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I had just finished my first week back at college, so Kyle and I were hoping to get an easy summit down in the Sangres. Having just done Spread Eagle Peak, we decided to return to the area in hopes of climbing Silver Peak as a day trip from Denver. Our recent (and easy) trip up Spread Eagle had fogged our memories as to the actual nature of obscure 13ers in Winter. Silver was not going to be the easy day we were hoping for. As it often seems in winter, our true quarrel was with fortune, as the weather looked awful for the weekend though beautiful on the preceding weekdays. Disdaining fortune, we decided to make our attempt anyway.
The two of us left the Gibson Creek trailhead just as the sun began to rise. There was an inch or two of fresh snow on the trail, untracked until our passing. We quickly made the turn onto the rainbow trail, following it North towards Swift Creek. The junction was well signed, and we turned west, heading up the Swift Creek trail. The first bit of trail was uphill and followed a mellow east facing ridge before leveling out for a while along Swift Creek. As we made our way up the valley floor, the snow became much deeper. It also began to snow. We continued along the trail, passing through a clearing where the trail crossed the creek before angling up into the woods, then following the trail on the north side of the creek.
Kyle breaking trail on the approach, not too far up the Swift Creek trail.Deeper snow, up by the junction of the Swift Creek trail and the Lake of the Clouds trail.
I was already tired and not feeling great, with the first week of school already taking its toll. Luckily, Kyle was feeling great and was kind enough to break trail for most of the day. If Kyle hadn’t been there, I would have turned around. Thanks Kyle!
We finally made it to the junction of the Swift creek trail and the Lake of the Clouds trail, where the snow became even deeper, consistently knee to hip deep. There was a break in the storm as we approached Lake of the Clouds. We toiled across the frozen lake, though its open nature meant the wind had swept some of the fresh snow off the surface, making for less trail breaking. This was our only respite.
Walking across the frozen Lake of the Clouds. Peak of the Clouds is in the background.
Back into the forest, we worked our way towards treeline, aiming for the east slopes of Silver. The snow was once again deep. At treeline, we approached a large, steep avalanche slope we would have to ascend or make a very long detour south towards Peak of the Clouds, though an avalanche safe route to the south was only a supposition, with us being unable to see the entirety of the detour. It was already noon, and the detour would take too much time. We spent a moment discussing the avalanche conditions, and we decided to continue upwards through the steep snowfield. Kyle went up first while I waited a safe distance from the bottom in the event of an avalanche, ready to dig him out.
Silver Peak is on the right, Peak of the Clouds is on the left. The avalanche slope we ascended is just left and above Kyle—the first slope above treeline.
Kyle made quick work of the snowfield, asserting that it was surprisingly stable. I followed his tracks up once he was safe in the rock fields above. Here I ditched my snowshoes, deciding I would rather boot up without the extra weight. Kyle kept his on. I don’t think either way was easier. Our ascent was quiet, having forgone our usual philosophical prolixity for the quiet snowstorm and light wind. Real toil always engenders brevity.
Kyle breaking trail up the potential avalanche slope.Deep, toilsome snowIn the rocks above the avalanche slope. I ditched my snowshoes here.A look down towards Lake of the Clouds, our trench is visible.
We slowly made our way up toward the ridge as snow fell upon us and the winds dropped the temperature. Finally on the summit ridge, we made the last few steps to the summit of Silver peak, my 100th ranked 13er. It was late in the day—nearly 3:00 pm—and another squall was moving in from the west. We made much better time on the way down, reaching treeline as the storm rolled in, dropping more snow upon us. As the sun set, the storm lifted, providing a dramatic view of Spread Eagle Peak as we turned on our headlamps. The muffled winter woods reflected our solemn disposition as we made our way quietly down the valley. Darkness fell as we trudged down the last few miles of trail in freshly fallen snow.
Nearing the summit ridge of Silver Peak.The final steps.Kyle enjoys a realization of the siren summit sound.The incoming storm, looking west from the summit of Silver Peak.Ranked 13er #100Kyle leaving the summit of Silver Peak.On descent, with Spread Eagle Peak in the background.The storm settles around Lake of the Clouds.A moody setting.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I don't remember what my 100th ranked peak was... I know my overall #100 was Monumental. I was in the middle of a 6 peak day & actually sidehilled under Van Wit's summit (it was #101) just to have the more memorable named peak for 100! Nice TR & picture 10 as you are summiting with Peak of the Clouds in the background is just amazing with snow!
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