SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: Trail description

W0C/FR-012 (Mount Alice) – 4057 m / 13310 ft

W0C/FR-012
Mount Alice
4057 m / 13310 ft
First Activation
Aug 20, 2015

By KX0R

Mount Alice is a rugged alpine peak on the Continental Divide, about three miles west of Longs Peak.

Mount Alice East Face

Key Points:

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Northwest area of Wild Basin
• High, challenging activation
• Spectacular hike
• No trail to the summit
• Navigation and route-finding required
• 17.6 miles round-trip
• 4800 vertical feet
• Fine HF Site

Climbing Alice requires a long, sustained, non-technical hike; only activators with off-trail experience and good fitness should attempt to climb Mount Alice. Much of the route is above tree-line, in thin air; this trip should be reserved for a day with good weather. The mountain is most accessible in summer and fall.

There are two standard hiking routes for climbing Alice from Wild Basin. Both routes start at the Wild Basin Ranger Station and go up toward Thunder Lake. The southern route leads to Thunder Lake; a small trail continues west and climbs to the Divide at Boulder-Grand Pass. The final leg of this route runs north along the Divide about a mile and up to the summit. This route is Grade II, Class 2, about 9 miles each way, and 4800 vertical feet.

The northern route also heads toward Thunder Lake initially, but the Lion Lakes Trail is used to ascend north into the large cirque east of Mount Alice. A long ridge leads up west of Snowbank Lake to the Divide at 12,500 feet. The route continues south along the Divide and leads up the north slope of Alice via the steep Hourglass Ridge. This route is Grade II, Class 2+, about 8.8 miles each way, and 4800 vertical feet.

Mount Alice Hourglass Ridge

I climbed this mountain once prior to 2015 via the Hourglass Ridge, and that time I descended via the southern Boulder-Grand Pass route. I chose the Hourglass Route for my climb in 2015, mostly because it’s such a classic trip.

Both routes are spectacular, with interesting close views of Chiefs Head, Pagoda Mountain, Longs Peak, and Mount Meeker. Alice stands on the Continental Divide – it looks down thousands of feet to North Inlet and the west side of the National Park. This is some of the most beautiful glaciated terrain in northern Colorado.

Chiefs Head, Longs, Pagoda, and Meeker from Alice

Here are additional details of the Hourglass Ridge Route I used in 2015:

The trailhead is at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. An easy dirt road leads two miles west from the Peak to Peak Highway, Road 7, to the trailhead. An entry fee or pass is required to enter the National Park. The popular trailhead is not large, and it often fills before 8 AM on summer weekends. With the early start needed for Alice, parking should not be a problem. An early start also may avoid the entrance fee.

The first part of the trail is fast and easy – it follows the roaring North Saint Vrain Creek west up the drainage. Time may be saved by taking the north branch of the trail, which heads off up a hill about 1.2 miles from the trailhead; this short-cut leads to some backcountry campsites on the north side of the Creek. The main branch of the trail crosses a bridge over the Creek, runs along the south side of the Creek, leads by Calypso Cascades, and continues to Ouzel Falls. This route is longer, but it’s more scenic than the north side route; the choice is yours.

The trail is well marked – follow the signs toward Thunder Lake. The trail splits about 4.5 miles from the trailhead; follow the steep Lion Lakes Trail north uphill for about 2 miles.

Turn-off to Lion Lakes and Mount Alice

Continue on the trail past the first Lion Lake, and follow the creek up the cirque. The trail is marked by some cairns, and it crosses the creek below Trio Falls. Look sharp for cairns marking where the trail heads up to a rocky gully west of the Falls – this is the easiest way up to the next lake.

View of Lion Lake #1

Beyond Lion Lake 2 the route is informal, with few cairns and no real trail. The goal is to ascend the obvious ridge west of Snowbank Lake sooner or later. Either head up toward the ridge from Lion Lake 2, or continue on to Snowbank Lake, and then climb up to the ridge there. Bring plenty of water, or pump water at the lakes. Pick a route that avoids thickets and cliffs. The hike is easier on top of the ridge, where there’s a small trail. Follow the ridge northwest about 1 mile, up about 1000 vertical feet, to the Continental Divide. The view of Alice’s nearly vertical cliffs is impressive!

Ridge Leading up from Snowbank Lake to Continental Divide

View Down the Ridge to the Lion Lakes

On the Divide, hike southwest across the tundra toward Alice. The ridge narrows, and there are a couple of minor obstacles – traverse around any problems on the west side of the Divide. No difficult moves are required, and it’s not necessary to descend very far to bypass the obstructions.

View Back of Divide Route Northeast of Mount Alice

The Hourglass is a huge slope of rocks all the way to the summit of Alice. This slope is 800 vertical feet of class 2+ climbing. There are some paths up through the blocks and talus. Many of the rocks are loose, so good judgment is necessary. The various routes offer options and work OK. Avoid going too far left or right, especially in the first couple of hundred vertical feet. The route gets easier toward the top – the gradient eases, and the blocks are more stable. With snow or ice on the rocks, the difficulty increases; by late summer the Hourglass is usually clear of snow.

Hourglass Ridge Route up Mount Alice

Hourglass Ridge Route Detail

Detail of Upper Hourglass Route near the Summit

Alice has two summits; the small east summit is the actual peak, both on the Google map and the USGS quad. Both summits have almost the same altitude, and the shallow saddle between them is well within the large Activation Zone. I did my activation just east of the west summit, to avoid some wind.

Actual Summit of Mount Alice (East Summit)

KX0R Activation Antenna on West Summit of Mount Alice

There’s little to support an HF antenna on the top of Alice, so bring a pole. Alice is almost ideal for HF – very prominent, with few close obstructing mountains. Longs Peak looks like a wall to the northeast, but this is no problem on HF. Alice has a limited open view to the southeast, but it’s mostly blocked for direct paths to populated areas on VHF and UHF. HF noise is very low, since there’s no development for several miles all around.

I had a nice HF activation, with 35 CW contacts on three bands. I had the whole mountain to myself when I was there.

KX0R Activation Gear on Mount Alice

I descended via the Hourglass route – this was not as bad as it looked.

An alternate descent is available down the easy south ridge of Alice. This route drops 1250 vertical feet down across grassy tundra to Boulder-Grand Pass, about one mile along the Divide.

Divide on South Side of Mount Alice

While this route looks really nice from Alice, the descent down the east side of Boulder-Grand Pass is not visible. This steep route down runs along the edge of a snowfield, and it may be icy, wet, muddy, and loose. Early in the summer it may not be melted out, and descent of the steep snow would be dangerous without proper equipment. Usually it’s OK in August and early September. Check on conditions ahead of time before committing to a descent of the east side of Boulder-Grand Pass! There’s no built trail there, despite the name.

The trail below Boulder-Grand Pass down to Thunder Lake is good and easy to follow. After passing by Lake of Many Winds, the route continues along a rushing creek, through a beautiful sub-alpine forest, to Thunder Lake. The path leads along the north shore of the lake to the outlet end, where it meets the main trail slightly up the hill near some campsites. The trail from Thunder Lake to the trailhead is about 6 or 7 miles, depending on whether the shortcut on the north side of the creek is included.

Mount Alice is a wonderful alpine SOTA peak, and it’s a SOTA Classic! It’s an excellent radio summit with incredible scenery and challenging ascent routes. By any route it’s long and hard. This summit is only for strong climbers with alpine experience and lightweight equipment.

Mount Alice and Lion Lakes from Chiefs Head

Alice’s location high on the Divide makes it particularly prone to dangerous lightning storms, snow at any time of the year, and high winds. It should not be attempted unless the weather forecast is really good. An early start is recommended, both to reduce risks and to allow time to complete the journey during daylight. Despite her nice name, Alice has no mercy!

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

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

May 14, 2016
W0C/FR-111 (Chiefs Head) – 4139 m / 13579 ft

W0C/FR-111
Chiefs Head
4139 m / 13579 ft
First HF Activation
Aug 23, 2015

By KX0R

Chiefs Head Peak is a classic alpine peak west of Longs Peak.

Key Points:

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• No marked trail much of the way
• Navigation and route-finding required
• 16 miles round trip
• 5200 vertical feet
• High altitude
• Spectacular summit and views
• Superb HF site

Chiefs Head from Mt. Orton North Ridge

Chiefs Head offers a challenging, high activation with proportional rewards. Climbing this big mountain requires a long, sustained, non-technical hike through scenic terrain; only activators with off-trail experience and good fitness should attempt Chiefs Head. Much of the route is on a long ridge, high above tree-line, and this trip should be reserved for a day with good weather. The summit is most accessible in summer and fall.

There are two standard hiking routes for climbing Chiefs Head. I had climbed this mountain twice prior to 2015, first via the eastern route, and later via the western route. I chose the shorter eastern route via Sandbeach Lake for my 2015 ascent. The trail starts at the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead, just west of the Peak-to-Peak Highway, Route 7. This route climbs to Sandbeach Lake, ascends west through the forest up Mount Orton, and continues across the alpine “North Ridge” between Orton and Chiefs Head. The unmarked route then climbs up the southeast slope of Chiefs Head to the east ridge, and then up the ridge to the top.

Chiefs Head Ascent Route Looking Back South along “North Ridge” to Mount Orton

This journey is Grade II, Class 2. More than half the route is not on marked trails; there’s some bushwhacking on game trails leading up Mount Orton. It took me almost 12 hours to climb Chiefs Head, do a 3-band HF CW activation, and return to the trailhead via the Sandbeach Lake route.

The western standard route is completely different – it starts at the Wild Basin Ranger Station trailhead. The hike initially follows the main trail west toward Thunder Lake; then it turns north up the Lion Lakes Trail to the Lion Lakes. The climb continues off-trail up the long ramp-like ridge northwest west of Lion Lakes, all the way to the Continental Divide at about 12,500 feet. The route then goes north and then east along the Divide, and finally up the west ridge of Chiefs Head to the top. The Lion Lakes route is longer than the Sandbeach Lake route, but the vertical gain is slightly less, about 5000 feet. The one-way distance is about 9.5 miles, 3 additional miles total for the round-trip; but no bushwhacking is needed, and the rocky parts are not as steep.

Both routes are incredibly spectacular, with close views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, Pagoda Mountain, Copeland Mountain, and Mount Alice. Chiefs Head has stunning views in all directions; the north face drops over 1500 feet. This is some of the most rugged, beautiful terrain in the National Park.

Chiefs Head North Ridge to McHenrys Peak

Chiefs Head East Ridge, Pagoda, Longs, and Meeker

Details of the Sandbeach Lake route I used in 2015:

The excellent Sandbeach Lake Trail starts at about 8400 feet elevation; it climbs about 4 miles west through the forest to Sandbeach Lake, a popular destination at about 10,300 feet.

Sandbeach Lake

At the north end of the Lake, it’s necessary to bushwhack up through the trees for almost ½ mile to the open east slopes of Mount Orton above. Avoid going north of the Lake – that area is a tedious, rocky moraine. The forested gully northwest of the Lake leads steeply up where you need to go. An old trail is hidden under fallen trees, but there are game trails. Be sure to carry enough water, or pump it from the small creek; this is the last good water, except for snow up high. At 10,800 feet the route opens up into high flower meadows, and it’s a simple climb up toward Mount Orton at 11,700 feet. Occasional cairns help navigate this section. Work through the numerous rocks and traverse around the top of Orton – I went around the east side. There are only a few cairns, but it all works out.

Flower-Meadow above Sandbeach Lake

South Side Route up Mount Orton

After Orton, the hike is a pleasant, fast trip for about a mile across “North Ridge”, the long, barren, broad ridge between Orton and Chiefs Head. Pagoda, Longs Peak and Mount Meeker stand high and close!

Chiefs Head, Pagoda, and Longs Peak from Orton North Ridge

At 11,900 feet, climb any convenient route up the rocks and blocks on the southeast slope of Chiefs Head. Most of this slope is pretty solid, with a few climbers’ trails; climb 1400 vertical feet to the high, narrow ridge east of Chiefs Head. Then ascend west for about 1/3 mile to the top.

South Tundra Route up Chiefs Head

South Slope Rocks and Blocks up Chiefs Head

The rocky summit is not large, but there’s space to set up an HF antenna. Bring a pole for an HF antenna. There’s a convenient rock shelter near the top, and it’s easy to erect and guy a pole there. The site is miles from any development, and the RF noise level is very low. Chiefs Head has a view southeast across the Denver metro area, it’s a good VHF/UHF site in that direction; it’s blocked in most other directions. In good weather this mountain is a pleasant alpine SOTA peak!

Chiefs Head Activation in Wind Shelter

KX0R SOTA Antenna on Chiefs Head

I made 30 CW contacts on 3 HF bands from Chiefs Head. Setting up was relatively easy, and the 45-minute activation was a nice break after hours of hiking!

It’s possible to continue west across Chiefs Head, descend the west ridge to the Continental Divide, and then continue down into the Lion Lakes cirque via the long ridge northwest of the Lakes. Some navigation – or prior knowledge – is required to find the trail leading down into Wild Basin from the Lion Lakes. Unfortunately the Wild Basin route ends up at the Ranger Station, a couple of miles west of the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead at Copeland Lake; therefore the total distance from the summit back to Copeland Lake via the west route is 11.5 miles! This is too long for an ideal loop hike.

Mount Alice and Lion Lakes from Chiefs Head South Slope

Both routes up Chiefs Head are long and hard, and an early start is required, even on a day with perfect weather. In order to have time for a good activation, the summit should be climbed before noon. On a day with storms, noon is usually too late. It took me almost 5 hours to do the climb – this included breaks for water, food, and navigation. This required an average of over 1000 vertical feet per hour, with a higher rate on some slopes. I saw no one after Sandbeach Lake until I returned back there!

In some ways the western Lion Lakes route is better than the Sandbeach Lake route. It might be worth starting earlier in the morning to climb the longer route up the west side of Chiefs Head; this avoids the rough off-trail route from Sandbeach Lake to Mount Orton.

It might be possible to do a dual activation of Mount Alice and Chiefs Head, but only if you’re Superman. Both peaks are accessible from the spot where the long ramp ridge from the Lion Lakes meets the Divide. A dual activation would require a very early start, or part of the descent might be after sunset.

Chiefs Head is one of the more difficult SOTA peaks I’ve activated. The weather was pleasant, except for some gusty wind along the ridge north of Mount Orton. In bad weather this summit should be avoided! The entire area around Longs Peak and Wild Basin is prone to serious lightning storms in summer! Rain, snow, hail, and high winds are possible any time of year.

Chiefs Head is a SOTA Classic in every way. Climbing and activating this spectacular peak, while surrounded by even higher and more rugged summits, is an incredible experience! Only activators with high-altitude experience, sufficient fitness, and light-weight gear should attempt this mountain.

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Chiefs Head View North

White Gentians on Chiefs Head

!! 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!

May 11, 2016
W0C/FR-116 (Isolation Peak) – 3998 m / 13118 ft

W0C/FR-116
Isolation Peak
3998 m – 13118 ft
First Activation
Aug 29, 2015

Isolation Peak stands high on the Continental Divide, among huge glacial cirques at the western head of Wild Basin, in the alpine wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park.

• Long, challenging hike
• High altitude
• No marked route or trail to the summit
• Considerable navigation and route-finding
• Incredible alpine scenery
• Fine HF summit
• ~ 17 miles round trip
• ~ 4620 vertical feet

Isolation Peak from Pipit Lake

Of all the SOTA peaks I have climbed, Isolation Peak is the most accurately named. This was one of my best activations! The hike was huge, everything went incredibly well, and I made 30 contacts from the summit. My son Tom hiked with me all the way, we had a good day, and it was a long one!

Tom Fuller on Isolation Peak Summit

I climbed Isolation Peak back in 1971, when I was much younger. It was the longest and most difficult climb I had done at that time. I had the USGS topo map “Isolation Peak”, and on a dry day in September, I found my way to the top – it was incredible! I was a little late getting to the summit back then, and I still remember marching out the last couple of miles in the twilight as fast as I could walk, with very sore feet.

When Tom and I got to the trailhead early in the morning, we were ready for the expedition. The hike is almost 17 miles round trip, from the Wild Basin Ranger Station at about 8500 feet, to the summit at 13118 feet, for a vertical gain of 4618 feet. The first part of the trip is on a good, popular trail up North Saint Vrain Creek and Ouzel Creek to Bluebird Lake at about 11,000 feet. We started hiking at 6:26 AM, and we were at Bluebird Lake by 9:30; that was the easy part. Isolation Peak came into view, over 2000 feet above us, and almost 2 miles away. We crossed at the lake outlet, and then we picked our way around the rocky north shore of the lake and up the slopes toward Pipit Lake. There’s no marked route, but there are a few cairns. Not many people go up beyond Bluebird.

We followed the north side of the beautiful creek up the drainage above Bluebird, through the alpine wilderness. We were alone. We ascended 600 vertical feet up the open slopes north of scenic Pipit Lake; at 10:42, we were standing at Isolation Lake, in its rocky cirque at 12,000 feet. The Peak stood silently in the sun, over 1100 feet above us.

Isolation Peak South Side

After a short break to pump water, we climbed a steep slope above the west side of Isolation Lake; we continued up the rocks and tundra to the south shoulder of Isolation at 12,800 feet. It’s mostly all rocks after that – up the south ridge and then to the summit. Tom led around to the west side as we approached the top – that worked OK. At 11:43 we were next to the summit block at the top – it took 5 hours and 17 minutes for the entire ascent. We were both pleased with our climb!

KX0R near Isolation Peak Summit

KX0R on Isolation Peak Summit

The weather was perfect, and we stayed on the summit for two hours. Tom climbed the summit block, we took pictures, ate food, drank water, and marveled at what we could see from the high peak. I got busy and set up my 20-foot Black Widow pole, connected up the rig, and got on the air. It was already a race against the clock!

I was on by 1821Z – 12:21 MDT – calling CQ on 15M CW. I made just one contact, so I went to 30M and ran through 13 stations in 12 minutes. Then I went to 20M CW and ran through 16 stations in 14 minutes. I would have enjoyed operating on more bands, but our time was limited. I logged 30 Q’s, including an S2S with W6AH on W6/CT-009, in just over 40 minutes – that would have to do. There certainly was no problem getting contacts up there!

KX0R First Activation of Isolation Peak

The summit of Isolation Peak is a pile of large boulders on a long, narrow, east-west ridge. The activation zone has plenty of room to put up an HF antenna; I set up in a flat area among large rocks, just west of the summit block. This was a comfortable spot in the sun! The RF noise was very low – there’s no development for miles – and there were no storms in the area. There was only a breeze, and activating Isolation was almost an ideal alpine SOTA experience. Experience and light-weight gear were essential to activating such a remote peak and making it back to the trailhead at a reasonable time.

Isolation Peak View NW

Pipit Lake below Isolation Peak

We headed down from Isolation at about 1:43, picking our way down the rocky south ridge; we wasted little time on the long trip down the valleys. We reached the parking lot at 7:20 PM MDT; our descent took 5 hours and 37 minutes. We were on the summit for two hours – a long time for such a peak; but we were on the trail for about 10.9 hours. The average speed for the 17 miles on the trail was about 1.56 mph, including all breaks and stops. While we were generally hiking about 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour on the trail, sometimes even faster, we really slowed down off-trail. We averaged less than 1 mph in the steep rocks and thin air above 12,000 feet.

We made no errors – what a fine day!

I don’t recommend Isolation Peak, or similar wilderness peaks with long hikes and lots of vertical distance, for most SOTA activators. Almost everything has to go right, or such a trip can turn into a disaster. There’s very little margin for error!

Reasonably careful preparation helps control risks related to navigation and weather. Having established routines and familiar gear are essential. Taking too much equipment is as bad as not having enough, especially when the air is thin. Lots of experience is critical, but sometimes it creates a false sense of security.

On the right day, at the right time, the alpine wilderness can be lots of fun. Add a good SOTA activation on a high summit, and a rich, intense experience is possible.

Isolation Peak certainly is a SOTA Classic – but this summit is right for a small minority of athletic operators, and only on a limited number of days with safe weather. Most of the high, remote peaks of Rocky Mountain Park and the Indian Peaks are in the same class. There are listed SOTA peaks in this region that are much more difficult than Isolation, and some of them may never be activated!

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Columbine near Isolation Lake

!! 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!

May 11, 2016
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 (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

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.

East Side of Raleigh Peak

Trumpet Vine along the Trail

Long Scraggy Peak North Ridge

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.

Old Road Leading to Raleigh Peak

North Side of Raleigh Peak

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

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.

Raleigh First Activation

Raleigh Sub-Peak to the East

View East from Raleigh

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

View West from Raleigh

South Platte Hotel at Confluence

!! 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!

January 24, 2015
WØC/FR-Ø15 (Jasper Peak) – 3931 m / 12923 ft

W0C/FR-015
Mount Jasper
3931 m / 12923 ft
First Activation Sep 27, 2014

By KX0R

Mount Jasper is a challenging, potentially fun summit in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, high on the Divide, directly west of Boulder, Colorado. This is a wild summit with several ascent routes, and you will earn all of your 8 SOTA points if you manage to activate Jasper! I tried to activate it in 2013, and I made it to the top – but the weather looked tricky, so I descended without activating. This year I waited until a perfect day came along in late September, and I totally enjoyed activating this nice peak for the first time.

Jasper First Activation South Side

There are some resources online with climbers’ trip reports, and Jasper is detailed by Gerry Roach in his book on the Indian Peaks. Study topo maps and climbing info before attempting this peak. There are no marked trails, only paths used by climbers; sharp navigation and good off-trail hiking skills are critical. In particular there are only a few good descent routes leading down to the east. Your ascent may take longer than you expect. I have climbed Jasper several times by different routes over the years, so I knew what to expect. It’s only about 8.5 miles round trip, with about 2800 vertical feet of gain, but much of the route is in the rocks.

Man on Jasper Sub-Peak

The standard access is from the Fourth of July Trailhead, located about 7 miles up rough dirt road 111 west of the town of Eldora (not Lake Eldora) – several miles west of Nederland. On busy weekends the parking spaces fill quickly. Start up the Arapaho Pass Trail, and turn left at the sign for Diamond Lake.

Jasper Route from Arapaho Pass Trail

Hike an additional 1-1/2 miles, until the route descends and crosses the main creek down in the valley. Cross the creek on a log bridge near a waterfall, leave the Diamond Lake trail, and head up the south side of the creek on a small path. Walk about 100 yards and then hike southwest on an unmarked, spotty trail up through the woods. Try to find and use game trails that run through the sub-alpine forest wilderness. Travel up the steep slopes to treeline, and then climb up several hundred vertical feet into a large cirque – stay on the south side as you head up toward this cirque.

Route to Deep Lake and Jasper

No rock-climbing is required. This route is easiest in late summer – it holds snow very late. At about 11,400 feet, head toward the un-named lake at about 11550 feet. This lake is called Deep Lake by some. This is a very special place.

View East of Deep Lake at 11550 ft

The remains of a crashed single-engine airplane are located about 500 feet west of the lake.

Radial Airplane Engine

Crashed Airplane on Route to Jasper

From the crash site, you can see your future high above – you need to decide whether to proceed. If the weather is good and you’re enjoying the rich off-trail experience of this corner of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, by all means climb on up to the summit! On the other hand, if there is any doubt, try it again another day. From the airplane wreck, you can choose one of two viable late summer or early fall routes:

1) Jasper Northeast Ridge – this is the long rocky ridge north of the Lake. It’s mostly a class 2 walkway up the dramatic ridge-top all the way to the summit. There are only a few spots where it approaches class 3, and there are ways around anything that seems tricky. The hardest part is climbing up to the ridge from the airplane. You will see climbers’ trails heading up through the rocks. If it’s really windy, the ridge might be rough or worse. This is an exciting climb with relatively little real exposure! At the top of the ridge you must go over a false summit to climb Jasper itself.

Deep Lake and Jasper NE Ridge

OR

2) Climb the valley to Jasper’s East Ridge – this pleasant ascent goes up progressively to a saddle at about 12,500 feet on the East Ridge. It’s mostly tundra at first, and it ends up on a pretty solid talus slope below the saddle. If there’s snow it would be more serious. From the saddle, head west up a climbers’ path along the ridge, and just to the right of the ridge, and climb 300 vertical feet up dirt, rocks, and scree to the northeast sub-peak. Head SW over the rocky sub-peak and climb a short slope up Jasper.

Jasper North Slope Route

Jasper East Ridge Route

Jasper East Ridge Climbers

The south and west slopes of Jasper are large grassy meadows. The West Slope and the Divide spread out for miles and miles, as far as you can see. The rugged east side of the Divide lies far below in sharp contrast to the gentler, less-glaciated western slopes.

Jasper View to Upper Diamond Lake and SE Ridge

On a good day you can activate right near the summit; I set up on the south side, far enough below the summit to keep the area clear for visitors – people do travel up here, and usually you’ll meet some fellow climbers. The people I met were intrigued with the radio set-up. I used my 20-foot pole guyed to two rocks, with a 67-foot wire running down the south slope. It was a fine HF activation, with 45 contacts on 4 bands. If the summit is windy, you may have to set up in the lee of the peak – wherever you can find cover.

Jasper Activation on the Divide looking South

Jasper Activation Rig

Your best bet is to avoid this summit unless everything is just right! Bad weather up here could be deadly! This is a real mountain – don’t be fooled because it’s less than 13,000 feet high!

I suggest descending only by a route that you have previously ascended. Most of the ridges have serious problems and may be too difficult. In particular, avoid going over Mount Neva – the craggy ridge north of Neva is difficult/technical.

Jasper Route Down from Saddle

Jasper Route More Down

Iceberg Lakes and Mount Neva from Jasper

The long Southeast Ridge will work OK, provided you descend the steep north slope just southeast of Upper Diamond Lake – but the hike back to the Fourth-of-July Trailhead is much longer. Going south along the Divide from the Jasper summit is a pleasant route, but you still have to get back to your vehicle somehow. Other descents are possible, but I say again – climb it first and descend what you know! The routes described here via Deep Lake Cirque are the most efficient.

It is possible to climb Jasper via Rollins Pass – Corona Pass. If you can drive to Rollins Pass from Winter Park, on the old railroad grade, park at the pass, hike north along the Divide over several smaller peaks. It’s about 4 miles over varied alpine terrain each way. Don’t try this except early on a good day. This might be the preferred route early in the summer.

Any way you do it, activating Jasper is a SOTA Classic!

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

KX0R Selfie on Jasper

White Gentians on Jasper

Jasper View of Indian Peaks North

Jasper Sub-Peak and North Arapaho Summit

Jasper NE Sub-Peak on Route

Blue Gentian on Jasper

Apache and Navajo Peaks from Jasper

!! 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!

January 23, 2015
WØC/FR-Ø87 (Bennett Mountain) – 2447 m / 8045 ft

W0C/FR-087 (Bennett Mountain)
2447 m / 8045 ft
Activated Nov 8, 2014

By KX0R

Bennett Mountain eluded me the first time I tried to activate it; here’s how to find this easy SOTA peak.

Start with the SOTA web page for Bennett. Study the maps showing where Bennett is. Google maps is pretty good; the DeLorme atlas is also useful; the Garmin GPS maps are good. The online satellite image is your best resource – it clearly shows the forest roads and the final path up the mountain.

Drive southwest from Denver on Santa Fe, Highway 85, to Sedalia, and then head southwest on paved highway 67. Continue up steep Jarre Canyon, pass the marked Rampart Range Road, and drive almost 2 additional miles on winding highway 67 to a hilltop community called Moonridge. Look sharp to the northwest side of the road, find a dirt road with a sign that says “Archery Range”, and turn onto this one-lane road that looks like someone’s private driveway. This road goes up steeply and provides access to the Pike National Forest, but it’s not so marked! After passing several houses, come to a locked gate and a parking area next to the Archery Range. Park here and hike north on the closed forest road, as it climbs along a gentle forested ridge toward Bennett Mountain. Eventually you can spot the modest summit in the distance.

The road climbs up a long ridge southwest of the summit and then descends slightly while heading northeast. Continue toward Bennett – you can see the summit not far away. To climb Bennett you must leave the road where it bends sharply to the left and descends, and then follow an obvious path northeast across a meadow on the saddle, and then climb up to the broad summit ridge.

Bennett Mountain and Path to Top

There are several places to set up in the large Activation Zone. Convenient trees and some shelter from the wind are available.

Bennett Activation Rig

Bennett Activation near Summit

This is a pleasant 2-point summit with an easy 1-1/2 mile hike, with only about 400 vertical feet of gain. Finding the forest road to the Archery Range is the key to the activation. Bennett has nice views of the surrounding terrain, including Devils Head to the south. Beware during hunting season!

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Devils Head from Bennett

View West from Bennett Mountain

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

January 23, 2015
WØC/FR-Ø1Ø (Fairchild Mountain) – 4107 m / 13502 ft

W0C/FR-010 (Fairchild Mountain)

4107 m / 13502 ft

First Activation Aug 04, 2013

by KX0R

Fairchild Mountain is one of the 4000+M Peaks in the Mummy Range in the northeastern region of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a relatively easy mountain to climb, with a marked trail most of the way; however, a long, strong hike is required. Fairchild was my first 4000+M activation, but I had climbed the mountain twice previously.

Fairchild and Crystal Lake from Trail

The hike from the Lawn Lake Trailhead to Fairchild is about 9 miles each way – 18 miles round trip. The vertical gain is about 5000 vertical feet. In order to have a good chance of a successful activation, you should:

1) Choose a long summer day with dry weather predicted
2) Start early – perhaps be on the trail before dawn
3) Travel fast and light, but be prepared for alpine conditions
4) Have the required ability and conditioning
5) You’ll need most of your day – maybe more – for this classic SOTA peak

The Lawn Lake Trail is the standard approach to Fairchild. This trail climbs up the Fall River to Lawn Lake. In 1982 the old Lawn Lake Dam failed, and the Fall River flooded. Most of Lawn Lake roared down the steep valley, causing a fatal flood and massive damage for miles downstream. Lawn Lake is smaller than before the flood, but it’s a beautiful place, so it’s a popular hiking and backpacking destination.

The trail starts at 8550 feet, and it’s over 6 miles to Lawn Lake at 11,000 feet. The trail was damaged in the September 2013 floods – it’s rocky in spots – but it’s still a fast route up into the Mummy Range. The trail continues past Lawn Lake on the east side, and then it efficiently ascends north of Crystal Lake to The Saddle at 12,400 feet. From The Saddle the last mile is an alpine hike of about 1100 vertical feet up the broad northeast ridge of Fairchild, across tundra and progressively larger rocks, to the top. Early in the summer there may be snow along the route, especially above timberline; you may see bighorn sheep.

Crystal Lake below Fairchild

The Fairchild summit is almost flat – the Activation Zone is huge. There is a rock shelter at the top, and it’s a good spot to set up a pole and activate, unless there are other visitors. This mountain doesn’t get a lot of traffic, but there are usually a few climbers on summer days.

KX0R First Activation of Fairchild

KX0R on Fairchild

I started my hike just before 7:00 AM MDT. I was on the summit at 11:10. That was about as fast as I could go. I stayed over an hour, setting up, doing the activation, and dealing with issues. In retrospect I should have started earlier.

Large alpine rodents called marmots live on Fairchild. These aggressive animals can be a problem for a SOTA activator! Not long after I was on the air, a large marmot tried to steal my Dacron antenna line and pulled my Black Widow pole down! My radio gear went flying across the rocks! I was lucky to get back on the air and continue the activation.

Ypsilon Peak and Weather from Fairchild

The weather was nice when I started on the air, but 20 minutes into the run, a large cumulus cloud moved in from the west, and I heard hissing in the headphones. Within a minute I could hear no callers, as the corona discharge increased. There was no lightning nearby, but I had to get off the air and leave. I still managed to work 22 ops on 20M CW.

Fortunately the dark cloud passed quickly, and the long exposed trip down the ridge to the Saddle went OK, with no close lightning and only a little rain. Another storm came through as I hiked out near Lawn Lake, and there was a lot of lightning up high. It rained gently for a long time – not bad weather overall. That was a typical summer day in the Mummy Range.

Hagues Peak from Fairchild

Crystal Lake below Fairchild

View NW from Fairchild – Clark Peak in Distance

Fairchild offers a Classic SOTA Summit with a long, spectacular hike, fine views, and a high-altitude wilderness experience – as well as a great activation with special challenges.

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Alpine Flowers below Fairchild

!! 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!

January 22, 2015
WØC/FR-Ø72 (Mt. Olympus) – 2679 M / 8808 ft
W0C/FR-072 (Mt. Olympus) 2679 M / 8808 ft
May 3rd, 2014

by KØMOS

Mount Olympus stands tall right between Big Thompson Canyon (US34) and Little Thompson Canyon (US36) on the east side of Estes Park (CO). It’s a stunning mountain even though it’s elevation is not even 9000 ft (~2800 m) – and therefore only a two pointer in the WØC association.

Mt. Olympus – 2679 m / 8808 ft

I have driven by this mountain numerous times in the past but since it is all bushwhacking to the top and only rewards two SOTA points it had lingered on my ‘to-do’ list… for way too long in turns out. The hike is prettier than expected and the summit provides some unusual views towards the continental divide and Rocky Mountain National Park. Definitely recommended – if you have the necessary route finding skills.

The approach from the south (US36) is difficult since this side belongs to the Crocker Ranch and is therefore private property. So is the actual summit (according to the USGS map) but it is possible to get into the activation zone on NF land from the north. There are no signs, barbed wire fences or any other indication that the summit is on private property. It seems that the owner does not mind hikers reaching the very top.
```
 Trailhead:  7351 ft / 2241 m
 Summit:     8808 ft / 2679 m 
 Elev. gain: 1575 ft /  480 m
 Roundtrip:  2.1  mi /  3.4 km
```
Compare this summit with my other activated summits

How to get there:

Drive east from Estes Park towards Loveland on US34. After passing Lake Estes, the road goes into the Canyon. There is a little gravel pullout on your right with a NF sign, indicating that you are entering Roosevelt National Forest. That’s your best bet to leave your car.

Parking/Trailhead

Red Tape:
Keep in mind that the summit is on private property, but as mentioned above, there is no indication that the owner has any issue with you climbing to the top.

The Ascent:

The elevation profile

Park at the sign

I climbed up the steep slope just behind the sign, keeping my route to the NE (downriver). I traversed numerous rock outcroppings and stayed way left of the steep couloir. Eventually the terrain became less steep and the forest opened up a bit. Plenty of rock outcroppings everywhere, giving you a chance to climb up and take a peek towards the Continental Divide. I ignored the stone cairns here and there since they they did not indicate a clear path and just followed my gut and navigational instincts.
About half way up the terrain flattens out even further, making for a nice hike through the woods. The cairns became more numerous and they seemed to lead into the right direction. I started to follow them, a wise decision since the slope became steeper and the underbrush more dense. Following the cairns led me comfortably through some really thick stuff right to the summit.

The Summit:

The Crocker Ranch below

If you look at the profile of the summit it looks as if somebody took a knife and cut off a piece at the highest point. The south face is very steep and more inclined towards rock-climbing. It allows some great views toward Estes Park, Rocky Mountain N.P and the Continental Divide as well as to the Crocker Ranch just below the rocky face.
The summit is rocky, quite small with a few ‘trees’ to tie your mast to, and a steep drop-off to the south. I was carrying a 16ft fishing pole with a linked EFHW which I wedged between the rocks at the highest point – perfect. With hardly any wind and mostly sunny skies the activation was very pleasant. The rocks even provided some nice options to sit on.

I found two historical photos taken from about the same spot. Take a closer look at the three pictures below… interesting to see the huge changes over time:

Photo taken 2014

Photo taken ~1940 // Courtesy of the OldEstes Collection – Dave and Carol Tanton

Photo taken ~1900 by Enos Mills

The Descent:
I followed the cairns on my way down. At some stage I missed some of them and just followed the general direction to the TH. I missed the car by ~50ft.

Some video impressions:

[weaver_youtube http://youtu.be/M8BhegARSmU id=M8BhegARSmU sd=0 percent=100 ratio=0.5625 center=1 rel=0 https=0 privacy=0]

If you would like to leave questions or comments, please do so through Youtube.

!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers… there are no old-bold mountaineers. Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required – enjoy!
July 8, 2014
WØC/PR-Ø8Ø (11543) – 3511 M / 11543 ft

W0C/PR-080 (11543)
3511M / 11543ft
Sep 21, 2013
by KX0R

Please see the trip report for W0C/PR-071 Ethel Mount for most of the details about the route used to climb 11543.

Peak 11543 sits about 2 miles east of Ethel, but the peaks are on opposite sides of a deep glacial cirque.

11543 can be climbed easily as a side trip from Trail 1130 that runs from the Divide to the Slide Lakes and Rainbow Lakes to the east. The summit of 11543 is less than a mile east from Trail 1130. There is a game trail or path up most of the northwest ridge of 11543, and it’s a pleasant ascent. The actual summit of 11543 is the rocky eastern summit, and there are other points up there that differ little in altitude. The broad top of the peak is right at treeline. Small trees and large rocks are available for some shelter from wind. There are several good spots to set up and activate. You’ll do better with an antenna pole.

Please see the USGS topo map for this area, as Google Maps omit many key trails.

Note that 11543 looks nice on top, but don’t be fooled into trying to descend by a different route than the NW ridge. There are steep cliffs around the west, south, and east sides of this large mountain.

It is possible to combine an activation of 11543 with another nearby summit, but this requires an early start, a long day, and good weather.

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

View NE from 11543 Summit

11543 Activation

Ceanothuse Lake below 11543

Red Canyon NE of 11543

11543 View East

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

May 11, 2014
WØC/PR-Ø71 (Ethel Mount) – 3627M / 11924 ft

W0C/PR-071
Ethel Mount

3627 M / 11924 ft

Sep 21, 2013
by KX0R

Mount Ethel sits atop the Continental Divide in the heart of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in northern Colorado. At 11924’ it is very prominent, and it can be seen from some peaks of the Front Range. Climbing and activating Ethel is best done as part of an overnight backpack trip into the Wilderness. The trip up the peak is just a long hike, but it requires traveling above tree line for hours, with considerable exposure to weather.

There are several practical routes up Ethel. I parked at the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead, on the east side of the Park Range, and camped at Big Rainbow Lake. This is an easy backpack trip of about 3-1/2 miles. I climbed Ethel as a day hike from Rainbow Lake, using the fine Trail #1130 that ascends to Slide and Upper Slide Lakes and then climbs up to the Divide. This is a fun, scenic route, and you can see Mount Ethel high above most of the way. At the junction with the trail to Roxy Ann Lake, at about 11,000 feet, I headed off-trail, directly west up to the Divide, via open meadows and gentle rocky slopes. Once on the Divide, I made an approximate beeline south, almost 2 miles, toward the gentle west slope of Ethel; from there I hiked southeast up to the summit. Please see the USGS topo map for this area, as Google Maps omits many key trails and has other serious errors.

If you prefer to stay on marked trails, just follow Trail 1130 all the way to the Divide, turn south on the Wyoming Trail #1101, follow it to just west of Mount Ethel, and pick a convenient route to the summit.

These routes require several miles of hiking across tundra above treeline. There is no shelter, and this is no place to be in bad weather. The day I was there was dry, sunny, spectacular, and quite windy. People climb Ethel often, as it is a short detour from the “Wyoming Trail” 1101, but you may not see anyone up there. The peak has gentle meadows on the west side, and steep cliffs on its northeast and southeast faces. The summit is on the Continental Divide; the north summit is considered the peak. There is a rocky outcrop at the top, and it provides some shelter from wind. It’s not hard to set up a pole on the east side of the peak, and tie the far end of the wire to the top of the peak. I had a great first activation up there, with 35 Q’s and strong signals on 20M.

I combined activating Ethel with a first activation of W0/PR-080, 11543, which is east of the Slide Lakes and Trail 1130. This is practical if you have time, but it’s a long day, and it requires an early start. Please see the report for Peak 11543 for the additional route description.

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Rainbow Lake Sunrise from Camp

Rainbow Lake & Ethel

Ethel Summit

Ethel View South

Ethel Summit and Antenna

Ethel Summit Activation

ATS-3B & Tuners

Ethel Benchmark

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

May 11, 2014