Tag: backpacking

San Juans Trip

Day 1 – Mon 10 Aug

  • drive Navajo Lake TH [7:00, leave 06:00]
  • backpack in [6.2 mi, 3,000′, 4:30]
  • camp Navajo Basin [~11,200′]

Day 2 – Tue 11 Aug

  • climb Mount Wilson-El Diente: up North Buttress, traverse, down North Slopes
  • camp Navajo Basin

Day 3 – Wed 12 Aug

  • climb Wilson Peak: West Ridge or Gladstone Peak
  • backpack out
  • drive to Durango [2:00]
  • motel Durango

Day 4 – Thu 13 Aug

  • train to Needleton [dep 08:45, arr 11:15]
  • hike in [6.6 mi, 3,000′, 4:40]
  • camp Chicago Basin [~11,300′]

Day 5 – Fri 14 Aug

  • climb Mount Eolus & North Eolus: Northeast Ridge [6.1 mi, 3,600′, 03:30 start, 7:00 est]
  • gw exits, rest of group stays

Day 6 – Sat 15 Aug

  • climb some mountain(s)

Sky Stuff:

  • Sunrise: 06:25
  • Moon: Waning – 58% to 12%

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Marina L
  • Mike H

Navajo Basin – Dolores County Sheriff’s Department: 970-677-2257
Chicago Basin – La Plata County Sheriff’s Department: 970-385-2900

Crestone Needle & Mount Lindsey

Day 1 – Thursday 29 Aug

  • drive [3:30]
  • 4WD South Colony Lakes TH [3 mi]
  • hike in [4.4 mi, 1,710′]
  • camp Lower Colony Lake [11,660′]

Day 2 – Friday 30 Aug

  • climb Crestone Needle via South Face [2.6mi RT, 2,537′]
  • hike out [4.4 mi, -1,710′ (-4,247′ total)]
  • 4WD out
  • drive to Lily Lake TH
  • camp near Lily Lake TH

Day 3 – Saturday 31 Aug

  • climb Mount Lindsey via Northwest Ridge, [8.6 mi RT, 3,492′]
  • drive back [4:00]

Condition Reports:

Sky Stuff:

  • Sunrise: 06:30
  • Moon: New – 0.6%

Maps:

Crestone Needle – Cal Topo Map

Mount Lindsey – Cal Topo Map

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Heather K
  • Georgia C

Capitol Peak

Day 1 – Thursday 5 Sep

  • drive to Capitol Creek TH [4:00]
  • hike in via Capitol Creek [6 mi, 2,340′ total]
  • camp Capitol Lake [11,600′]

Day 2 – Friday 6 Sep

  • climb Capitol Peak [4.4 mi RT, 2,530′]
  • camp Capitol Lake

Day 3 – Saturday 7 Sep

  • hike out via Capitol Creek [6 mi, -2,340′ total]
  • drive back [4:00]

Sky Stuff:

  • Sunrise: 06:42
  • Moon: Waxing – 58%

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Marina L
  • Mike H
  • Cyndi L
  • Connor C
  • Maybe:
  • Julie L

Chicago Basin

Day 1 – Monday 8 Jul

  • drive [6:00] to Durango
  • Siesta Motel

Day 2 – Tuesday 9 Jul

  • train #463 departs Durango 08:45
  • trains arrives in Needleton 11:15
  • hike in [6.6 mi, 3,000′]
  • camp Chicago Basin [~11,2300′]

Day 3 – Wednesday 10 Jul

  • climb Sunlight Peak (ascend via via South Slopes (or maybe West Ridge), descend via South Slopes) then
  • climb Windom Peak (ascend via Northwest Face, descend via West Ridge)
  • [5.4 mi RT, 3,846′ total]
  • camp Chicago Basin

Day 4 – Thursday 11 Jul

  • climb Eolus then
  • climb North Eolus [4.9 mi RT, 2,884′]
  • camp Chicago Basin

Day 5 – Friday 12 Jul

  • hike out to Needleton [6.6 mi, -3,000′]
  • train #464 departs Needleton 15:30
  • train arrives in Durango 16:45
  • drive back [6:00]

NOTE: See train information here: https://www.durangotrain.com/wilderness-access

Map:

Chicago Basin 14ers

Trip Reports:

Weather Forecast

Mount Eolus forecast

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Marina L
  • Julie L
  • Jake

Little Bear

Day 1 – Thursday 15 Aug

  • drive [4:00]
  • 4WD to approx. 10,000′ [0:45]
  • hike in [3 mi, 1,700′, 2:00]
  • camp Lake Como [11,760′]

Day 2 – Friday 16 Aug

  • climb Little Bear Peak [3.1 mi RT, 2,277′]
  • hike out [3 mi, -1,700′]
  • 4WD out [0:45]
  • drive back [4:00]

Condition Reports

Sky Stuff:

  • Sunrise: 06:20
  • Moon: Full

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Mike H
  • Marina L

Snowmass Mountain

Dates not final

The 4WD road from Crystal to Lead King Basin is not recommended when wet, so this itinerary reflects both dry and wet conditions.

Day 1 – Thu TBD

  • drive Crystal [4:00]
    1. if dry
      • 4WD to Lead King Basin
      • backpack from Lead King Basin TH to Geneva Lake [1.75 mi, 1,400′]
      • camp Geneva Lake [11,000′, campsite #2]
    2. if wet
      • backpack from Crystal pull-out to Geneva Lake [3.5 mi, 2,200′]
      • camp Geneva Lake [11,000′, campsite #2]

Day 2 – Fri TBD

  • climb Snowmass: up South Ridge, down West Slopes [4.8 mi RT, 3,300′]
    1. if dry
      • backpack out
      • 4WD & drive back
    2. if wet
      • camp Geneva Lake [11,000′, campsite #2]

Day 3 – Sat TBD

  • climb more mountains
  • backpack out, 4WD & drive back

Trip Reports

Map


Snowmass Map

Attendees:

  • Greg W
  • Mike H
  • Heather R

Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department: 970-641-1113