised to find a large wind shelter built by climbers just west of the actual peak; however, it was so windy that I decided not to set up my activation there.
Copeland Mountain Wind Shelter
I found a spot among some boulders east of the summit; this worked well. The large, rocky activation zone is relatively flat. There’s plenty of room for any kind of activation, but a pole is necessary to erect a wire antenna. It’s easy to set up and get on the air.
Copeland Mountain Activation Antenna
Copeland is an almost perfect radio site. It stands far enough from other peaks that there’s little blockage to HF signals in any direction except north, where Longs Peak and its neighbors raise the horizon several degrees. The HF noise level is very low – there’s no development for miles. Copeland is probably a useful VHF/UHF site, because it looks out across a wide area of the eastern Plains, including parts of the Denver Metro area. The view west also includes some populated areas in the valleys across the Divide.
I made 25 HF contacts on three bands from Copeland. It was a pleasure to operate from this wonderful high spot on a fine sunny day…never mind the wind!
Copeland Mountain Radio Gear
I saw no one on the mountain. It still amazes me that such fantastic mountain paradises are accessible from our cities, yet sometimes I have an entire alpine summit to myself all day!
As nice as Copeland Mountain was for my climb, it could be a deadly place in bad weather. It’s totally exposed to severe lightning storms, high winds, hail, and snow. Wild Basin and the Divide generate strong storms when humid systems come into the area; this mountain should be avoided except in dry, stable weather. It’s impossible to descend quickly!
I dreaded the descent when I was on top, but it wasn’t so bad. It’s very steep, and care is required most of the way down to tree-line.
View Down Copeland Mountain’s East Ridge
The dense forest was easier to descend than to ascend – I used my GPS track, and the game trails were where I needed them! The swampy bogs were full of wildflowers in sunny spots.
I started the hike at 6:20 AM, and I was on the summit at 10:41 AM. I stayed on top until 1:03 PM, and I returned to the parking lot at 5:34 PM. It took slightly longer to descend than to ascend!
Copeland Mountain is one of the best SOTA peaks I’ve activated. It’s totally a SOTA Classic, with its pristine wilderness location, stunning views, a very challenging route, and an excellent activation zone. I recommend it only to activators who are prepared for the serious effort it requires. Copeland is best climbed in ideal summer or fall weather with lightweight gear.
73
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
Copeland Mountain Sunrise
Copeland Mountain Columbines
!! 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!
Since this trip has no marked route, and the terrain is steep, good navigation is required. Study the route, take a topographic map, and follow the directions here to stay on National Park land. The key to Castle is to know where to start the hike.
Drive to Estes Park, take the Highway 34 Bypass north (W. Wonderview Ave), drive past the Stanley Hotel and west about 1-1/2 miles, almost to the junction where W Elkhorn Avenue (also Route 34) meets the Highway 34 Bypass west of town. A convenient paved parking spot is on the south side of the Route 34 Bypass, just east of the junction.
Castle Mountain Parking on 34 Bypass
Castle from Highway 34 Bypass
Right across the highway you can see the NPS signs on posts. The land from the highway to the top of the Mountain is part of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). No fee or pass is required for this adventure!
Castle Mountain NPS Marker near Highway
Cross the highway and head up a faint path in the gully north of the parking spot. Stay on the west side of the draw to avoid private land just to the east. After about ½ mile, the gully ends at a saddle near 8000 feet. From this saddle, head first northwest, and then west up the steep ridge toward Castle – there is nothing to follow except bits of game trails. No rock climbing is required – just head up the slope to the rocky ridge leading west toward Castle. On the ridge, stay slightly south to keep inside RMNP. Drop down slightly to a saddle east of the Summit, and continue west up to the easy summit ridge. Climb south toward the obvious peak, and then do a few easy class 3 moves to ascend the prominent summit. Right below the top is a good place to set up and operate. The Needles, McGregor Mountain, Deer Mountain, etc., are close to Castle. Estes Park is over a thousand feet right below. This is a super radio site – like being on a tower! I worked 2 G’s and an EA on 15M CW – 30 Q’s in all.
Castle Mountain First Activation
Castle Mountain Rig
Castle Mountain First Activation and The Needles
There is an alternate shorter route up Castle: from the parking spot, cross the highway, and hike a couple hundred yards northwest – avoid private land near the highway. Find an old road leading toward a major gulch southeast of Castle Mountain – follow the road a short distance up.
Castle Mountain and Old Road to Gulch East of Summit
At the end of the road, just head up into the gulch, and climb up a steep, washed-out trail all the way to the saddle east of Castle. It’s steepest midway up.
Castle Mountain Route in Main Gulch
From the saddle, continue west and then south to the summit as described above. Be sure to descend the same way to avoid cliffs and crags.
Castle Mountain can easily be combined with other SOTA peaks near Estes Park for a dual or multiple activation.
73
George Carey Fuller
KXØR
Castle Mountain View West
Estes Park from Castle Mountain
Castle Mountain Ridge East from Summit
The Needles from Castle Mountain
!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers.
Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
W0C/PR-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
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
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
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.
Green Mountain Activation Site
Green Mountain Antenna
Green Mountain Radio Gear
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.
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
!! 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!
The Needles are the highest points along Lumpy Ridge, an elongated mass of granite summits and cliffs located north of Estes Park, next to the McGregor Ranch. It takes considerable effort to activate the Needles, but it’s a rewarding expedition.
The most practical route up to the Needles starts at the Gem Lake Trailhead, located northeast of McGregor Ranch. Drive into Estes Park on route 34 or 36, follow the bypass (34) west past the Stanley Hotel on the hill, and turn right, north, on the Devils Gulch Road (43). Go north about 2/3 mile, pass the left turn to McGregor Ranch (where parking is no longer allowed), and drive northeast for about ½ mile on Road 43. Turn left on Lumpy Ridge Road and go north a short distance uphill to the marked Gem Lake Trailhead.
From the popular trailhead, start up the trail, and be careful to choose the route northwest to the Black Canyon Trail and McGregor Ranch – don’t go north up toward Gem Lake. The hike traverses the wide valley of McGregor Ranch and passes several climbing areas along the cliffs of Lumpy Ridge. After a couple of miles you’ll see the Needles high above. Below the Needles the route crosses an impressive mudslide path created during the September 2013 floods; this slide gushed down from near the Needles all the way to the valley floor. After the mudslide, the trail gains altitude steadily for about a mile, until it reaches a junction with the Cow Creek Trail. Turn right, go about 100 yards east to an obvious saddle, have some water, and head southeast up the northwest ridge of the Needles. Climb steadily up through the trees along the ridge until it gets craggy; then head slightly north of the ridge and continue climbing, while heading toward the summits. If you try to follow the ridge all the way it’s too craggy. Avoid the obvious NW summit – it’s a false summit. Stay on the left side of the ridge going up, north of the first summit, until you see the middle summit. The third summit, The Needle, may not be visible until you pass the middle summit. As before, stay left – north – of the middle summit until you come to the higher Needle right behind it.
If you have time, climb the middle summit – it’s a fun scramble up from the west end of its summit rock.
The third (actual) summit requires a bit of class 3 scrambling, and the peak is a very airy point. It feels as high as it appears from below! The views are spectacular in all directions. Estes Park and Lumpy Ridge lie below, prominent McGregor Mountain is close by, and Ypsilon and Fairchild are just a few miles away. This hike would be much more popular if there were a trail up to the Needles.
Please note that the final half mile of this climb is not recommended unless you have experience with off-trail hiking and navigation. From the developed trail at the saddle, there is no reliable path, and visibility is limited. The route gets progressively rougher, and there are many large rocks and fallen trees to climb over toward the top. When I climbed the Needles, there were a couple of inches of snow in the woods, and care was required to negotiate the slippery slope northeast of the ridge.
The dramatic summit area near the Needles can be very pleasant; I found a nice sunny spot with protection from wind right below the summit rock; this was a better place for my activation than the exposed summit. There are several small trees and useful rocks, and propagation is excellent in most directions.
Except for the off-trail part of this expedition, this is a scenic low-altitude Rocky Mountain National Park hike, with grand views and a variety of terrain. The total distance is about 10 miles, with a vertical gain of about 2500 feet. Trail use is light to moderate. This climb is not recommended unless weather and other conditions are right. On the right day, the Needle is a classic SOTA peak, offering a rich experience for the operator who enjoys activating high, isolated places.
A few pictures:
Trail Sign at the Junction West of the Saddle
Route NW of the Summits Showing Challenges
NW Side of the Summit Rocks
KX0R Activation of the Needles
ATS3B and Tuners
McGregor Mountain and Middle Needle from Summit
Exposed Summit of The Needle
Ypsilon and Fairchild from the Middle Needle
Middle Needle and Summit from Below
Mudslide at Trail Crossing below The Needles
George Carey Fuller
KX0R
!! 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!
ATTENTION: This trip report is outdated. The City of Estes Park implemented a (new) trail up the mountain. You cannot access the summit legally from the new trail. Reports say you can get into the AZ.
Prospect Mountain is a prominent landmark in downtown Estes Park, the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). It is easily accessible by a short but enjoyable hike up the south side or even with a tramway from the north. The actual summit is about 300 ft above the tramway summit station and can be reached by walking along a gravel road. The summit hosts a bunch of communication equipment, which is visible from most of Estes Park. I have chosen to hike up the south side, an approximately 30 minute hike.
The Trailhead
Trailhead: 7977 ft/ 2431 m Summit: 8900 ft / 2713 m Elev. gain: 1001 ft / 305 m Roundtrip: 1.8 mi / 2.9 km
How to get there: From downtown Estes Park, take S. St. Vrain Avenue (US 7) towards Allenspark. Take a right onto Peak View Drive after about 2 miles (there is a wind turbine on the left, just before Peak View Drive). After about 1.1 miles, park you car at a small pull out with a cinder block structure on the right (see picture above) . The trail starts behind the cinder block structure.
Red Tape: There is some private property along the trail.
The Ascent:
Prospect Mtn – Elevation ProfileWildflowers along the way
The ascent does not present any challenges. The well established trail follows along private property before turning north east. Every now and then you will find stone cairns to help with navigation, increasingly towards the summit. It continues to meander through Pines and rock outcroppings before reaching the flat and rather large summit. Since we had some late moisture this year, wildflowers and Cacti are blooming everywhere and hummingbirds were buzzing around my head.
The Summit: There is plenty of space to setup the equipment on the rather large summit, even for larger groups of activators. Many trees, dead and alive to strap you mast or antenna to.
Buddipole on the summit
I have chosen a large dead tree with one of it’s branches sticking up in the air to bungee my mast for the Buddipole to. With all the commercial antennas up on the mountain, it was no surprise that my SWR meter went bonkers. The FT-817 was fine though and I was calling CQ on 20 m in no time. Since this was only the first of several activations planned for today, I spent only a short time on the summit, packing up after I did no longer get any responses to my calls.
The Descent: Descent is straight forwards, following the same route I cam up.
Some video impressions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSL8PRR1MNo
If you would like to leave questions or comments, please do so through Youtube.
!! 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!
