{"id":5526,"date":"2015-03-12T20:58:05","date_gmt":"2015-03-13T02:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/?p=5526"},"modified":"2017-01-28T20:48:10","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T03:48:10","slug":"w0cfr160-pierson-mountain-2982-9803-ft-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sota-trip-report\/w0cfr160-pierson-mountain-2982-9803-ft-2\/","title":{"rendered":"W\u00d8C\/FR-16\u00d8 (Pierson Mountain) – 2988 m \/ 9803 ft (via Lion Gulch)"},"content":{"rendered":"

W0C\/FR-160
\nPierson Mountain
\n2988 m \/ 9803 ft
\nNov 15, 2013<\/p>\n

by KX0R<\/p>\n

My first trip up Pierson Mountain<\/a> was one of my most challenging SOTA<\/a> activations. It was especially difficult with the short day and tricky weather on Nov 15, 2013.<\/p>\n

\"Pierson<\/a>

Pierson Mountain from Hill Creek Trail on Nov 15, 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

Highway 36 northwest of Lyons was partly destroyed and closed by the September Floods<\/a>, but it was re-opened in early November; I had seen cars parked at Lion Gulch<\/a> a week before my hike, so I assumed the trail was useable. I Checked the USFS website, and there was no mention of the popular trail being closed. It was very windy on Highway 36, so my SOTA activation seemed uncertain. I drove to Lion Gulch with my gear; I arrived before 9 AM. There were no warning signs at the trailhead, but with all the destruction along Highway 36 near Lyons, I had a feeling there might be some problems down in the canyon. I saw a group of hunters with rifles start down the trail, only to return a few minutes later.<\/p>\n

At Lion Gulch<\/a> the wind was not strong, so I decided to start the hike. When I descended down to the creek, I saw the extent of the 500-year flood\u2019s destruction. The old bridge was still there, but it was useless. Because the water-flow was minimal, I had no problem crossing the icy creek \u2013 and so I headed toward the Gulch. I found the remains of the trail on the north side of Lion Gulch Creek and headed west up the Gulch. In the canyon there was massive, continuous flood destruction.<\/p>\n

\"Lion<\/a>

Lion Gulch Flood Damage and Washed-Out Trail at Left<\/p><\/div>\n

There were numerous washouts, huge live fallen trees stacked up, enormous boulders, and new creek paths cut deep. The raging creek had filled the width of the canyon. At first I was able to follow the trail, but farther west, I found a long difficult section, where much of the trail was washed out, covered by fallen trees, or severely damaged.<\/p>\n\n\t\t