Uncompahgre Peak

[IntrepidXJ]

Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/06/uncompahgre-peak)


At 14,309 feet, Uncompahgre Peak is the highest point in the San Juan Mountains and the 6th highest in Colorado. It was also our destination this morning.


After work on Friday, Jackson and I loaded up my Jeep and headed south to the San Juan's. We made a quick stop for dinner in Montrose and then we were soon passing through Ouray and turning off the highway on the rough road following the Uncompahgre River and Mineral Creek. Next we found ourselves driving at just under 13,000 feet as we crossed Engineer Pass and dropped back down along Henson Creek. When we reached the rough road that follows Nellie Creek we turned onto it and climbed a few thousand feet again until we had reached the boundary for the Uncompahgre Wilderness area and the trailhead to Uncompahgre Peak. We quickly setup camp in what was left of the twilight and got to bed early.


Bright and early on Saturday morning we were up and having a quick breakfast before starting the hike. As we entered the wilderness our surroundings were still in the shadows, but occasionally we would catch a glimpse of Uncompahgre Peak lit up with a golden early morning light. Next time I will have to get an earlier start so I can take a few photos of that (and also bring along my DSLR).


Uncompahgre Peak lit up with golden light on a cloudless morning.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7479635866_8918d88a1a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7479635866/)
Uncompahgre Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7479635866/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Uncompahgre Peak...that way!


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7482887990_aafb6b9883_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482887990/)
Intersection (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482887990/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Easy trail through the alpine tundra.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7479729054_abc6c2f6af_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7479729054/)
Path to Uncompahgre Peak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7479729054/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This butterfly was warming up in the sunlight along the trail.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7490455020_fc8aed7641_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490455020/)
Sunning Butterfly (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490455020/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


After gaining the main ridge around 13,000 feet we followed it towards the peak.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7481358456_f7ce2cc5da_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7481358456/)
Ridge to the Summit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7481358456/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This marmot was sitting in the sun while the rocks behind were in the shade.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7480587398_a4d5ef2ea1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7480587398/)
Marmot in the Sun (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7480587398/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Looking down on the trail we just ascended with a cool-looking unnamed peak in the background.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7490500712_e8a5a0203d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490500712/)
Unnamed Peak Below (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490500712/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Starting up the most difficult section of the trail. Just some Class 2 scrambling required.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7480696642_a4072d65ac_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7480696642/)
Rocky Area (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7480696642/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Finally we reached the summit. Jackson taking photos in the background.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7482815632_3ac395ce29_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482815632/)
The Summit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482815632/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Jackson on the summit. We couldn't see the Grand Mesa because of smoke from the wildfires on the horizon.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8145/7482786480_39fc65f9cd_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482786480/)
Jackson on Uncompahgre (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482786480/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Jackson took this photo of me on Uncompahgre Peak.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7490698116_70dc08cd7a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490698116/)
On Uncompahgre Peak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490698116/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Looking down into Big Blue Creek from the summit.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7482757002_eca6e5720e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482757002/)
Big Blue Creek (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7482757002/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


After spending a little time on the summit we started the hike back down.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7481407096_195cafaa9f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7481407096/)
Hiking Back Down (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7481407096/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7490727716_998ba36905_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490727716/)
Alpine View (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7490727716/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


When we reached the trailhead again, we broke down camp and drove back to Silverton over Engineer Pass and through Animas Forks. I grabbed a quick lunch from Handlebars before driving back home. It was a great day and I was able to climb my first 14er of the year. I am hoping to get in two more this year before the season is over.


>> Uncompahgre Peak Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjAkJu9Y)

[Candace66]

Very nice, thanks for sharing! A peak that's still on my to-do list... Now that I'm living in the region again, I hope to make it up some CO peaks. It's been too long since I bagged one.

I like Jackson's hat, too. :2thumbs:

[IntrepidXJ]

I like Jackson's hat, too. :2thumbs:

You know, this was his first time wearing that hat, and I swear that just about everyone we passed on the trail mentioned something about it!

[Sun Dance]

Glad to hear the smoke's not affecting you that far south. Where would you say the smoke starts? North of Montrose?

[accadacca]

That looks like a fun peak the climb and beautiful scenery. :cool2:

[DougInGJCO]

Thanks for the report. Some of your fellow Grand Junctioneers are headed there on August 4 with Wetterhorn the following day if all goes well. If you have not done Wett... come join us. Details at http://www.meetup.com/WesternSlopeAdventurers/events/57565462/ :haha:

[IntrepidXJ]

Thanks for the invite, but not only is that the very first weekend I have to work in 5 years at my job, but Wetterhorn is currently above my skill/comfort level.


Thanks for the report. Some of your fellow Grand Junctioneers are headed there on August 4 with Wetterhorn the following day if all goes well. If you have not done Wett... come join us. Details at http://www.meetup.com/WesternSlopeAdventurers/events/57565462/ :haha:

[dentedvw]

Ok, so that is a pretty neat hat. Does it fold down? Something like that would be great for stuffing in my motorcycle gear, if it folded down to fit in.