{"id":5370,"date":"2015-03-01T12:59:41","date_gmt":"2015-03-01T19:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/?p=5370"},"modified":"2017-01-28T20:59:44","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T03:59:44","slug":"w0cfr075-south-boulder-peak-2601-8549-ft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sota-trip-report\/w0cfr075-south-boulder-peak-2601-8549-ft\/","title":{"rendered":"W\u00d8C\/FR-\u00d875 (South Boulder Peak) – 2606 M \/ 8549 ft"},"content":{"rendered":"

W0C\/FR-075
\nSouth Boulder Peak
\n2606 M \/ 8549 ft
\n11 July 2013, First Activation
\n20 April 2014 Second Activation<\/p>\n

My First Activation of\u00a0South Boulder Peak<\/a> was my second SOTA<\/a> activation, mostly because the mountain is only a couple of miles from where I live. This prominent summit is close to the Denver-Boulder Metro Area, but it\u2019s not a popular SOTA peak, and it\u2019s somewhat challenging.<\/p>\n

South Boulder and nearby Bear Peak<\/a> are twins, because the sedimentary rocks within these mountains have the same sequence. This is the result of a fault that runs between them \u2013 the fault has shifted the rocks so that the sequence of layers repeats. Both mountains have resistant sedimentary summits, with older igneous rock west of each peak. Unfortunately Bear Peak is not a SOTA peak.<\/p>\n

\"South<\/a>

South Boulder and Bear Peaks from Eldorado Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n

South Boulder and Bear Peaks have been ravaged by two recent natural disasters. In June of 2012 the lightning-caused Flagstaff Fire<\/a> raced up the west side of the peaks and threatened to come across and ignite the forests of the Boulder Mountain Park. Fire-fighters stopped the fast-moving fire, but most of the trees near the summit of South Boulder Peak were killed in the intense blaze. The dead trees are mostly still standing, and much of the soil was burned as well.<\/p>\n

\"Burned<\/a>

Burned Forest near Bear-South Boulder Saddle<\/p><\/div>\n

In September of 2013 a period of sustained, heavy rain occurred, and flooding occurred in most of Boulder County<\/a>. The floods were severe in the mountains and in the nearby canyons. Because of the fire, the slopes of South Boulder Peak were unprotected by vegetation, and the heavy rains caused severe erosion over the entire area. In particular, the trails up Bear and South Boulder Peaks were flooded and badly damaged. These trails have been partly restored.<\/p>\n

\"Flood<\/a>

Flood Damage in Shadow Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n

There are several routes up South Boulder Peak. My favorite trail starts at the South Mesa Trailhead<\/a> on Eldorado Springs Drive and runs up Shadow Canyon, between Bear<\/a> and South Boulder Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Shadow<\/a>

Shadow Canyon between South Boulder and Bear Peaks<\/p><\/div>\n

The efficient Shadow Canyon Trail<\/a> runs behind the huge Devils Thumb formation, and it\u2019s an interesting hike up to the saddle between the twin peaks. The total round-trip distance from the trail-head to the top of South Boulder Peak is about 8 miles , with about 3000 vertical feet of gain.<\/p>\n

\"Shadow<\/a>

Shadow Canyon from South Boulder Peak<\/p><\/div>\n

Drive to Boulder and take Highway 93 south. About 1 mile south of the city limits, turn west on Highway 170, Eldorado Springs Drive. Continue west for about 2 miles to the South Mesa Trailhead<\/a> on the north side of the road. Park at the trailhead or across the highway; parking is limited, so get there early. A fee is charged for cars not registered in Boulder County.<\/p>\n

Hike northeast up the Mesa Trail<\/a>, a dirt road in this part of the Park, and follow it to the Shadow Canyon Trail, also a dirt road. Stay on the road for about a mile, and just past the second of two old cabins, cross the creek, and enter the narrow part of the Canyon. The trail becomes a path and then gets steeper. \u00a0Here’s a good map of the trails<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The route up Shadow Canyon is lush and shady at first; in the morning it\u2019s cool and pleasant. The Canyon lives up to its name if you\u2019re there early or late in the day. The trail gains altitude rapidly, and some sections are steep and rocky.<\/p>\n

\"Shadow<\/a>

Shadow Canyon Trail with Rock Steps<\/p><\/div>\n

There is flood damage, but the route is not hard to follow; the path stays near the center of the canyon all the way up. Soon the Devils Thumb looms high above.<\/p>\n

\"Devils<\/a>

Devils Thumb from Shadow Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n

Gradually the trail ascends above the Thumb, and there are a few short switchbacks to ease the grade. Burned trees and more flood damage appear in the upper part of the Canyon. Eventually the trail comes to a T-intersection at the burned-up saddle between Bear and South Boulder Peaks.<\/p>\n

All the trees are dead, and a stark black ghost forest stands on the rocky slopes. Take the marked left fork and head west toward South Boulder Peak. The trail leads up through large rocks, and it\u2019s hard to follow in spots, because much of the soil is gone. The path climbs more steeply and approaches the summit ridge, and the Peak is a short distance south over the rocks.<\/p>\n

\"Burned<\/a>

Burned Area Below South Boulder Peak<\/p><\/div>\n

This was once a very beautiful spot, and there is a sense of tragedy about the place now. Some new growth has started, and in a few decades perhaps it will be nice again. I still have memories of picking blackberries up here \u2013 years ago – with one of my sons.<\/p>\n

\"North<\/a>

North Summit Ridge of South Boulder Peak<\/p><\/div>\n

The activation zone is large, and it\u2019s easy to set up east or north of the summit. Weather is very tricky on Bear and South Boulder Peak \u2013 these prominent summits create their own cumulus clouds and generate lightning storms! In April 2014, with clouds building, I set up about 60 feet below the summit, well down the slope, and I still had a fine activation, with just a 20-foot pole and an end-fed 67 foot wire running down the slope to the east! In July 2013 I set up north of the summit, out near the end of the ridge; I hung a 20M dipole from a dead tree and had a great first activation!<\/p>\n\n\t\t