4/12/2024 Route: From Cataract Gulch Posted On: 4/14/2024, By: Will_E Info: Long day getting 13,587 and 13,573, I went up from Cataract gulch, there was a pretty good ski track until just past the waterfall, the ski track went off towards Quarter Peak, I continued straight up until catching the Colorado trail. I was in snowshoes from the start, the snow was really great (mostly). I went east along the Colorado trail until descending a bit after the turnoff for Carson Peak, then went up the north side to gain the ridge. I know the ridge didn't go, but thought I'd be able to skirt around it on the north side. That idea looked better on a topo than in real life, so I abandoned that idea, descended the south side, went east to find a better line. Found a nice way up that was still fairly steep, but the snow felt good. I didn't need crampons up or down, but kept ice axe ready on the way down. After getting back down 13,587', the easiest way to get back was to go up over 13,573' (score!) then back to my initial route. Easy trenching most of the day, only had some nasty post holing on the way back below treeline. I probably didn't describe my route great, my GPS track is attached. |
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7/28/2023 Route: Cataract Lake Posted On: 7/29/2023, By: dwoodward13 Info: From Cataract Lake, headed up to the Colorado Trail, and then followed it east to an elevation of about 12,000. Here I headed south to cross the Lost Trail Creek and up the obvious rocky drainage. Once past most of the willows, I exited the drainage climbers left and headed up grassy slopes adjacent to the now gully on very, very solid elk trails. This is basically the same route as in WW's TR. I took her dotted line on the ascent/descent, and it seems much more pleasant than the gully she took. Oddly, the top of the her ascent gully has post. Someone went to a lot of trouble to bring that up. Pretty straight forward to the summit block. Summit block has a couple of cairns marking the class 3 gullies, but they are pretty obvious as well. This would be a great route from Carson Pass, its a much longer day from Cataract Lake, but being on the CT eats up the miles too. |
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8/14/2022 Route: South Face from 13,580 B Posted On: 8/16/2022, By: supranihilest Info: This peak is now 13,587' via LiDAR. Haven't seen any beta on this route but I feel like it's better than the crap scree ascent on the north face. From 13,580 B we descended into the basin east of 13,580/south of 13,581 since there was an obvious, grassy ridge southeast of 13,581 that looked pleasant. We continued down the basin past one of the most incredible hoodoo gardens I've ever seen and prior to reaching the ridge we spied a cliff band with obvious break in it that led to steep grass. We decided to take this super direct route instead, and found a trail through the cliff band which had a couple of moves of Class 2+. From there it's steep, stable scree and grass to the summit block. Summit block has some delightful scrambling, just beware of loose rock. We continued on to Point 12,918 to the east but it's possible to drop northeast into Lost Trail Creek drainage on grass from 13,581. |
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6/2/2022 Route: From Carson Pass Posted On: 6/2/2022, By: ScottLovesRMNP Info: Snow is easily avoidable. Access from Carson Pass (requires 4WD high clearance, which I don't have) is pretty nice, but you still have to descend about 700' and cross to the other side of the valley (and same on the return), so it's deceptively up-and-down given that Carson Pass is only about 1200' below the summit! Willows look bad but can be avoided, or there are fairly wide game trails through them. A little swampy near the creek at the bottom. May get a foot or two briefly wet in crossing the creek, but it's a minor issue. Summit block climb is easy Class 3, but probably only 40-50 vertical feet and very brief -- blink and you might miss it. This is a rather obscure bicentennial in an absolutely gorgeous setting (especially now with snow cloaking several of the neighboring peaks), and I'd say it's one of my favorites in recent memory -- great hike and great views! Go get it! |
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9/16/2021 Route: East ridge Posted On: 9/16/2021, By: desertdog Info: The Wagner Gulch road rears up and slaps you almost immediately. It's worse than the last time I drove it. 4wd with high clearance for sure. I went East to west on the ridge also summiting 13580 B. From the CO trail you can see a gully that takes you up to the ridge of 13581. There's a nice game trail on its left. 13581 has an easy class 3 climb to get you on the summit that is well marked. The rest of the ridge to 13580 B requires you drop off of it in places. These sections are loose but go quick. . |
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8/23/2020 Route: Carson Pass Posted On: 8/24/2020, By: JasonKline Info: Summer conditions |
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6/19/2020 Route: From Carson Pass Posted On: 6/21/2020, By: WildWanderer Info: Snow is mostly gone in the gully but it hasn't dried out yet. The dirt in the gullies is still mud and I almost lost a shoe. The gully to the center of right is steeper than it looks. The ridge is dry. No traction needed. |
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8/13/2019 Route: From 13581 Posted On: 8/13/2019, By: Flyingfish Info: Ridge from Colorado trail is dry. The bypass below 13581 is still muddy and slightly snowy along with the decent gully is still loaded with snow. Willows to regain the CT are very muddy and wet. |
