TR - North Twin Cone Peak (12,323')
Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:28 pm
Peak: North Twin Cone Peak (12,323')
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2006
Team: TalusMonkey & Julie
Route: Standard route - Kenosha Pass/Pike National Forest
Summit Coords: N39deg 25m42.4s, W105deg 42m08.3s
Trip length: 10.5 miles
North Twin Cone Peak is one of a group of three distinctive 12ers located immediately east of Kenosha Pass on US 285 south. Neighborning peaks are Mount Blaine (12,303') and South Twin Cone Peak (12,340').
Drive south on US 285 from the Front Range and turn left onto a dirt road at Kenosha Pass. After .2 miles take a right on FSR 126. Drive .6 miles to a gate and park in one of TWO spaces without blocking the road. This is the starting point. Elevation is 10,050'. Coordinates are: N39deg 24m34.3s, W105deg 44m30.1s.
Julie and I got on trail on a nice, brisk fall morning in sunshine. We followed the icy and snow packed road 1.25 miles to another gate. After closing the gate behind us, we proceded up the old jeep road along many switchbacks. At about 10,900 we stopped to put on gaiters, as the snow depth increased. This jeep road actually leads all the way to the summit of N. Twin Cone Peak, but it is more efficient to shortcut/bushwhack through timber to cut out a long loop of the road.
At a right turn in the road, at approximately 11,330' elevation (Coordinates: N39deg 24m53.4s, W105deg 42m47.1s), we set North Twin Cone Peak as a navigation destination on the GPS and left the road heading NNE through timber. After 3/4 mile of hikiing through deep snow in timber, we emerged from timberline near 11,800.
A view of North Twin Cone from a broad knoll along the NNE line to the summit:
We crossed the willow field (the willows hold a lot of snow, so we picked our way through the most open areas - toward the east) and quickly ascended to the summit. Although it had been mild and calm in the timber, it was blustery on the summit. Temperature was 24 degrees.
A view of Mount Blaine, 2 miles east of N. Twin Cone:
A view of South Twin Cone Peak, 2 miles SE of N. Twin Cone:
TalusMonkey and Julie on the summit with Bierstadt and Evans behind us:
Continuing over to Mt. Blaine and South Twin Cone would have exposed us to continuous high winds along the 3.5 mile ridge walk. In addition, we would have had to bushwhack through willows to regain the jeep road southwest of South Twin Cone. So we decided against proceeding to Blain or S. Twin Cone. After a brief snack on the summit, we quickly descended back to timberline and plunged back down to the road through the snow in our own footprints.
Julie coming down into timber in the snow:
The snow above 11,000' on this route was of sufficient coverage and depth for snowshoes, particularly in the timber. This is a great conditioning hike not too far from Lakewood (57 miles to Kenosha Pass) and it avoids the crazy ski traffic on I-70. I'll return sometime to get Blaine and South Twin Cone.
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2006
Team: TalusMonkey & Julie
Route: Standard route - Kenosha Pass/Pike National Forest
Summit Coords: N39deg 25m42.4s, W105deg 42m08.3s
Trip length: 10.5 miles
North Twin Cone Peak is one of a group of three distinctive 12ers located immediately east of Kenosha Pass on US 285 south. Neighborning peaks are Mount Blaine (12,303') and South Twin Cone Peak (12,340').
Drive south on US 285 from the Front Range and turn left onto a dirt road at Kenosha Pass. After .2 miles take a right on FSR 126. Drive .6 miles to a gate and park in one of TWO spaces without blocking the road. This is the starting point. Elevation is 10,050'. Coordinates are: N39deg 24m34.3s, W105deg 44m30.1s.
Julie and I got on trail on a nice, brisk fall morning in sunshine. We followed the icy and snow packed road 1.25 miles to another gate. After closing the gate behind us, we proceded up the old jeep road along many switchbacks. At about 10,900 we stopped to put on gaiters, as the snow depth increased. This jeep road actually leads all the way to the summit of N. Twin Cone Peak, but it is more efficient to shortcut/bushwhack through timber to cut out a long loop of the road.
At a right turn in the road, at approximately 11,330' elevation (Coordinates: N39deg 24m53.4s, W105deg 42m47.1s), we set North Twin Cone Peak as a navigation destination on the GPS and left the road heading NNE through timber. After 3/4 mile of hikiing through deep snow in timber, we emerged from timberline near 11,800.
A view of North Twin Cone from a broad knoll along the NNE line to the summit:
We crossed the willow field (the willows hold a lot of snow, so we picked our way through the most open areas - toward the east) and quickly ascended to the summit. Although it had been mild and calm in the timber, it was blustery on the summit. Temperature was 24 degrees.
A view of Mount Blaine, 2 miles east of N. Twin Cone:
A view of South Twin Cone Peak, 2 miles SE of N. Twin Cone:
TalusMonkey and Julie on the summit with Bierstadt and Evans behind us:
Continuing over to Mt. Blaine and South Twin Cone would have exposed us to continuous high winds along the 3.5 mile ridge walk. In addition, we would have had to bushwhack through willows to regain the jeep road southwest of South Twin Cone. So we decided against proceeding to Blain or S. Twin Cone. After a brief snack on the summit, we quickly descended back to timberline and plunged back down to the road through the snow in our own footprints.
Julie coming down into timber in the snow:
The snow above 11,000' on this route was of sufficient coverage and depth for snowshoes, particularly in the timber. This is a great conditioning hike not too far from Lakewood (57 miles to Kenosha Pass) and it avoids the crazy ski traffic on I-70. I'll return sometime to get Blaine and South Twin Cone.