9/28/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 9/28/2023, By: Piotr Info: Nice and dry all the way. See pictures for conditions around. |
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8/26/2023 Route: Little Browns Creek Posted On: 8/28/2023, By: ajnesvisky Info: After reading up on some peak/trip reports, I also opted to go the LBC route. I'd echo the sentiment that this has a fairly strong argument to be the standard route up. Incredibly easy to follow the route, trail is in great shape mostly although some sections were definitely affected by the heavy rainfall the night before. The beginning of the route until you meet the road is gradual enough to do it quickly, and I opted to take the "shortcut" just below 13,000' mentioned in other reports which was by far the steepest portion of the trail. The class 2 section before the summit was fun, at about 13,900' the clouds were incredibly thick all the way through the summit (no views of anything that day). Saw 0 other people on the way up LBC route, encountered maybe 15-20 or so coming up the standard route on my descent. RT took about 8 hours. Highly recommend going this way if Antero is in your plans. |
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8/13/2023 Route: Little Browns Creek Posted On: 8/13/2023, By: dogsandguitars12 Info: The snow mentioned in the previous report didnt stay around, fully dry. LBC is a fantastic route with a great trail. Only saw 1 other person on the actual LBC trail, saw a few on summit and near the trailhead. Smooth sailing, wish most trails walked this good. 7.5 hours round trip. TH couldnt be easier to get to. Traffic coming back to Denver sucked hard. |
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8/12/2023 Route: Via Little Browns Creek Posted On: 8/12/2023, By: blonde_dinosaur Info: Someone else posted this recently, but I also think Browns Creek should be the standard route for this peak and Im not sure why this alternate option was deactivated from the site. I ended up pulling the gpx from a previous trip report. The route is long (I clocked in at 15 miles and 5,500ft gain) but the trail is very enjoyable and I thought the gain was fairly gradual. Despite the fact that I summited at 9:30am and all weather forecasts predicted precip after noon, I pushed through some pretty heavy SNOW to get to the summit. It accumulated on the rocks of the ridge and made them pretty slippery - I was glad I had poles. For anyone attempting tomorrow, I would pay close attention on the ridge line and then the final push up the talus in case some of that snow freezes over. Summit pic attached looking back at ridge - it was crazy! |
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8/1/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 8/1/2023, By: wmagnuson7 Info: Just a couple points to add: 1. If you don't have a Jeep or side-by-side (or lifted truck/SUV), its pretty miserable getting even up to 10,800 feet so would strongly recommend driving something with significant clearance to decrease the anxiety of significantly harming your vehicle and/or getting stuck. 2. Once you get to the class 2 portion, stay along the ridge line (don't drop down or go to the right). Overall, I will probably never do this hike again because it was not very scenic and the drive was horrendous. To date, this was my 18th 14'er and least favorite. Cheers! |
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7/31/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 8/2/2023, By: SARAH342 Info: DRIVING: Did up to 12,000 in a lifted wrangler, no problem. A couple of large rocks to skirt, but if you've got the clearance and some confidence you'll be golden. Could continue maybe to 12,500 or all the way to 13,800 if you're okay ok washed out sand. CAMPING: Camped around 11500 - there were mosquitos, but plenty of great sites with fire pits, easy to park. Got pretty cold around 42 degrees on 7/31. Might want to bring your own dry wood. Cronin Peak neighbors and was dropping rockslides throughout the evening - kinda spooky. HIKING: Easy ascent on Jeep road, but still pretty. Straightforward class 2 with a fun and short ridge line traverse. Exemplary views, had the summit to ourselves on a Monday and only passed a few friendly folks earlier in the day. Might want to consider ibuprofen, ascent happens quickly, could get lightheaded. Love, Celine and Sarah |
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7/29/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 7/31/2023, By: Clairebaums Info: The trail was super dry with no snow on any of it. 90% of it is a jeep road, and the top portion is the only class two portion which is about a mile. It includes a fun scramble on a ridge and a scree field. |
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7/21/2023 Route: From Little Browns Creek Posted On: 7/22/2023, By: cdgibbons Info: Summer Conditions. As others have suggested, if you are willing to put in the mileage and elevation gain, this is a much more scenic, much more enjoyable alternative for Antero. Thank you to those with detailed trip reports on this site. I did it with White as a day trip but if you would prefer a backpack, there are some excellent campsites between 11,000' and 11,200' in a flat, open area. I took the trail to the high point of the Antero/White saddle where it ends at a spur of the Baldwin Gulch road, turned right, hiked 300' of grass to 13,100' where the road crosses the ridge and followed the standard route from there. There are other options, though I would not recommend leaving the trail below the saddle, as that slope looked pretty loose. Saw a few backpackers early and late in the day, no other daytrippers on this route, about 16 folks on the standard route between 8-11 AM, and then the crew of badass ultramarathoners starting the High Lonesome 100. 15.6 miles and 5400' for Antero alone. |
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7/9/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 7/10/2023, By: burnhamc Info: Peak was easily accessible, road is clear of snow. I drove to the top around 13,500 and then climbed to the summit from there. The drive can be made by about anything with 4low and good clearance, took around two hours to drive up and another two to get back down. Someone was up there mining, and a few people at the parking area near the summit. I was the only one on the peak. |
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7/8/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 7/8/2023, By: Skitch Info: Didnt even try the road with our Jeep Cherokee and glad we didnt. Most of the hike was walking up the road but was pretty and peaceful. Lots of OHVs and wranglers coming down during our descent - hitched a ride with one of them to cut off a few miles. Thank you kind strangers! |
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7/1/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 7/3/2023, By: eastmanerine Info: A bit of a rocky road but our 4WD Grand Jeep Cherokee did fine to get us to about 12,000 ft. Plenty of places to pull off and park in that area. No issue crossing the streams. Hiking trail completely dry now with the only snow off the main trail. If you have a good 4WD vehicle and can cut the hike distance down some, this is a great 14er for a kid or first time climber to tackle. Our 9 year old did it without trouble. |
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6/29/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 6/29/2023, By: mcosby Info: Route is basically fully dry. You dont have to touch any snow unless you really want to do so. Id recommend leaving the spikes and axe in the car for the 15 miles of road and 0.5 of tiny scramble. There is some water running over the road near the beginning. You can avoid getting wet via a few log options just up on the right. |
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6/25/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: StephRose Info: Trail is in pretty good shape! I parked and car camped at the lower TH and ran up and down. Started at 5:30am because I wanted daylight. The first creek crossing near the TH is flooded - theres a trio of logs a bit up to the right that made a crossing easy. When you turn left on 278, the road is also flooded. The rock-hopping option was a no-go in the morning as they were extremely slick, but had dried out on my way down (just ran through ~4-6 inches of water in the morning). The switchbacks had a few places to navigate around snow but it was super easy. Didnt even have to touch snow on the summit ridge. Wind was brutal on way up to summit, but the actual top was much more calm. |
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6/25/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: Elliegold Info: The road is drivable up until about 13,100' due to snow on the last couple switchbacks. Traction is not necessary. The excavator is off to the side as of today, the switchback after the CAT gets kind of sketchy with the snow on the banks cutting the size of the road to be very narrow. No problem getting up though in a lifted jeep. |
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6/24/2023 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 6/24/2023, By: Ryan987 Info: Drove up to the parking area at tree line (12000 ft). Road isn't bad if you have a good clearance 4x4. Saw a subie go up as I was leaving... wouldn't reccomend that but make your own judgement. Summer conditions with short slushy pits here and there above the gate. Didn't use my microspikes. The excavator has opened up the road further up and people should be able to drive up to the saddle area now |
