SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

Tag: Wild Basin

W0C/FR-014 (Copeland Mountain) – 4016 m / 13176 ft

W0C/FR-014
Copeland Mountain
4016 m / 13176 ft
First Activation
Aug 6, 2015

By KX0R

Copeland Mountain stands prominently 1-1/2 mile east of the Continental Divide, in the southern part of Wild Basin.

Copeland Mountain

Key Points:

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Accessible trailhead
• Rugged alpine summit
• Incredible views
• Challenging hike
• Infrequently climbed
• No marked route
• No trail to the top
• Navigation and route-finding required
• Fine HF site
• 14 miles round-trip
• 4675 vertical feet
• Grade II
• Class 2

Copeland Mountain sees few visitors, but it offers a fine alpine SOTA activation. This high peak combines a challenging bushwhack hike with great scenery. Climbing to the top requires a sustained, steep hike in thin air. Only activators with off-trail experience and excellent fitness should attempt to climb Copeland. Since part of the route is far above tree-line, this expedition should be reserved for a day with good weather. The mountain is most accessible in summer and fall.

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

From the trailhead, follow the signed, marked trails through Wild Basin to Ouzel Lake. The route leads west along the roaring North Saint Vrain Creek; across a bridge at about 1.5 miles; west to Calypso Cascades; northwest past Ouzel Falls; and west on the Bluebird Lake Trail to Ouzel Lake. Ouzel Lake is about 5 miles from the trailhead. Copeland Mountain looms high above the south side of the Lake.

Ouzel Lake

The hike to Ouzel Lake is just the introduction. While only two miles of the journey remain, more than 3000 vertical feet must be ascended from the Lake, and there is no real trail!

To access the mountain, Ouzel Creek must be crossed. This is best done east of the lake outlet. When I was there, a convenient log-bridge was available about two hundred feet from the Lake. From the creek crossing, hike around the east side of beautiful Ouzel Lake. Climb up the forested drainage south of the Lake – follow the available game trails. Try to maintain a heading slightly east of south. The primary goal is to ascend the east slopes of Copeland far enough southeast to minimize the gradient of the climb. A second objective is to avoid the thickets and swampy parts of the densely-forested, north-facing drainage.

The animals know where to go. Game trails lead through the forest and up the slopes; I was able to climb through the sub-alpine jungle by following the deer, elk, and moose. A couple of slide paths just below tree-line helped guide me higher. These steep slopes have been partly cleared of trees by avalanches. The game trails led me up to the slide paths.

The most challenging part of the hike is the first half-mile or so up through the dense forest above Ouzel Lake. The worst problem is the lack of visibility – a GPS unit is useful for navigation, and for recording the track. The climb becomes easier above 10,600 feet; avoid thickets, and pick a route through the trees toward timberline. It’s easy to see where to go above the forest. Soon wonderful views open up!

View of Longs Peak from Copeland’s East Ridge

The steep northeast ridge of Copeland is a mix of talus and tundra. I saw no marked route or cairns, but there are useful game trails and a few climbers’ paths. Climb southwest toward the summit. The route is steep, but there are almost no other problems; no scrambling is required. The climb up the alpine slope to the peak ascends about 2000 vertical feet in one mile – this is a real test! I thought it was more difficult to descend than to ascend.

Copeland Mountain East Ridge Route

Copeland Mountain location provides incredible views of all the high peaks of Wild Basin: Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, Pagoda Mountain, Chiefs Head, Mount Alice, Isolation Peak, Ogalalla Peak, and Saint Vrain Mountain.

View North from Copeland Mountain across Wild Basin

Several large lakes lie below Copeland. The entire area is heavily glaciated – this is some of the most rugged terrain in the National Park. The Indian Peaks Wilderness and its craggy alpine peaks are only a few miles to the south. Copeland is high enough to see over the Divide to the west. The Never Summer Range, Parkview Mountain, the Park Range, the Gore Range, and the Flat Tops are all visible from Copeland!

View of Indian Peaks from Copeland

Ogallala Peak and Cony Lake from Copeland Mountain

I was surprised to find a large wind shelter built by climbers just west of the actual peak; however, it was so windy that I decided not to set up my activation there.

Copeland Mountain Wind Shelter

I found a spot among some boulders east of the summit; this worked well. The large, rocky activation zone is relatively flat. There’s plenty of room for any kind of activation, but a pole is necessary to erect a wire antenna. It’s easy to set up and get on the air.

Copeland Mountain Activation Antenna

Copeland is an almost perfect radio site. It stands far enough from other peaks that there’s little blockage to HF signals in any direction except north, where Longs Peak and its neighbors raise the horizon several degrees. The HF noise level is very low – there’s no development for miles. Copeland is probably a useful VHF/UHF site, because it looks out across a wide area of the eastern Plains, including parts of the Denver Metro area. The view west also includes some populated areas in the valleys across the Divide.

I made 25 HF contacts on three bands from Copeland. It was a pleasure to operate from this wonderful high spot on a fine sunny day…never mind the wind!

Copeland Mountain Radio Gear

I saw no one on the mountain. It still amazes me that such fantastic mountain paradises are accessible from our cities, yet sometimes I have an entire alpine summit to myself all day!

As nice as Copeland Mountain was for my climb, it could be a deadly place in bad weather. It’s totally exposed to severe lightning storms, high winds, hail, and snow. Wild Basin and the Divide generate strong storms when humid systems come into the area; this mountain should be avoided except in dry, stable weather. It’s impossible to descend quickly!

I dreaded the descent when I was on top, but it wasn’t so bad. It’s very steep, and care is required most of the way down to tree-line.

View Down Copeland Mountain’s East Ridge

The dense forest was easier to descend than to ascend – I used my GPS track, and the game trails were where I needed them! The swampy bogs were full of wildflowers in sunny spots.

I started the hike at 6:20 AM, and I was on the summit at 10:41 AM. I stayed on top until 1:03 PM, and I returned to the parking lot at 5:34 PM. It took slightly longer to descend than to ascend!

Copeland Mountain is one of the best SOTA peaks I’ve activated. It’s totally a SOTA Classic, with its pristine wilderness location, stunning views, a very challenging route, and an excellent activation zone. I recommend it only to activators who are prepared for the serious effort it requires. Copeland is best climbed in ideal summer or fall weather with lightweight gear.

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Copeland Mountain Sunrise

Copeland Mountain Columbines

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

May 23, 2016
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-Ø26 (Saint Vrain Mountain) – 3700 m / 12162 ft

W0C/FR-026
Saint Vrain Mountain
3700 m / 12162 ft
First Activation August 2, 2013
Second Activation July 6, 2014

By KX0R

Saint Vrain Mountain is a prominent SOTA peak west of Allenspark, on the boundary between the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a pretty good trail most of the way up to the top, so it’s a popular hike in summer.

Saint Vrain Trail near Saddle

To climb Saint Vrain Mountain, first drive along the Peak to Peak Highway 7 to the town of Allenspark. Turn south at the big hilltop, drive south a couple of blocks past some houses, and find dirt road USFS 107. Follow 107 about 1.5 miles south up the valley of Rock Creek. At about 8700 feet the road splits – take the right fork, USFS 116.1, uphill about 1/2 mile to about 9000 feet, where the road dead-ends at the trailhead. There is very limited parking, and access is free, so get up there early!

The beautiful trail climbs steeply up through the forest through aspen groves along a pretty creek.

Saint Vrain Mountain Trail

Saint Vrain Trail Creek

After about 3 miles the trail reaches a scenic alpine saddle just south of Meadow Mountain at 11,200 feet. Follow the trail south about a half mile through the sub-alpine forest and across the tundra to a point just east of Saint Vrain Mountain. Leave the trail and climb 800 vertical feet up the moderate east side of Saint Vrain. Depending on the season, this will either be snow fields or grassy slopes and rock. The route follows the marked National Park boundary.

Saint Vrain Trail near Saddle

Saint Vrain Mountain

Saint Vrain Mountain with Hikers on the Snow

The hike is 4.4 miles and about 3200 vertical feet from the trail-head to the summit. Views from the peak are spectacular in all directions, and many SOTA Peaks are visible.

Mount Audubon and Divide from Saint Vrain Mountain

Wild Basin and Longs Peak from Saint Vrain Mountain

The rocky summit has plenty of room to share with other visitors. It may be better to set up just below the peak to escape people or wind. Saint Vrain is an excellent radio site for HF and VHF/UHF – it is east of the Divide, and it has a wide view across the Eastern Plains, as well as the east side of the Front Range.

KX0R Saint Vrain First Activation with Dipole

KX0R First Activation of Saint Vrain with Dipole East

KX0R Second Activation of Saint Vrain

The region around Saint Vrain Mountain forms many thunderstorms in summer. Small cumulus clouds can turn into dark-bottomed monsters in a short time. Get an early start, and don’t push your luck.

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

Chiefs Head, Pagoda, Longs Peak, and Mount Meeker

Mount Audubon and Paiute Peak from Saint Vrain

Copeland Mountain from Saint Vrain Mountain

Paintbrush Garden on Saint Vrain Trail

Columbines along Saint Vrain Trail

Indian Paintbrush on Saint Vrain

Longs Peak from Saint Vrain

KX0R on Saint Vrain 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!

February 1, 2015