{"id":5644,"date":"2015-04-18T09:12:42","date_gmt":"2015-04-18T15:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/?p=5644"},"modified":"2017-01-28T20:36:54","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T03:36:54","slug":"w0cpr118-pence-mount-3012m-9903-ft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/sota-trip-report\/w0cpr118-pence-mount-3012m-9903-ft\/","title":{"rendered":"W\u00d8C\/PR-118 (Pence Mount) – 3018 M \/ 9903 ft"},"content":{"rendered":"

W0C\/PR-118
\nPence Mount
\n3018 M \/ 9903 ft
\nMarch 28, 2015
\nFirst Activation<\/p>\n

Pence Mount, or Mount Pence<\/a>, is a moderately easy 3000 meter summit about 3-1\/2 miles east of Squaw Mountain<\/a>. This peak is perhaps 2\/3 mile from the Squaw Pass Road, with an ascent of about 900 vertical feet.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>

Mount Pence from Squaw Highway<\/p><\/div>\n

In many ways Pence is an ideal SOTA peak, but this isn\u2019t apparent at first.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>

Mount Pence Summit Meadow<\/p><\/div>\n

Please look at Google maps while reading these directions:<\/p>\n

To find the trailhead, drive west from Denver via I-70, and exit onto the Evergreen Parkway, Highway 74. At Bergen Park, turn right and drive west up the Squaw Pass Highway 66 several miles. Continue on 66 for about one mile after the second junction with the marked Old Squaw Pass Road 170. This is a very curvy section of road that winds along the north slopes of Mount Pence. Look for an obvious parking area on the left (southeast) side of the highway, at about 8940 feet elevation. There are two such pull-outs. Choose the second parking spot, just past where the road wraps almost a full circle left around a hill. This spot is \u00bc mile north of where the road contours into a valley between Pence and Snyder mountains. If you drive too far, there is a very sharp right hairpin turn where the road goes near the creek \u2013 if so, turn around, drive back north \u00bc mile, and park at the first large parking spot on your right. There is a jeep road with a steel cable across it, as well as USFS sign posts.<\/p>\n

\"Gated<\/a>

Gated Road to Northwest Ridge of Mount Pence<\/p><\/div>\n

The start of the jeep road is shown clearly on Google Maps. Please don\u2019t block the road.<\/p>\n

There is no sign marking the path up Mount Pence. Hike up the hill about 100 feet, and then follow the road to the right and up the northwest ridge of Mount Pence.<\/p>\n

\"Closed<\/a>

Closed Jeep Road up Mount Pence<\/p><\/div>\n

The road soon ends, but an informal, un-maintained trail continues up the forested ridge. The day I climbed Pence, the ridge was 90% snow, but bits of the trail were visible between the snow piles. If the ridge is all snow, forget the trail and just stay on the ridge to the top.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>

Mount Pence Northwest Ridge Route<\/p><\/div>\n

This is a simple hike, almost a straight line up a ramp! The forest is moderately thick, so the summit isn\u2019t visible until you\u2019re there. There are nice views north as you ascend.<\/p>\n

\"Arapaho<\/a>

Arapaho Peak from Mount Pence<\/p><\/div>\n

Satellite images of Pence reveal many houses and roads just south of the summit. Initially I thought Pence might be private land. The houses are part of a mountain subdivision located 200 to 400 vertical feet below the summit, and most of them are not visible from the summit.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>

Mount Pence View South<\/p><\/div>\n

The available evidence suggests that the northern part and activation zone of Mount Pence are on USFS land.<\/p>\n\n\t\t