SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: summits on the air

  • WØC/FR-Ø76 (Evergreen Mountain) – 2602 m / 8436 ft

    W0C/FR-076
    Evergreen Mountain
    2602 m / 8436 ft
    Nov 29, 2014

    By KX0R

    Evergreen Mountain is a classic, easy 2-point SOTA peak west of Denver.

    Evergreen Mountain from near Trailhead
    Evergreen Mountain from near Trailhead

    Here’s how to get to the trailhead and the summit:

    1) Drive to Morrison via W-470
    2) Exit and follow paved highway 74 west through Morrison and up Bear Creek Canyon
    3) Drive about 15 winding miles to Evergreen
    4) At a traffic light in Evergreen, just east of Evergreen Lake, turn left, south, on highway 73 – this is marked as “to highway 285”.
    5) Drive south about 0.4 mile and turn right on paved Buffalo Park Road, road 89
    6) Drive west and climb about 2-1/2 miles up to the Alderfer/Three Sisters Jefferson County Open Space Park
    7) Pass the east parking lot for the Park, climb up a hill, and drive past the Alderfer Barn on the right. Turn right after the Barn at a marked corner, and park in the west parking lot. Everything is free.

    Alderfer Barn
    Alderfer Barn

    8) There are convenient facilities and park maps at the trailhead. Please read and obey the rules – this is a really nice place!
    9) Evergreen Mountain is visible to the south. There are some houses around the mountain, but most of the land is in the Park. Follow the obvious trail south across the highway, hike around the Wild Iris Meadow, and climb Evergreen Mountain via the Evergreen Mountain West trail. There are signs at key junctions.
    10) The trail has a gentle grade and is used by mountain bikers as well as hikers. This peak offers an ideal bike SOTA. The hike is easy, but it’s over 2 miles to the summit, because of the many switchbacks. The trail goes right to the top, and there is a scenic loop around the west side.

    Evergreen Mountain Trail near Summit
    Evergreen Mountain Trail near Summit

    There is no water along the route, so be sure to bring water. The trail goes through lodgepole pines on the north side of the Mountain. It sees little direct sun in winter, so it may be snowy or icy. It would be a reasonable snowshoe hike or cross-country ski trip after a good snowfall.

    Evergreen Mountain has a rocky granite top, with several other rock knobs close by; there are fine views of Mount Evans to the west, as well as the surrounding country. The Activation Zone is large, and parts of it are sunny on a clear day. The Zone is almost flat, far into the forest north of the summit rock. The sheltered woods offer an ideal place for a private activation, away from the many people who climb this mountain every day. On a weekday morning with few visitors, activating the summit or a spot close by would be easy with a pole. There are large trees back in the woods, so no pole is needed if you can get a line over a branch. This summit offers many attractive possibilities for HF operating with efficient antennas.

    Since the mountain is surrounded by other peaks in many directions, it’s probably only a fair VHF/UHF site – the view of the Metro area is limited.

    You can return the way you came, or choose another trail to complete a loop back down to the trailhead. Your trip will be scenic via any of the Park trails!

    An Evergreen Mountain activation can easily be combined with a family hike, a picnic, a bike ride, or whatever you like.

    Evergreen also can be accessed via I-70 west to Evergreen Parkway (Highway 74). This joins Highway 73 at Evergreen Lake.

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/FR-179 (8849) – 2697 M / 8849 ft

    W0C/FR-179
    8849
    2697 M / 8849 ft
    Aug 25, 2013 First Activation
    June 8, 2014 Second Activation

    by KX0R

    Initially Summit 8849 looks like an insignificant 2-point SOTA peak, so unimportant that it doesn’t have a regular name. One of the best aspects of the SOTA program is that we visit summits like this, and so discover these special places.

    Summit 8849 with Balcony at Right
    Summit 8849 with Balcony at Right

    Getting to 8849 is not hard – drive up the Peak to Peak Highway, Highway 119, north of Allens Park, to Meeker Park, east of huge Mount Meeker. Turn east on Boulder County Road 82, a fair dirt road; follow it about a mile to a fork; and then turn right on Road 82E. Stay on 82E through private property for about 2 more miles; head east down along Cabin Creek, and then follow the winding road up a steep hill to the USFS boundary. The road has been recently repaired, and it’s OK for ordinary cars, as long as it’s dry. At the hilltop, there’s parking and a few informal campsites. Forest Road 118 branches off to the right and leads to 8849, as well as to Johnny Park – several more miles further east. When I was there on June 8, 2014, there were several groups of campers at the hilltop; road 118 was gated, but not closed to hiking.

    8849 Road 118
    8849 Road 118

    Summit 8849 is 1.6 miles from the hilltop parking spot where Road 118 begins; there is only about 600 vertical feet of gain.  If the gate is open on Road 118, it may be possible to drive within 3/4 mile of the summit, with only about 400 vertical feet of gain required.

    Road 118 is not shown on Google maps, but it’s clear in the satellite images. It leads to a saddle between an un-named summit and 8849; 8849 is visible from this saddle – the broad forested summit and the distinctive cliff “balcony” on the southwest side can be seen almost a mile away. Just past the saddle, head right off the road, and enter an obvious firebreak that has been cleared through the forest.

    8849 Route via Firebreak
    8849 Route via Firebreak

    Hike up through this firebreak for about half a mile, being careful not to trip over the debris. At this point you may wonder if this hike is worth the hassle – but the ugly firebreak may save this wild forest from total destruction some day. The firebreak route is efficient and direct – but if you don’t like it, head up through the forest south of the cleared area. If you stay with the firebreak, follow it as far up as it goes; then head right, south, at about a 45 degree angle, and follow game trails up a moderate slope through open woods, for about 1/3 mile to the broad summit.

    The top of the mountain is forested, and there are plenty of good trees to use for antenna supports. There are several open areas where stringing a wire is easy. This is actually a very friendly summit for radio operating! The Activation Zone is huge. There is a pile of rocks on top, but no register; few people visit this summit.

    If weather permits, be sure to see the sights of 8849. Head down the meadows of the south side, where there are many dead trees, and see the stunning view of the huge Canyon of the North Saint Vrain. This is one of the wildest regions of Boulder County, and most residents of Boulder have never seen it. This is part of the area that captured immense amounts of torrential rain during the September 2013 floods, creating incredible floods that caused massive destruction in Lyons and Longmont, miles to the east.

    The best part of 8849 is almost a secret. On the southwest side of the mountain, perhaps 200 vertical feet down from the summit, is a prominent rock outcrop that forms an exposed buttress – this “balcony” lets you look down over 1000 vertical feet to the confluence of the steep, wild canyons of Cabin Creek and the North Saint Vrain! Until you pick your way down to the balcony, you won’t see the view; but when you stand there, it’s hard to believe you’re on the same 2-point mountain you just climbed via the ugly firebreak. For miles around, nothing but wilderness and airy space going down and further down! Be careful on the balcony – this is not a place to hike with small children – and don’t get too close to the edge. If the balcony was closer to the highway they could put in stairs and guardrails, and then charge admission to see the incredible view!

    The first time I went up 8849, I didn’t know about the Balcony, but I saw it from a distance, and I’m sure glad I took the time to see it. The second activation on June 8, 2014, I planned to go see the view again, but right after my activation, a thunderstorm developed close by, and then cold fog came rolling up through the trees. There was no view, and the mountains were filled with clouds and fog – I did well to leave the area before heavy rain fell later that afternoon.

    If you activate this summit, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/FR-184 (Twin Sisters Peak) – 2663 m / 8738 ft

    W0C/FR-184
    Twin Sisters Peak
    2663 m / 8738 ft
    July 13, 2013
    First Activation
    March 30, 2014
    Second Activation

    Twin Sisters Peak is a classic SOTA peak, with fabulous panoramic views of the Plains, Foothills, and the high peaks of the Front Range.

    Twin Sisters Summit
    Twin Sisters Summit

    The Peak is in Roosevelt National Forest, but it’s partly surrounded by private land. Access is via lightly-used and barely-maintained trails. A topo map is useful to find the trailheads, because they’re not obviously marked. In fact, the sign for the trailhead on Boulder County 4WD road 68J has been removed, and a sign stating “no motor vehicles” is lying out of sight on the ground.

    To climb Twin Sisters Peak, drive up curvy Flagstaff Road from Boulder. Follow Flagstaff all the way to a large parking place on a hill east of Gross Reservoir, and park there. There is no legal parking anywhere else along the route to Twin Sisters. Conflicts between local residents, USFS, Denver Water, and visitors have led to the closing of nice picnic areas and parking along Road 68 (Lakeshore Drive). It is OK to walk from the Gross Reservoir parking place along Lakeshore Drive, and the road itself is not posted. Follow Road 68 west along the ridge to the point where it becomes 4WD Road 68J (for “Jeep”), respect posted private land, and continue up the road up to the saddle at 7950 feet, on the ridge south of Twin Sisters.

    If you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, it may be possible to drive up road 68J road to the saddle. There is no marked prohibition of parking off the road at that point. Note that Road 68 also may be accessed via Boulder Canyon and Magnolia Road. Road 68 is used by mountain bikers.

    Just west of the saddle at 7950 feet, leave the road, and hike north on an unmarked path toward Twin Sisters, just west of the obvious ridge that runs up to the summit. Follow this trail up through open forest – it’s steep in one spot, where it follows old ruts from 4WD vehicles. The trail is easy and pleasant after the steep spot. Near the high point of the ridge, a faint unmarked trail leads west off the main trail toward the summit. This approach to the peak, on its southeast side, requires no rock-climbing. Twin Sisters Peak is a large, elevated granite knob with a breathtaking view for miles in all directions. There are small trees near the top that can be used for HF antenna supports, well within the 75-foot Activation Zone. This site begs to be put on the air. It has pretty good VHF/UHF coverage of the Denver Metro Area, and it’s perfect for HF. It’s a SOTA Classic!

    The hike from the parking lot above Gross Reservoir to the Twin Sisters Peak summit is about 3.3 miles each way, with a vertical gain of 1250 feet.

    Twin Sisters is totally exposed to wind, weather, and lightning – don’t think of operating there if dark clouds begin to form.

    Twin Sisters View West
    Twin Sisters View West

    Please don’t confuse W0/FR-184 with W0/FR-037, Twin Sisters Peak East, a much higher peak near Estes Park and Longs Peak.

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/FR-Ø81 (Button Rock Mountain) – 2576 m / 8450 ft

    W0C/FR-081
    Button Rock Mountain
    2576 m / 8450 ft
    July 6, 2013
    Nov 2, 2014

    by KX0R

    Button Rock Mountain is a moderate 2-point SOTA peak hidden in the Roosevelt National Forest. This was my first SOTA activation, and it went well, so it is special to me.

    Button Rock Mountain
    Button Rock Mountain and Preserve from Coffintop Mountain

    Access is not difficult, but good navigation is required. I suggest using USGS topo maps – Google maps are incomplete in the area. The forest has several jeep roads, plus secret mountain bike trails. Many of the roads are currently closed to vehicles due to damage from the 2013 floods, but the route to Button Rock Mountain is in good condition and is open to hikers.

    Drive up US 36 to Pinewood Springs, and continue to the junction with road 47. This road has been partly rebuilt following the devastating floods, but it’s not paved – caution is advised. Follow 47 up to the marked cutoff to Johnny Park. Turn left, and if you have enough clearance, drive up the eroded road to the Coulson Gulch Trailhead – otherwise park off the road, and walk up to the trailhead. This trailhead serves as a gateway to a huge area of the National Forest, and almost anything can happen here. People camp, build fires, hang out, drink, take drugs, shoot guns, go hunting, and ride bikes, ATV’s, jeeps, or whatever. Park but don’t leave anything valuable in your car. Hike up the gated Forest Road 118 leading east from the parking area. This road quickly climbs up to a plateau at about 7800 feet. Button Rock Mountain looms up to the east. Follow the road around the plateau, or short-cut northeast across it on a path, and continue northeast and down to a saddle at 7600 feet.

    Continue east on a gated road leading from the saddle; follow this road up a rocky ridge and into the saddle valley north of Button Rock Mountain. The practical way up the mountain is to hike to this broad saddle, and then pick a route up the relatively gentle north side of the mountain.  Don’t head south and up too soon – continue far enough east to pass the steep rocks on the northwest side of the mountain. From the saddle, it’s easy to find a reasonable route up the north slopes. There is no marked route, there are fallen trees, and there are old forestry-maintenance trails that may or may not be useful. Part way up you’ll find a lovely secret mountain bike trail that has been artfully built up the northeast side of the mountain. This route leads up near the summit, but it has so many curves and switchbacks that it’s not an efficient hiking route. Just head up through the open woods, and you’ll be on the large summit plateau before you know it.

    Note that the actual “Button Rock” is not the summit, nor is it on this route.  Button Rock lies well to the northeast of Button Rock Mountain.  Also note that many people use the term “Button Rock” to refer to the Button Rock Preserve or to Ralph Price Reservoir in the Preserve.

    Finding the actual summit is tricky. Cairns lead through the pleasant, open woods along the ridge near the top. A GPS with maps will get you very close. There are several large rock outcrops in the huge Activation Zone, and the western-most crag appears to be the real summit. This point is well-hidden by trees and is the only one with a really good view! A short scramble leads to the top. There is a cairn and register jar top, suggesting that this rock is the summit.

    There are plenty of trees and sheltered spots where you can set up and activate within the Zone. There is no real need for a pole, if you have a way to get a line up over a limb. Erecting serious antennas is possible here. Propagation should be fine at VHF and UHF, as well as HF. Few people visit this massive, prominent mountain.

    Descend by a route that leads back to the saddle north of the mountain – avoid the cliffs on the west side.

    The one-way distance is about 2.6 miles by the route detailed here. The total ascent is about 1000 vertical feet. There is no reliable water on the route, so be sure to bring enough. This is a pleasant hike during spring or fall – wear bright colors during hunting season.

    There certainly are routes up from the East, but I have not hiked in that area.

    Access from Button Rock Preserve is certainly possible, but at this writing, the entire Preserve is closed to all entry due to the floods. One of the logical approaches would be to climb from the Reservoir via Rattlesnake Gulch – which is so named for good reason. There really are rattlers in the Preserve and in the surrounding area – watch your step! Button Rock Mountain has many deer and elk, and it’s also prime mountain lion habitat. The entire area North Saint Vrain Creek area is wild, fascinating, and beautiful.

    A hike up Buttonrock Mountain is a great introduction to this region, and it’s a SOTA Classic!

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/FR-Ø7Ø (Castle Mountain) – 2693 M / 8834 ft

    WØC/FR-Ø7Ø
    Castle Mountain
    2693 M / 8834 ft
    Nov 09, 2013
    First Activation
    Apr 25, 2014

    by KXØR

    Castle Mountain is an interesting minor summit in the eastern part of Rocky Mountain National Park, right above the town of Estes Park. It provides a fun SOTA activation.

    Castle Mountain
    Castle Mountain

    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 Mountain Parking on 34 Bypass
    Castle from Highway 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 NPS Marker near Highway
    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.

    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
    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 Route in Main Gulch
    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

    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-ØØ7 (Rosalie Peak) – 4138 m / 13575 ft

    W0C/FR-007
    Rosalie Peak
    4138 m / 13575 ft
    August 16, 2013
    August 3, 2014

    Rosalie Peak is a nice alpine SOTA peak about 3 miles southeast of Mount Evans.

    To climb Rosalie, start early and drive up the Mount Evans Highway. A fee may be required for the highway. Convenient parking spots are located near the 13,200 foot contour, just above a broad pass to the south. There is no trail to Rosalie. Hike south from the highway, across the marshy pass, and up the easy slope of the first minor peak – elevation about 13,500 ft. Go over this summit, or around the easy east side of the peak, and cross the broad saddle to the southeast.

    Climb the next minor peak – elevation about 13,520 ft – and look at the route more than 500 feet down to the deep saddle between 13,520 and Rosalie. I found a good descent route down and around the east side of 13,520; this avoids the steep rocks directly below 13,520.

    From the saddle at about 12,950 feet, the 625-vertical foot hike up Rosalie is an easy mix of rounded rocks and tundra.

    The broad rocky top of Rosalie has a large activation zone, and setting up is easy. There is little shelter from wind, other than the mountain itself. This is a near-perfect radio site, with excellent low-angle HF, VHF, and UHF coverage in many directions.

    An activation of Rosalie may be combined with an activation of another peak or peaks in the Mount Evans group – weather permitting.

    On a good summer day, the high hike out to Rosalie and back is a pleasant alpine hike. It’s about 2 miles each way; the total vertical ascent for the round-trip is about 1500 vertical feet. The air is thin, but the scenery is continuously superb. On a stormy day, this ridge-top trip could be a horror show – there is no shelter. Pick a good day and start early!

    Rosalie can also be climbed by other routes – check this link out!

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

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

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

    by KX0R

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

    Visitor Point from Centralia Mountain
    Visitor Point from Centralia Mountain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

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

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

    by KX0R

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

    Centralia from Visitor Point
    Centralia Mountain from Visitor Point

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

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

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

    Bridge over Ralston Creek
    Bridge over Ralston Creek

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

    Start of Trail at Playground
    Start of Trail at Playground

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

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

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

    Centralia Ridge Ascent Route
    Centralia Ridge Ascent Route

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

    Centralia NE Top Part
    Centralia NE Top Part

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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

  • WØC/FR-Ø73 (Redskin Mountain) – 2677 m / 8783 ft

    W0C/FR-073
    Redskin Mountain
    2677 m / 8783 ft
    Nov 9, 2014

    by KX0R

    Thanks to N0BN for his first activation and for posting the location of the trailhead!

    Redskin Mountain is a pleasant, relatively easy SOTA peak located several miles south of Bailey, in the Pike National Forest. Climbing Redskin requires good navigation to the trailhead, as well as good route-finding on the mountain. Be sure you have a detailed forest road-map and a topo map of area before you start the trip. The area around the mountain is popular with mountain bikers and horse-riders, but the summit is not a popular destination. There is no marked trail to the top.

    Redskin Mountain from Mount Bailey
    Redskin Mountain from Mount Bailey

    Drive west from Denver on Highway 285, go down Crow Hill to Bailey, and at the very bottom of the big hill, turn south on road 68. Follow 68 toward Wellington Lake for several miles, and turn left on Road 70 just past the top of a big hill. Follow 70 southeast to a junction with Forest Road 553, and turn north on 553. Go about ¼ mile, turn right on road 554, drive a short distance, and turn right into a large parking area. This is the Miller Gulch Trail-head.  Road 554 is gated – it is not a through road – so this is as far as you can drive. The route to the trailhead is unpaved about 2 miles past Bailey, and it’s bumpy and wash-boarded in spots; but most cars can drive to the trailhead, unless there is snow.

    N0BN says:

    “The best access seems to be from the north from the Miller Gulch Trailhead on Forest Road 553 where there is camping and parking. The NAD83 coordinates for the parking area are latitude N39 21 53.0 and longitude W105 22 42.8, elevation approximately 8311 feet.”

    Start the hike at the southeast corner of the large parking area, and follow an old closed logging road south toward Redskin Mountain. Redskin Mountain is really one of two twin summits with a valley between them – Redskin is the eastern peak. Follow the old road north of the western sub-peak, past the rusted remains of an old truck, to the end of the road. Continue on a faint path that leads up toward Redskin. Where the path steepens, there is a split – take the right fork south, and head toward the saddle between the two mountains. Stay on the faint path and continue southeast to the saddle; soon after the apex of the saddle, head left, northeast, and up a rocky gully toward the apparent summit of Redskin. It is not necessary to do any scrambling or rock-climbing to go up the gully – there are signs of a path as you go – but there is no established trail. A good route leads up through the rocks, with only a few minor hassles. Follow the slope through open forest to the summit ridge, and continue southeast along the ridge to the obvious rocky summit with a large cairn on top.

    Redskin Summit Cairn
    Redskin Summit Cairn

    Redskin has nice trees for shelter and antennas, as well as convenient open space for setting up and operating. There is a fine view into the South Platte Valley to the south. This is a good HF site; other mountains may reduce VHF/UHF coverage in some directions.

    Few people visit this pleasant peak. This is a pleasant hike in the fall, and there are deer and elk in this area – so beware of hunters. Avoid the steep slopes on the south side of the summit ridge. It helps to use GPS and a map to make sure that you’re heading where you intend to go, and to return to the trailhead correctly. This hike is just over a mile each way, and it’s only about 600 vertical feet up from the trailhead. Nevertheless, it’s not a good place to try to learn basic navigation. Visibility through the forest is very limited, and there are several places to go wrong.  Conversely, with a little preparation, this is a nice SOTA peak!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Green Ridge Trail Looking North
    Green Ridge Trail Looking North

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

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

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

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

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

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

    73

    George Carey Fuller
    KX0R

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