SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: sota

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

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

    By KX0R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/SR-Ø29 (Parry Peak) – 4074 m / 13391 ft

    W0C/SR-029
    Parry Peak
    4074 m / 13391 ft
    August 24, 2013 First Activation
    August 02, 2014 Second Activation

    By KX0R

    Parry Peak is a classic alpine SOTA peak on the Continental Divide, west of Boulder and east of Winter Park. Climbing Parry requires a serious commitment and a good day. No regular roads are close to the summit, all the routes are long, and there is significant vertical gain. Since large parts of the route are not on marked trails, a good topo map and off-trail experience are critical.  The thin air at 4000 meters increases the challenge and the risks.

    Parry Peak from James Peak
    Parry Peak from James Peak

    My first ascent of Parry included a hike starting just west of the old mining town of Alice. To get to Alice, drive up the Fall River Road 275 north of I-70. At Alice, turn left on Alice Road and follow it about a mile to Steuart Road – this is the Loch Lomand 4WD Road. Most cars can go about ¼ mile, but the rough road requires a high clearance vehicle after that. Park near Alice at about 10,400 feet if you have a regular car. Follow the road to Loch Lomond, a large reservoir near treeline at 11,200 feet.

    Find a closed road leading SW from Loch Lomond, and hike up past Lake Caroline to about 12,000 feet.

    Lake Caroline from Ascent up Bancroft to Parry
    Lake Caroline from Ascent up Bancroft to Parry

    Climb northwest up a long moderate ridge leading to Mount Bancroft. This ridge is grassy and nice for a while, and then it gets steeper and rockier near the top. Climb Bancroft or contour west to the Bancroft-Parry ridge; it an easy mile along the Divide from the Bancroft summit to Parry Peak.  From near Alice to Parry Peak is about 4.5 miles one way, with about 3000 vertical feet of ascent.

    Rose on Ridge Looking West to Parry
    Rose on Ridge Looking West to Parry

    See the report on James Peak W0C/SR-031 or a description of how to combine an ascent of James with Parry. That route requires climbing James and then descending south along the Divide via the deep saddle between James and Bancroft. The Bancroft – Parry ridge completes the connection along the Divide.

    The broad summit of Parry has a large activation zone, and there is a convenient rock shelter with some protection from wind. Few people visit Parry, and it’s an ideal radio site. A pole is required for an HF activation. There are fine views all around, and it’s a pleasant summit – as long as the weather is nice.

    My second activation of Parry was a dual activation after climbing James. My daughter Rose accompanied me on this long, strong hike. We had good weather and enjoyed Parry. We descended Parry via the Bancroft to Loch Lomond route described above; then we hiked back up across the tundra and over Kingston Peak for almost three miles to our vehicle east of James.  The total distance around the loop that day was 11.1 miles, and the total vertical ascent was about 3600 feet.

    It’s possible to climb Parry from Berthoud Pass (US 40) via the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This spectacular 5-mile (one way, approx) route leads over Mount Flora, W0C/SR-035, 3999M, 13146 ft, also on the Continental Divide. On a good, dry day it might be possible to activate both summits. The entire route is high and exposed – there is little shelter. The route starting at Berthoud Pass is less difficult than the routes from the east, but good weather is critical up on the Divide.

    Parry Peak is a SOTA Classic any way you do it!

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

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

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

    By KX0R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

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

  • WØC/SR-Ø24 (Wilcox Mount) – 4079 m / 13408 ft

    W0C/SR-024
    Wilcox Mount
    4079 m / 13408 ft
    July 19, 2014
    First Activation

    By KX0R

    Wilcox Mount, or Mount Wilcox (click this link!) on our maps, is Argentine Peak’s little sister. Wilcox is a summit about 1.2 miles east of the summit of Argentine, on a beautiful high ridge that extends for miles.

    Both mountains are high alpine SOTA peaks near Guanella Pass Pass. Most SOTA activators will probably climb Argentine Peak first, and then perhaps climb Wilcox for a dual activation, if conditions are favorable.

    Please read the trip report on Argentine Peak for trailhead directions and how to climb Argentine. From Argentine it’s simple to drop down the moderate East Ridge, walk across the easy saddle, and then ascend about 500 vertical feet on the West Ridge to the summit of Wilcox.

    To climb Wilcox by itself, or before climbing Argentine, hike to Murray Reservoir, climb up the tundra slopes to the Argentine-Wilcox saddle, and then climb the West Ridge of Wilcox. After Murray Reservoir, there is no real trail, and you must navigate and choose a good route.

    Wilcox has a broad alpine summit, and in good weather, it’s easy to activate on HF with a pole. At only 100 meters below Argentine, it’s also a high peak. The north, east and south slopes of Wilcox are huge meadows. These meadows extend down over 2000 vertical feet to Naylor Lake.

    First Activation of Mount Wilcox
    First Activation of Mount Wilcox

    To descend Wilcox, choose between:

    1) The West Ridge Route, then down the slopes to Murray Reservoir, and then up a short distance to the Silver Dollar Lake Trail

    2) Descend the easy meadows from the summit, first east, and then south, to minimize the grade and to avoid steep slopes directly south of the peak. Do not descend to the private property around Naylor Lake! Between 12,400 and 12,200 feet curve west, and then cross the large creek in the valley, just below 12,000 feet. This was not a problem when I was there in mid-July, but it might be a serious hazard early in the summer! Head to Murray Reservoir or up the easy ridge just east of Murray, and join the Silver Dollar Trail on the ridge-top.

    Stay away from Naylor Lake – it is private and uninvited hikers are not welcome!  (That’s what I read on the Internet…)

    The alpine wilderness basin between Wilcox, Argentine, and Square Top is a beautiful place, with lakes, streams, and flowers. There are far fewer hikers than on Bierstadt and Square Top nearby.  This is a special place to visit.

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

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

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

    By KX0R

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

    Argentine Peak from Wilcox
    Argentine Peak from Wilcox

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Argentine Peak from South Saddle
    Argentine Peak from South Saddle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    I’ll still remember Argentine as paradise…

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/PR-Ø36 (Kelso Mountain) – 4004 m / 13164 ft

    W0C/PR-036
    Kelso Mountain
    4004 m / 13164 ft
    July 13, 2014
    First Activation

    By KX0R

    Kelso Mountain is a minor summit adjacent to the mighty twin 14-ers Grays and Torreys Peaks. I was surprised how much fun it was to activate Kelso!

    Grays and Torreys from Kelso
    Grays and Torreys from Kelso

    To reach the trailhead, drive west of Denver on I-70, and exit at mile 221. Drive south and start up the rough Stevens Gulch Road 321. The condition of this road has deteriorated in recent years, and it may not be passable in cars. When I drove my old VW bug up in July 2014, the road was badly in need of repair at about 10,400 feet – I barely made it through a large hole in a steep eroded section. Inquire before going too far. This is a good place to avoid on a busy weekend. If you can get to the trailhead one way or another, a wonderful hike is possible.

    Leave the Stevens Gulch Trailhead at 11,300 feet, cross the creek on a bridge and head up the trail to the southwest. After less than 2 miles, the trail approaches the saddle between Kelso and Torreys, to the north. About ¼ mile before the saddle, at a creek-crossing at 12,200 feet, leave the trail and hike north up the south ridge of Kelso. This is a beautiful alpine meadow filled with flowers – step carefully.

    Alpine Sunflowers on Kelso Mountain
    Alpine Sunflowers on Kelso Mountain

    The remaining hike up to Kelso is about a mile and almost 1000 vertical feet. It starts steep and then gets easy toward the top of the ridge.

    The summit has a large activation zone with plenty of room to set up and activate. It is ideal for HF, but take a pole.

    This may not be a good VHF/UHF summit – other mountains partially block the path to the east. This area seems to breed storms, so get up there early, and don’t take a chance with dark clouds.

    While it is possible to descend Kelso via a different route than the south ridge used for the ascent, those other routes are really steep.

    With the many flowers and spectacular views of Grays and Torreys Peaks, on a nice summer day, Kelso Mountain is a SOTA Classic!

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

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

  • WØC/PR-Ø95 (10854) – 3302 m / 10854 ft

    W0C/PR-095
    10854
    3302 m / 10854 ft
    Sep 1, 2014
    First Activation

    by KX0R

    Summits 10854 and nearby 10626 can be combined for an easy 12-point day. The SOTA and Google maps are OK for these two peaks.

    To access these summits, drive to Tabernash south of Winter Park via US Highway 40. Just south of Tabernash, turn right, north, and follow marked route 84 (USFS 129) up a canyon several miles to Meadow Creek Reservoir.  This area is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area, and a fee may be required for entry and parking. There is a convenient kiosk before the dirt road climbs all the way to the reservoir.

    Meadow Creek Reservoir offers fishing, dispersed camping, and access to the west side of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s a nice place.

    10626 Meadow Creek Lake
    10626 Meadow Creek Lake

    To reach the trailhead for 10854, drive around Meadow Creek Reservoir, head south around the east side, and continue to the southwest on winding FR 129. This road is bumpy, but not steep, and it’s passable in most cars.

    10854 Forest Road and Mount Neva
    10854 Forest Road and Mount Neva

    Roughly 2-1/2 miles from the Reservoir, the road reaches 10,500 feet on the east side of the summit ridge of 10854. The mountain has a long north-south ridge, and there are several ways up. FS-129 does not go up across the ridge, but it winds around the north side of the mountain. Park at an un-signed gated jeep road on the east side of the mountain, on the west side of the road; this road leads directly up to the ridge. If you continue on FS 129, you will end up farther from the summit, so park at the gate and consider that the trailhead.

    10854 Trailhead
    10854 Trailhead

    Hike up the closed road to the ridge and head south on a path through open forest and meadows. You can continue on the jeep road if you wish, but leave the jeep road and hike along the ridge-top when the road veers slightly down and right. It’s about half a mile south along the ridge to the actual peak – a good game trail is available. Pass a couple of false summits before the real peak, which is a distinctive rocky knob in the woods.

    10854 Summit Rock
    10854 Summit Rock

    The summit has a pile of rocks with a jar and paper for signatures. The total hike is about a mile, with about 350 feet of vertical gain.

    The heavily-forested activation zone is large, so it’s not necessary to operate near the summit. There are many trees, so a pole is not required, if you can erect an antenna in a tree. There are campsites on the ridge, although it looks like a dangerous site if lightning threatens. This peak is one of the easiest 6-point summits in Colorado, and it’s a pleasant place to activate on a good day!

    A camping/fishing trip at Meadow Creek Lake could be combined with the dual activation of 10626 and 10854 for a nice 2-day outing. Other SOTA peaks are located within easy driving range.

    See W0C/PR-104 (10626) for the other half of this dual activation.

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/PR-1Ø4 (10626) – 3232 m / 10626 ft

    W0C/PR-104
    10626
    3232 m / 10626 ft
    Sep 1, 2014
    First Activation

    by KX0R

    Summits 10626 and nearby 10854 can be combined for an easy 12-point day. 10626 is a little more work, but not bad – old forest trails and game trails go up about 600 vertical feet to a pleasant forested summit covered with kinnikinnick plants with edible berries! The SOTA-Google maps are OK for these two peaks.

    10626 Summit
    10626 Summit

    To access these summits, drive to Tabernash south of Winter Park via US Highway 40. Just south of Tabernash, turn right, north, and follow marked route 84 (USFS 129) up a canyon several miles to Meadow Creek Reservoir. This area is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area, and a fee may be required for entry and parking. There is a convenient kiosk before the dirt road climbs all the way to the reservoir.

    Meadow Creek Reservoir offers fishing, dispersed camping, and access to the west side of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s a nice place.

    10626 Meadow Creek Lake
    10626 Meadow Creek Lake

    To climb 10626, park off the road just north of the lake outlet area . There is no marked trail up 10626, but you can see the broad, simple mountain. Head west to the hill and go up the southeast side. The route is a bit steep at first, but it gets easier as you gain altitude – there are useful game trails. Avoid the steep south, east, and northeast sides. There is a nice viewpoint up high near the east side, above some rocks and cliffs.

    10626 View to the Northeast
    10626 View to the Northeast

    Continue on up to the broad summit, and set up in the large, flat, forested activation zone.

    10626 First Activation
    10626 First Activation

    There is a pile of rocks with a jar for signatures at the summit. There are nice trees for antennas – no antenna pole is needed – bring a tool to get a line up high. You will feel like you’re deep in the wilderness on this pleasant summit. It’s probably not a good VHF/UHF site because it’s west of the Divide, but signals surely will reach the towns to the west. On HF it’s as good as most any summit, and the noise level is low; the horizon is not blocked much in most directions.

    10626 Activation Gear
    10626 Activation Gear

    I think you’ll find this a pleasant activation if you’re there on a good day!

    See W0C/PR-095 (10854) for the report on other half of this dual activation.

    73,

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

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

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

    By KX0R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Vasquez is a SOTA Classic!

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

     

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

  • WØC/FR-195 (Raleigh Peak) – 2489 m / 8183 ft

    W0C/FR-195
    Raleigh Peak
    2489 m 8183 ft
    First Activation
    August 23, 2014

    By KX0R

    Raleigh Peak is a distinctive, prominent summit located among many granite formations in the South Platte Canyon area near the town of Buffalo Creek. I first saw Raleigh from Devil’s Head, and it looked mystical and strange, sitting behind Long Scraggy Peak. I had a better look from Little Scraggy Peak – I knew I had to climb it. Activating this craggy outcrop was a challenging mini-adventure. It’s close and convenient to the Denver area!

    Raleigh, Cathedral Spires, and Black Mountain
    Raleigh (Front), Cathedral Spires, and Black Mountain (Rear)

    The Colorado Trail provides access to the north side of the Peak. To reach the trailhead I used, start by driving up Highway 285 west of Denver to Conifer. On the south side of Conifer, look for road 97, South Foxton Road – exit right and go under Highway 285 and then southeast. Drive down 97 perhaps 7 or 8 miles to a junction with road 96 in the Canyon. Follow 96 southeast to the confluence of the North Fork and the main fork of the South Platte River. Follow the road, now 97, for about a half mile south of the bridge at the confluence; look for a large parking lot on the west side of the road. This is where the Colorado Trail descends the mountain to the east, crosses the road and the South Platte on a nice bridge, and ascends back up toward Raleigh Peak to the west. Park at the trailhead, pack plenty of water, cross the bridge over the River, hike a short distance south along the trail by the river, and then begin the steep climb up the switchbacks.

    The trailhead at the River is at about 6100 feet. The climb to the Raleigh summit is over 2000 vertical feet. After the first half-mile, at an old quartz mine near 6700 feet, the trail becomes less steep, and the hike is moderate for a long way after that.

    Quartz Mine along the Colorado Trail
    Quartz Mine along the Colorado Trail

    Much of the region was burned up in the Buffalo Creek Fire. There are few live trees until you get close to the Peak, so there is little shade along the trail. This hike is best done on a cool day; you should probably go somewhere else during mid-summer. The burned landscape offers good visibility, route-finding is easy, and the views are impressive. The land is beginning to recover, and there are wildflowers among the charred logs.

    Follow the Colorado Trail up for about 2 miles along the north side of the ridge to about 7200 feet. There is an abandoned dirt road near the ridge-top that parallels the Colorado Trail, and this road leads to the gentle forested ridge north of Raleigh. At any convenient point, leave the Colorado Trail and follow the road up the ridge past a small quartz mine, and continue up toward the summit. The road fades away as the slope increases, but a path continues on up the north side of the Peak. If you miss this path, just head for the saddle between the Raleigh summit and the smaller peak to the east.

    Raleigh Peak is very steep on the east, south, and west sides. The least steep approach that I found is from a point northwest of the saddle and northeast of the Peak. This approach is a steep climb up a little gully that leads up to some rocks and ledges just below the summit.

    Route to the Summit
    Route to the Summit

    Note that the saddle between Raleigh and its sister is below 8000 feet, and the Peak is at 8183 feet. About 100 feet of the climb is a steep slope, followed by an easier route over some rounded rocks and ledges with little exposure. It is not necessary to do anything worse than class 2 and 3 scrambling to get to the Activation Zone near the peak, and exposure is minimal – unless you try some other route. The actual summit is a large boulder, at least 15 feet high, and I did not attempt to climb it.

    The route that I used for the last part of the climb showed little wear from other climbers. It is possible that there are other ways up there that I did not find. With clouds gathering, I was in some hurry to activate the mountain, so I didn’t explore the top or around the sides for other routes.

    There is plenty of room among the large summit outcrops to set up a comfortable activation. I set up just east of the summit, with my pole tied to a convenient tree, and I just ran my wire to another tree. The peak is so prominent that there is no point in worrying much about where to put the pole or the wire. There are many bushes and other plants, and thousands of harmless little flying insects as well. This is a weird summit for sure! It is much better for HF than for VHF/UHF, as it doesn’t have a clear view of much of the eastern Plains.

    Even though the summit is a relatively low SOTA peak, and the trail would be fun on a good winter day, the shadowy north side of Raleigh is probably snowy and icy in cold weather. I suspect that there are lots of ticks in the bushes in April and May. All things considered, it’s a good summit for a fall activation!

    It looks like there is a western approach to Raleigh via the Colorado Trail from Deckers Road 126. This requires much less vertical ascent than the eastern route up from the River; the horizontal distance is also less. Some online accounts mention that there is private land on the east side, but it should be possible to hike on the Colorado Trail and then climb up from the north side as I did.

    No matter how you do it, Raleigh Peak provides an interesting 2-point activation. It’s a great place to view the South Platte Canyon country with its numerous granite outcrops and other weird rock formations.

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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