SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: sota

  • W0C/SP-068 (11423) – 3482 m / 11423 ft

    W0C/SP-068
    11423
    3482 m / 11423 ft
    First Activation
    Oct 24, 2016

    By KX0R

    11423 is a fun sub-alpine SOTA peak in the Lost Creek Wilderness east of South Park.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Lost Creek Wilderness Area
    • Tarryall Mountains
    • Good trail more than half the way
    • Moderate off-trail climb to the summit
    • Fine scenery
    • Excellent HF site
    • ~ 5.8 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1500 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive down 285 and cross Kenosha Pass
    • About 2 miles beyond the Pass, turn left, south, on CR 56, the Lost Park Road
    • This unpaved road is rocky and rough, but it’s normally a 2WD road, and high clearance is not required
    • Follow the road about 16 miles to the end at the Lost Park Trailhead
    • Park off the road and well back from the gate
    • Don’t go east into the campground, etc.
    • There’s no fee to park at the trailhead

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • Google Maps is inadequate for hiking in this area – trails are missing
    • The Trails Illustrated/National Geographic maps are fine
    • GPS is useful and recommended
    • Follow marked trail 607, Brookside McCurdy Trail, a short distance downhill from the trailhead and west to the South Fork of Lost Creek
    • The trail crosses the creek on a small wooden bridge


    • The trail meets Trail 609 at a T-junction south of the creek
    • Continue right at the fork, southwest, on Trail 607
    • This nice old trail leads uphill and into the forest


    • The trail climbs roughly SSW along Indian Creek
    • Hike about 1.4 miles from the bridge on Trail 607
    • At about 10,440 feet, leave the trail, and hike roughly southeast up through the forest to the ridge southwest of the summit – try to hit the saddle at 10,960 feet


    • From the saddle, hike northeast up the ridge – go slightly north to bypass a few rock outcrops
    • Climb up the ridge to the rocky summit of 11423

    Additional Details:

    From leaving the trail to the summit is about 0.8 miles, with a vertical gain of 1000 feet. This is steep but practical in the open sub-alpine forest. A bit of easy rock scrambling may be required to reach the summit.

    A sister summit with a rocky pinnacle stands about 1000 feet northeast of the actual summit. It’s almost as high as the main peak. Both summits and the connecting ridge appear to be within the Activation Zone. Most of the peak is orange Pikes Peak granite.

    There’s a summit register in a jar on the actual summit. Most of the trees are healthy bristlecone pines. The views south of massive Bison Peak are awesome, and other parts of the wilderness are visible for miles around.

    The summit area of 11423 is ideal for setting up and HF SOTA station. There’s enough room for a long wire antenna. The space is open and convenient, with a flat spot to operate from; nice trees are available to hold a pole.

    The peak is a near-perfect HF site. Miles from any development, the noise level is very low. The summit’s quite prominent and falls away quickly in all directions. The only significant blockage for HF skip signals is Bison Peak, about 2 miles south of 11423. VHF/UHF coverage is probably limited to a few places in South Park.

    Once I got on the air, I made 55 CW contacts on 7-10-14 MHz.  These included a summit-to-summit (S2S) contact with KH7AL on W0C/FR-134 on 7 MHz, and a DX contact with CT1HIX on 14 Mhz.

    I first climbed this mountain by an interesting but longer route. I hiked more than 2-1/2 miles on trail 607, all the way around the rocky southwest corner of the mountain, before I left the trail. I entered a large meadow southwest of the summit.

    After crossing north through the meadow, I continued north up through open forest to the saddle on the southwest ridge; then I followed the ridge up to the peak. My descent was via the route described above.

    A short, direct route up the north side of the mountain to the northwest ridge might be practical – however, I have not tried this.

    11423 might be combined with other local SOTA peaks for a dual activation:

    11060                       W0C/SP-075  less difficult, not far north

    Topaz Mountain         W0C/SP-062   less difficult, further north

    North Tarryall Peak     W0C/FR-029  more difficult, further north

    Bison Peak                 W0C/FR-021  much more difficult, nearby

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/SP-069 (Lake Park Peak) – 3476 m / 11403 ft

    W0C/SP-069
    Lake Park Peak
    3476 m / 11403 ft
    First Activation
    Oct 20, 2016

    By KX0R

    Lake Park Peak is a challenging sub-alpine SOTA peak in the Tarryall Mountains east of South Park.

    Key Points:

    • Pike National Forest
    • Lost Creek Wilderness Area
    • Good trail most of the way
    • Challenging off-trail climb to the summit
    • Great scenery
    • Excellent Radio site
    • ~ 12.5 miles round-trip
    • ~ 3000 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive Highway 285 west from Denver, cross Kenosha Pass, and continue to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77 and go about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Continue south on 77 for about 10.7 miles to the trailhead at Spruce Grove Campground
    • This campground is about a mile south of Tarryall Ranch
    • Look for a sign for the USFS Spruce Grove Campground on the east side
    • Park outside the campground, away from the gate
    • There is no charge to park

    The Hike and Climb:

    • Google Maps is inadequate for hiking in this area – trails are missing
    • The Trails Illustrated/National Geographic maps are fine
    • GPS is useful and recommended
    • Walk from the trailhead down into the campground, and head slightly east and down to Tarryall Creek
    • Cross the creek on a large footbridge
    • Immediately head left, upstream, on trail Lizard Rock Trail 658
    • The route passes through a tunnel under a large boulder


    • Continue north through open meadows and up a small canyon on Trail 658


    • Where the trail comes to a T-junction, turn right, east on Trail 630 toward Hankins Pass. The trail signs were missing or damaged when I was there.
    • Follow the trail up more than a mile to Hankins Pass.


    • At the Pass, turn left, north, and follow marked Trail 639 as it climbs switchbacks up toward Lake Park.
    • Near 10,900 feet the trail reaches an obvious saddle – Lake Park is visible below
    • Head right, off the trail to the east, and climb toward the ridge southwest of Lake Park Peak
    • Near the top of the ridge, at about 11,100 feet, contour around to the east, to the south side of Lake Park Peak


    • Climb up through forest and rocks until you see the summit, and then head up the knobby Pikes Peak granite to the top.
    • This route avoids rock climbing and scrambling along the craggy southwest ridge
    • Note that the western summit is slightly higher than the steep eastern sub-peak, which stands about 500 feet away

    In the image above, look carefully at lower right for the white wire antenna running all the way up to the rock at upper left.

    Additional Details:

    The off-trail part of this ascent is harder than it looks on the map, and it may take longer than you expect! I climbed via the southwest ridge, which involves route-finding and some class-3 moves in several spots. The orange granite is good rock, and the ridge up to the summits is interesting, with many weird rock formations. Lake Park Peak is rarely visited, but it’s visually fascinating.

    The actual summit is all granite, and setting up a pole there may be difficult. I moved down to the east and tied my pole to a pine tree; I ran the wire up to the ridge near the summit. I had shelter from the wind, warm sun, and an excellent spot to operate from.

    Lake Park Peak is a perfect HF site. Miles from any development, the noise level is very low. The prominent summit falls away quickly in all directions. No nearby mountains cause significant blockage of HF skip signals.

    My SOTA First Activation was fun. I made 26 CW contacts on 3 HF bands.

    The peak may be a useful VHF/UHF site as well. It’s high enough to see parts of the Eastern Plains, Pikes Peak, and across South Park to the Collegiate Peaks.

    Check this link for more info on the Lost Creek Wilderness.

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/FR-038 (South Tarryall Peak) – 3416 m / 11206 ft

    W0C/FR-038
    South Tarryall Peak
    3416 m / 11206 ft
    Oct 12, 2016

    By KX0R

    South Tarryall Peak is a challenging sub-alpine SOTA peak in the Lost Creek Wilderness, east of South Park.

    • Pike National Forest
    • Lost Creek Wilderness Area
    • Good trail most of the way
    • Challenging off-trail climb to the summit
    • Awesome scenery
    • Excellent Radio site
    • 10.0 miles round-trip
    • 2700 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive down 285, cross Kenosha Pass, and continue to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77 and drive about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Continue south on 77 for about 10.7 miles to the trailhead at Spruce Grove Campground
    • This campground is about a mile south of Tarryall Ranch
    • Look for a sign for the USFS Spruce Grove Campground on the east side
    • Park outside the campground, away from the gate
    • There is no charge to park

    The Hike and the Climb:

    • Google Maps is inadequate for hiking in this area – trails are missing
    • The Trails Illustrated/National Geographic maps are fine
    • GPS is useful and recommended
    • Walk from the trailhead down into the campground
    • Head slightly east and down to Tarryall Creek
    • Cross the creek on a large footbridge
    • Immediately head left, upstream, on Lizard Rock Trail 658
    • The route passes through a tunnel under a large boulder

    • Continue north through open meadows and up a small canyon on Trail 658

    • Where the trail comes to a T-junction, turn right, east, on Hankins Pass Trail 630. Some trail signs were missing or damaged when I was there.
    • Follow the trail up more than a mile to Hankins Pass.


    • At the Pass, turn right, south, and hike off-trail, past a campsite, and up into the forest
    • Follow a social trail up toward a large rock formation about 200 yards to the south


    • Stay on the right (north) side of the rock formation and ascend south
    • From the southern end of the rock formation, continue climbing south along a ridge
    • The ridge leads south to the saddle east of South Tarryall Peak
    • There’s a path with occasional cairns almost all the way up to the high saddle


    • At the top of the ridge, break out of the forest and climb up to the wide saddle at 10,960 feet.

    • The saddle and the peak have been burned by a fire; numerous dead trees stand or lie on the slopes

    • Climb west from the saddle up the rocky ridge to the summit

    Additional Details:

    The trails to Hankins Pass are excellent; this part of the hike is relatively efficient.

    The off-trail part of this ascent is easier than it looks on the map, provided you go up to the large rock formation and then follow the ridge route up to the saddle, as described above. The mountain is all Pikes Peak granite, with numerous knobs and bumps.

    An old triangulation station stands on the peak – it’s a large pole with a cross. The USCGS benchmark stands underneath the cross, and the steel guy wires are still holding up the pole. Incredible views spread out in all directions.

    South Tarryall Peak is a perfect HF site. Far above development below, the noise level is very low. The prominent summit falls away quickly in all directions. No nearby mountains block HF skip signals, except perhaps a couple of higher peaks to the east. Several good spots are available for setting up a pole and operating radio gear.

    The peak may be useful for VHF/UHF communication as well. It’s high enough to see areas to the south and across South Park to the Collegiate Peaks.

    I had a fun SOTA activation, with 40 CW contacts on 4 HF bands.  These included a summit-to-summit (S2S) contact with NS0TA on W6/CN-002 (Lassen Peak), 9A7W Ozren in Croatia, and John ZL1BYZ in New Zealand.

    It might be possible to combine South Tarryall Peak with nearby Lake Park Peak W0C/SP-069 for a dual activation.  This would be a long, hard day!

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    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!

  • W0C/PR-074 (Ptarmigan Peak) – 3588 m / 11773 ft

    W0C/PR-074
    Ptarmigan Peak
    3588 m / 11773 ft
    First Activation
    Nov 8, 2016

    By KX0R

    Ptarmigan Peak is a fine, fun SOTA peak in the Vasquez Mountains west of Fraser, Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Arapaho National Forest
    • Byers Peak Wilderness
    • Moderate climb to a pleasant, alpine summit
    • Nice scenery – fine views of Byers Peak and Indian Peaks
    • Superb HF site
    • Lightly visited
    • ~ 7.3 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1875 vertical feet
    • SOTA Classic!

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to Fraser via US 40
    • Turn south on CR 72, and then turn right on connecting road to CR 73
    • CR 73 is a good 2WD dirt road
    • Follow CR 73 SW into the Fraser Experimental Forest
    • Drive southwest for about 8 miles.
    • Turn right at the sign for the Byers Peak Trailhead
    • Follow FR 742 about 2.7 miles up to the TH
    • The trailhead is a one-way loop on both sides of the creek, with specified parking areas

    The Climb:

    • Start up the closed road toward Byers Peak
    • At the sign for Bottle Pass Trail N16, head right and uphill on a good foot path


    • The trail climbs up through pleasant forest and eventually reaches an alpine saddle near 11,000 feet, between Bottle Peak and Byers Peak


    • Head north on the trail up the south ridge of Bottle Peak.
    • Either hike over Bottle Peak, or contour around its west side toward Bottle Pass – 11,320 feet
    • There’s no trail west of Bottle Peak
    • Cross Bottle Pass and climb up the slopes of Ptarmigan Peak
    • The south ridge provides a pleasant route up to the small, prominent summit

    Details:

    Ptarmigan Peak is a remote, seldom-climbed summit that combines a fine alpine experience with a good SOTA activation. The road from Fraser, the Byers Peak Trailhead, and the Bottle Peak Trail provide relatively convenient access.

    The shadowy road was quite icy up near the trailhead, but there were no worries once I was on the sunny trail! I was there on a nice late fall day, and it was wonderful to be so high with no issues. There was some snow in the meadows near Bottle Pass, but most of the route was dry.

    The views of Byers Peak’s snowy north side were incredible! What a place to do a SOTA activation so late in the year!

    The barren summit of Ptarmigan Peak is exposed to the wind, and there are no trees or boulders to use as supports for a pole. The activation zone is not large, but the ridge offers some reduction in wind.

    There’s no development near Ptarmigan, and the RF noise level is very low. The day I was there, conditions were almost ideal. This is an almost perfect HF site, but few VHF/UHF operators are likely within range. Byers Peak blocks HF signals somewhat, but only to the south.

    My log shows an incredible 66 CW contacts on 4 HF bands in 80 minutes.

    Included were two DX contacts on 18 MHz: ZL1BYZ in New Zealand, and J6/AK5SD in Saint Lucia. I also contacted W0RW/PM, Paul, pedestrian mobile on 20M CW down in Texas! That was with my ATS-3B, end fed wire on a pole, and just 5 watts. It really IS a perfect site!

    Ptarmigan Peak is a SOTA Classic!

    • Alpine wilderness
    • Spectacular views
    • Fun, interesting hike
    • Ideal HF site
    • Accessible trailhead

    On a good, long, dry day it might be possible to combine an activation of Byers Peak W0C/PR-003 with Ptarmigan.

    This might be a good place to avoid on busy summer weekends. Byers Peak is popular, and parking is limited. However, few visitors venture off the trail to climb Ptarmigan. I climbed nearby Bottle Peak on the way out, and I recommend this easy side-trip for the views and perspective it offers.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/PR-103 (Sheep Mountain) – 3253 m / 10671 ft

    W0C/PR-103
    Sheep Mountain
    3253 m / 10671 ft
    Oct 2, 2016

    By KX0R

    Sheep Mountain is a moderately challenging SOTA peak standing west of Fraser, Colorado.

    Key Points:

    • Convenient access via Arapaho National Forest roads
    • Summit is on public BLM land
    • No marked trail or trailhead
    • Relatively challenging off-trail ascent via game trails
    • Pleasant summit
    • ~ 2.6 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1175 vertical feet

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive west from Denver on I-70
    • Turn north on Highway 40
    • Cross Berthoud Pass, drive through Winter Park, and continue north to Fraser
    • At Fraser, turn west on CR 73
    • Follow CR 73 west about a mile, and turn right on CR 50S
    • CR 50S merges with CR 50 after about 1 mile
    • Follow good dirt road CR 50 about 3 more miles west to the National Forest
    • Continue on CR 50/FR-139 up the Crooked Creek Drainage almost 3 miles, to where the road crosses to the north side of Crooked Creek, at about 9240 feet
    • A small road FR-880.1 heads off to the right and northeast up a hill


    • Drive up this narrow 2WD road about ¾ mile to where it curves sharply at about 9680 feet, just north of Rocky Point
    • This is near some large power lines, as well as campsites
    • Park near the bend in the road

    The Climb:

    • From the parking spot, hike east and slightly down, along the power line right-of-way, for about ¼ mile

    • Head north up through meadows and aspen groves


    • Gradually climb more to the northeast, toward Sheep Mountain


    • Near the top of a meadow area, a game trail leads east and climbs steeply around the south ridge of Sheep Mountain


    • Follow this game trail up, and then follow other game trails more or less north up the south side of the mountain
    • Soon you’ll ascend the distinct summit ridge


    • Follow the ridge north to the summit

    Sheep Mountain has two similar summits – the southern one is the actual summit – the slightly lower northern summit is about 1500 feet along the ridge to the north.

    Details:

    The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Map is useful for planning a hike to Sheep Mountain. In particular it shows the useful roads FR-139 (CR 50) and FR-880.1. The route I found is rarely used by humans, but it’s short and sweet.

    The entire summit ridge is made of hard, gray, resistant gneiss.

    There’s a geocache in a bottle on the peak. A visible trail runs north along the ridge from the summit. People climb Sheep Mountain mostly from the north. There’s access at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, and perhaps elsewhere.  The Ranch calls this peak “Snow Mountain”.

    Sheep Mountain is an excellent SOTA peak. The activation zone is of moderate size, with good trees and nice spots to set up. There’s no development on the mountain, except for the power lines, and they seem to be quiet – the RF noise level was low. This is a fine HF site. It’s not blocked much for skip signals, except to the south. The peak has limited VHF/UHF coverage of Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, and Grand Lake.

    My log shows 33 CW contacts on three HF bands.  These included three summit-to-summit (S2S) contacts:

    KE7BGM      Kay on W7A/AP-033

    NM5S          Alan on W2/NJ-009

    K2JB           Dean on W4C/CM-110

    Sheep Mountain is easily combined with nearby Blue Ridge, W0C/PR-100, for a dual activation. After Sheep Mountain, Blue Ridge is just a pleasant walk.

    The peak offers good views of nearby Ptarmigan and Byers Peaks to the south, Blue Ridge to the west, as well as more distant ranges.

    When I was there in early October, the aspen trees were spectacular!

    Sheep Mountain Aspen Gallery:

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/PR-100 (Blue Ridge) – 3271 m / 10731 ft

    W0C/PR-100
    Blue Ridge
    3271 m / 10731 ft
    First Activation
    Oct 2, 2016

    By KX0R

    Blue Ridge is a fun, easy SOTA peak hidden in the woods west of Fraser, Colorado.

    • Convenient access via Arapaho National Forest roads
    • Summit may be on private land
    • Not posted to prohibit entry
    • No marked trail or trailhead
    • Relatively easy off-trail ascent
    • Summit is not visible from the road or in the woods
    • GPS navigation recommended
    • Peak is rarely visited
    • ~ 1.0 miles round-trip
    • ~ 350 vertical feet

    Driving access:

    • Drive west from Denver on I-70
    • Turn north on Highway 40
    • Cross Berthoud Pass, drive through Winter Park, and continue north to Fraser
    • At Fraser, turn west on CR 73
    • Follow CR 73 west about a mile, and turn right on CR 50S
    • CR 50S merges with CR 50 after about 1 mile
    • Follow good dirt road CR 50 about 3 more miles west to the National Forest
    • Continue on CR 50/FR-139 up the Crooked Creek Drainage for about 4 miles to a fork in the road, at about 9960 feet
    • Head right at the fork, northwest on CR 50/FR-133 – this is a pretty good 2WD dirt road
    • Continue up about 1.5 miles toward Blue Ridge
    • The road runs clockwise around a hill and levels out near 10,400 feet
    • Park off the road where the road heads NW and starts to descend slightly

    The coordinates for this parking spot:    39.94984    -105.98409
    The climb:

    • From the parking spot, initially hike northeast about 0.2 miles up a moderately gentle forested slope
    • There are old logging roads in the area – much of the area has been logged
    • Continue northeast, and head slightly east of the summit
    • Climb the Blue Ridge east of the summit to avoid cliffs and talus near the peak
    • Once on the obvious ridge, walk northwest to the peak.

    Details:

    Blue Ridge W0C/PR-100 is one of the easier 6-point SOTA peaks in Colorado.

    The summit is just a bump on the very long ridge-top. GPS may be helpful for finding the actual peak. The large activation zone is mostly open – good trees are available for supporting an antenna or a pole.

    There’s no development for miles, so the RF noise level is low; this is a perfect HF site. It’s not blocked much in any direction for skip signals. This may be an OK site for VHF/UHF, at least for the area around Kremmling, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, etc.

    My SOTA activation was fun – I made 40 CW contacts on 4 bands with my 5 watt radio.  On 40M I made a summit-to-summit contact with Kay, KE7BGM, on W7A/AP-005; on 17M I contacted John, ZL1BYZ, in New Zealand!

    Blue Ridge offers good views of nearby Ptarmigan Peak and Byers Peak to the south, as well as more distant ranges.

    Blue Ridge is easily combined with nearby Sheep Mountain W0C/PR-103 for a dual activation. After Sheep Mountain, Blue Ridge is just a pleasant walk in the woods.

    Geology Notes:

    The Blue Ridge is actually a large feature – it runs SE-NW for several miles; there’s a broad anticline west of the ridge. The summit ridge is a hogback formed from sedimentary paleocene-cretaceous Middle Park Formation rock. The rock dips down to the east.

    This light orange rock is thinly layered; it’s made up of a variety of sediment, including older pebbles and mostly rounded stones – it’s a conglomerate. It erodes strangely, forming piles of thin slabs and talus slopes, and there are odd collapsed areas all along the top edge of the ridge.

    Here’s the Geologic Map.

    Most of the summit ridge seems solid and safe, but the tops of the ledges show evidence of collapse, even to the point of forming holes and sinks several feet deep. These unstable areas should be avoided.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/SP-078 (10874) – 3314 m / 10874 ft

    W0C/SP-078
    10874
    3314 m / 10874 ft
    Oct 5, 2016

    By KX0R

    Peak 10874 is a somewhat challenging SOTA peak in the Puma Hills, on the east side of South Park.

    • Convenient access via Pike National Forest roads
    • No marked trail or trailhead
    • Relatively challenging off-trail ascent
    • Excellent SOTA peak
    • ~ 3.5 miles round-trip from parking near 9600 feet
    • ~ 1.8 miles round-trip from parking at 4WD saddle at 10,100 feet
    • ~ 1300 vertical feet from parking near 9600 feet
    • ~ 800 vertical feet from parking at 4WD saddle at 10,100 feet

    Driving access:

    • Drive west from Denver on Highway 285
    • Cross Kenosha Pass
    • Continue to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77
    • Drive about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Continue south about 12 miles to Tarryall
    • Turn west on CR 31 – good 2WD dirt road
    • Follow CR 31 southwest for about 0.7 mile
    • Turn west on rough dirt road FR-231


    • Follow FR-231 almost 4.0 miles to the base of the mountain
    • Park near 9600 feet, or continue about 0.6 mile up to the saddle, if you have enough clearance and maybe 4WD

    The climb:

    • If you park near the bottom of the mountain, hike about 0.7 mile up FR-231 road to the saddle at 10,040 feet
    • Head northeast into the forest toward the summit
    • The route is steep, with few game trails
    • There’s considerable deadfall, but much of it can be dodged


    • After climbing to the 0.4-mile-long summit ridge, continue east for about 0.3 mile toward the actual peak
    • Pick your way carefully over gneiss rocks, chunks of pegmatite, and numerous large dead trees


    • There are several rocky sub-peaks near the real summit – be sure you pick the correct one for your activation

    Details:

    The Pike National Forest Map is useful for planning a hike to 10874; it shows the useful roads CR 31 and FR-231.

    FR-231 is not quite a 4WD road, but high clearance is required, especially for the upper sections near the peak. Hiking part of the road is a reasonable option.

    Very few people climb this summit – there’s little evidence of hikers along the rocky summit ridge.  Thanks to WG0AT, Steve, for his First Activation!

    10874 is an excellent SOTA peak.  The large activation zone extends along the ridge-top; there are good south-facing spots, with shelter and trees for a pole, wire, etc.

    There’s no development on the mountain, and the RF noise level is low. This is a fine HF site. It’s not blocked much for skip signals. This site has limited VHF/UHF coverage of the east side of South Park and the area toward Pikes Peak.

    The summit of 10874 offers fine views in many directions.  Many other local SOTA peaks are visible.  The most obvious is Badger Mountain, almost 6 miles to the south; Pikes Peak is large, although it’s 34 miles to the southeast. Peak 10462 can be glimpsed through the trees from the east end of the summit ridge. Schoolmarm Mountain W0C/SP-071 is only about 2-1/2 miles to the west, and Puma Peak stands about 2-3/4 miles to the northwest.  Thirtynine Mile Mountain W0C/SP-066 is easily visible 20 miles to the south, above La Salle Pass; the Sangre de Christo Range stands along the horizon more than 60 miles away.

    While climbing the west side and traversing the summit ridge is somewhat tedious – sort of an obstacle course – some of the deadfall looks to be centuries old. From the summit one can see the actual extent of the Puma Hills far to the north and south. The wind blows through the bristlecone pines, and even the rocks are interesting! This mountain offers perfect solitude.

    It might be possible to activate Peak 10874 in the same day as another local summit – possibilities include:

    W0C/SP-091 10462
    W0C/FR-038 South Tarryall Peak
    W0C/SP-072 Badger Mountain
    W0C/SP-121 Sulphur Mountain
    W0C/SP-118 Spinney Mountain
    W0C/SP-071 Schoolmarm Mountain
    W0C/SP-113 Eagle Rock
    W0C/SP-102 Observatory Rock
    W0C/SP-065 Puma Peak
    W0C/SP-074 Burntop
    W0C/FR-066 Tappan Mountain
    W0C/SP-124 9083
    W0C/SP-125 9036
    W0C/SP-092 The Pulverizer
    W0C/SP-123 Blue Mountain
    W0C/FR-065 Signal Butte
    Etc.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/SP-091 (10462) – 3189 m / 10462 ft

    W0C/SP-091
    10462
    3189 m / 10462 ft
    Nov 14, 2016

    By KX0R

    Peak 10462 is a fun sub-alpine SOTA peak in the Puma Hills, on the east side of South Park.

    • Pike National Forest
    • Moderate climb and activation
    • Nice scenery
    • Fine HF site
    • Secret closed road most of the way
    • ~ 4.25 miles round-trip
    • ~ 1750 vertical feet

    Driving access:

    • Drive down 285, cross Kenosha Pass, and continue to Jefferson
    • Turn south on Highway 77 and drive about 16 miles to Tarryall Reservoir
    • Continue south on Highway 77 for 6.8 miles south of the Reservoir
    • Turn right, west, on tiny FR 266
    • Go SE only about 0.15 mile on this rough 2WD road
    • Park near 8800 feet
    • Google Maps are incorrect/inadequate for this area

    The climb:

    • Hike up a marked, closed old road/trail as it climbs along Gooseberry Creek
    • Continue southwest about 1.5 miles to the end of the road near 10,000 feet
    • Follow game trails up south to a saddle at 10,300 feet, east of 10462
    • Hike west up the ridge to the summit

    Additional Details:

    The closed road provides a superb access to this pleasant SOTA peak. It’s “secret”, because it’s not shown on the Pike National Forest map, nor does it have a marked “trailhead”. It has no posted number, and its only marking is that it’s closed to motor vehicles. There’s convenient parking where the closed road forks off FR 266.

    The old road climbs steeply and efficiently up the Gooseberry Creek drainage, through conifers and aspen groves, to the end at about 10,000 feet. Most of the road is visible on the Google satellite images at high magnification – that’s how I found it!

    The climb from the end of the road to the saddle near the summit is only about ¼ mile. There are some subtle game trails leading up to the saddle between 10462 and its eastern sub-peak. The last 150 vertical feet up to the peak is a short, pleasant hike up the east ridge of 10462.

    The pointed summit is small but nice; a few rocks holding a register in a jar mark the peak.  The jar contains the signature of famous Colorado Summitpost author Sarah Simon!  Here’s her report on UN 10462.  She likes 10462 as much as I do.

    A small prospect hole has been dug into the rocks on the northeast corner of the top. The day I was there, it was a windy day, so I set up in a sunny spot southeast of the peak.

    10462 is an almost ideal SOTA peak. It’s prominent in all directions, and no close peaks block HF propagation significantly. Little development is nearby, and the noise level is very low. Views are limited by trees, but the vista east into the Lost Creek Wilderness is impressive.

    Pikes Peak stands far to the southeast, to the right of the eastern sub-peak.

    It’s possible that 10462 is accessible from Weber Park, south of the peak. Most of that area is private land, and I have no information about access to the National Forest land leading up to 10462 from the south side.

    Peak 10462 could easily be combined with another SOTA peak for a dual activation – possibilities include:

    W0C/SP-113 Eagle Rock                      Short, steep, close by
    W0C/SP-078 10874                            Short, steep, rough road
    W0C/SP-072 Badger Mountain             Moderate with 4WD
    W0C/FR-066 Tappan Mountain             Easy, quick
    W0C/FR-038 South Tarryall Peak         Long, hard, close by

    etc.

    Be aware of possible hunters in the fall – wear bright orange.

    Geology Comments:

    The summit hill of 10462 has an interesting mix of ancient pre-Cambrain rocks.

    On the south side, massive orange granite forms large rounded boulders in a continuous exposure.

    On the north side, dark gray gneiss shows an equally massive and continuous exposure right along-side the granite.

    The route to the top from the saddle runs right up along the contact between the two strikingly different rocks; it’s hard to miss this conjunction of these two very different ancient rock types.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/SC-065 (9852) – 3003 m / 9852 ft

    W0C/SC-065
    9852
    3003 m / 9852 ft
    Dec 30, 2016

    With N0TA John

    By KX0R

    9852 is a pleasant minor summit in the Wet Mountains near Colorado City, southwest of Pueblo.

    Key Points:

    • San Isabel National Forest
    • Near a good road
    • Easy access via a short off-trail hike
    • No marked trail
    • Minor route finding required
    • Nice forested sub-alpine summit
    • Large, easy activation zone
    • Superb HF radio site
    • Limited VHF/UHF coverage
    • ~ 1.0 mile round-trip
    • ~ 250 vertical feet

    Driving access:

    • Drive to Pueblo, Colorado via I-25
    • Continue south on I-25, and exit west on Greenhorn Highway 165 to Colorado City
    • Drive by Colorado City, and continue west past the town of Rye
    • Stay on 165, and drive northwest on the paved highway into the mountains
    • Climb steadily up to San Isabel and Lake Isabel
    • Continue on up about 3 miles northwest of Lake Isabel
    • Just south of the Greenhill Divide, CR 78, an OK 2WD dirt road, leads off to the east at a marked intersection.
    • Turn right on CR 78 and drive almost 1 mile up along the south side of Peak 9852 to a modest saddle
    • A gated road leads north into a large quarry
    • Park away from the gate – this is the “trailhead”

    The hike and climb:

    • Start the hike by walking past the locked gate into the flat quarry
    • Head northwest for about 200 yards to a hidden road
    • Follow the road west up behind the east ridge of 9852
    • Where the road heads northwest, leave the road, and hike up through the woods to the summit ridge
    • Hike west along the forested ridge to the broad summit
    • There’s a cairn with a register jar on top

    Additional Details:

    9852 can also be climbed more directly up its steep south side from CR 78. However, there’s little good parking except at the gated quarry, and the route described above is easy. We descended down the east ridge, directly to the quarry, with no problem.

    9852 has limited views through the trees. However, it’s a good radio summit. There’s some residential development nearby along Highway 165, but the RF noise level is low. The peak has excellent prominence to the east, but it’s partially blocked by the mountain range to the west.

    This is a fine HF summit. There are good spots to set up, nice trees for holding poles and wires, and even some shelter from wind. I had no problem making 37 CW contacts on 4 HF bands.

    VHF/UHF coverage is probably great across the I-25 corridor from Colorado Springs south to Trinidad, as well as across the Plains to the east. Propagation in other directions may be blocked.

    73

    George
    KX0R

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

  • W0C/SP-118 (Spinney Mountain) – 2903 m / 9524 ft

    W0C/SP-118
    Spinney Mountain
    2903 m / 9524 ft
    Nov 9, 2015
    Oct 16, 2016 with N0TA

    By KX0R

    Spinney Mountain is a prominent, fun summit in South Park.

    Key Points:

    • Spinney Mountain State Park
    • No marked trail
    • Some route finding and navigation
    • Excellent HF site
    • Incredible views of South Park
    • No access in winter
    • ~ 8700 feet trailhead elevation
    • ~ 825 vertical feet to the summit
    • ~ 1.8 miles round trip

    Spinney Mountain State Park is in South Park, about 15 miles west of Lake George, and about 10 miles southeast of Hartsel. The main feature of the Park is the large reservoir, which stores water from the South Platte River, and offers high-quality fishing.

    Driving Directions:

    • Drive to South Park
    • From Colorado Springs via Highway 24, or from Denver via Highway 285
    • Continue to the junction of Highway 24 and CR 23, about 4.4 miles west of Wilkerson Pass, and 10.5 miles east of Hartsel
    • Drive south on CR 23 for 2.8 miles
    • Turn right on Road 59, and drive 1.1 miles northwest
    • Turn left, south, into the State Park
    • Buy a pass at the entrance – a State Park pass is required to use this park.
    • Follow the gravel road 2.2 miles south along the east side of the lake.

    It’s important to park at the last small parking spot near the lake, just north of the large parking area at the southern boat ramp. Some repeat driving on the one-way roads may be needed to figure out which parking spot is correct – please read the next part carefully:

    A large fence runs along the base of Spinney Mountain, about 100 to 200 yards east of the road. This fence is posted only with signs that prohibit hunting. However, just in the area near the dam, near the southeast corner of the lake, there’s additional posting, with no access to the land east of the road. If you go down there and then head back north, along the exit road toward the entrance area, look carefully at the fence to spot a stile. This stile allows passage through the fence for some game animals, so they’re not prevented from migrating. The stile is located in a draw about 200 yards east of the road. It’s important to locate this stile; then park in the parking area near the lake and west of this stile. Note that parking is prohibited along the roads!

    A game trail leads east from the parking area and most of the way to the stile. In 2015 the stile was not posted with any signs, but there was a game camera pointing east, positioned to photograph animals crossing the stile. In 2016 there were still no signs, but the camera was not there. Cross through the fence at the stile, and hike east and up toward the summit. Please don’t try to cross the fence anywhere except at the stile.

    There are several ways to ascend Spinney Mountain – I chose to hike up the ridge northwest of the summit; the ridges seem easier than the gullies. Several good game trails are available.

    From the summit ridge, climb to the barren top of the north summit. Remains of a survey station lie near a large pile of rocks. There’s a jar with climbers’ names on a paper pad. Spinney Mountain has awesome views of South Park and numerous alpine peaks around this high basin.

    The activation zone along the ridge has few trees, so plan on putting up a pole and guying it to the rocks. It can be windy, but it’s easy to find shelter behind the summit. Be careful of the cactus plants growing on the ground, as well as the wires used to guy the old survey station.

    Spinney Mountain is very prominent in all directions; activating it is like being on an 800 foot tower! Little development is nearby, and the HF noise level is low; this is a fine HF site. VHF/UHF coverage is limited mostly to South Park. My HF activations up there were fun:

    On Nov 9, 2015, I logged 42 CW contacts on 7, 10, 14, 18, and 21 MHz.

    On Oct 16, 2016, I logged 42 CW contacts on 10 and 14 MHz, including a summit-to-summit contact with K6HPX/P on W7A/CS-038, and a DX contact with EA2IF in Spain.

    Note that the State Park closes for the winter – usually this occurs in early November. Check to be sure it’s open before heading out there. In the fall be cautious of possible hunters in the land east of the Park. I saw no evidence of hunting when I was there on Nov 9, but I saw many deer. Please read and follow the park rules.

    It’s possible to combine an activation of Spinney Mountain with nearby Sulphur Mountain W0C/SP-121 about three miles to the north, as well as with many other SOTA summits in South Park.

    73

    George
    KX0R

    Spinney Mountain Photo Gallery:

     

    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!