Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
It had been a long work week but I needed to get out since I had not made it out last weekend (at my age you have to keep moving or lose momentum).
The dog and myself headed down to the now familiar road out of Nathrop past the Mount Princeton Hot Springs, avoiding the many deer, past Alpine to St. Elmo. I had been down a few weeks ago for 13,626 after having looked at the start of the Tincup Pass Road. The road two weeks ago was still snow covered to the bottom where you are still in town and a street over from the main road.
The road had melted out some and I was able to drive 0.5 miles up the pass road to a nice large camp spot. The road is a major snowmobile road and so the snow had been groomed and packed so it may take a bit more to melt the ice and snow. I maybe could have driven another mile or so but I elected not to try (need new tires). There was a 200-300 yard long stretch past where I parked that was still snow packed and as is the case a lot of times once past there it was okay for a while.
The start that I had ended up yielding a 12.4 mile loop with approximately 4800 feet in vertical.
A bit of excitement were these tracks. A black bear had the same idea to use the road as I had. The bottom print is the left front paw and the upper print is the right rear paw I believe.
Fortunately this, probably hungry bear had been walking that way at least a day earlier as some of the prints has a thin layer of frozen water over them. I could see where the prints went from mud to snow as there were muddy prints on the snow.
Prints a big as my foot, almost or a dogs nose.
I had not walked much farther when I found a very nice ax. I was thinking how fortuitous this find was, in case I had to defend myself.
The road is still holding some snow. I think a four wheeler could make it a ways up the road or a 4wd with good tires maybe.
I walked the road for 1.5 miles from my parking spot and headed right and to the west of the Lake Gulch drainage. I did not find a trail and so bushwacked my way up. I basically went straight up following to the right side of a small creek. The trees were spaced well and there was not much snow other than a patch here and there. The slope was moderately steep as you gain around 2500 feet in about 1.5 miles.
This rock outcrop is just above treeline.
Upward.
This is looking back at my tracks.
The lake as it sits at the top of Lake Gulch sitting at 11,755 feet.
Outcropping.
This is looking east past rocks.
This is looking back down the more gentle finish.
Unnamed 13,050.
Summit to Mt. Princeton and points in between (13,078, 13,317, 13,626).
It was 3.2 miles and approximately 2800 feet to 13,050 and took me about 2 hours 15 minutes.
So... let's go for Tincup at 13,345.
Tincup did not look too far away but the ridge over was not a walk across. It was fairly rocky for the first half of the way but nothing over Class 2 (with maybe a lean or few against a rock).
The ridge to Tincup.
The remaining portion of the ridge past the rocks.
I was making my way towards Tincup when I decided that maybe we should head for Emma Burr. So off we went that way...
Emma's ridge.
Closer...
Summit of Emma Burr at 13,538.
It took me as long to get the 2.6 miles from 13,050 to Emma Burr as it took to get up to 13,050.
Colorful rocks on the way back towards Tincup.
Tincup at 13,345.
Summit.
Tincup Pass with Fitzpatrick at the far left. This would be another day because based on today's efforts it would take a few hours and at least another 1100 vertical to get there.
This picturesque small lake (shown on the quad map) along my descent.
A note on my descent. I would not recommend this way at least until the snow melts. My easterly descent down from the saddle, just before the divide heads down westerly to Tincup Pass, had a few steep drops and then went into the willows and past the small lake. So far not bad, but once past the lake and into the trees the snow was still deep, 3-4 feet. Snow and slush really slowed me down as I was sinking too many times waist to chest deep. It did not take long to get tired of that and I worked my way over and across Woodchopper Creek and ultimately up on the southwest exsposed slopes on the east side of Woodchopper Creek. The rest of the way down after that was okay.
A nice day, sunny and warm with only a cool breeze. It was nearly 10 hours after I started that I made it back to the truck. I would say that the slushfest added 1-1 1/2 hours on the return.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
I hiked up 13078 today. The snow was a little annoying in the afternoon, but I was only sinking knee deep (down by 2pm). Great views up there this time of year. Was curious if tincup pass road was melted out; guess I have an answer now.
I tried 13,078 in February and after wallowing in wasit/chest deep snow on the steep ascent I decided to try again later. Made it back and got it a month or so later. The snow is going pretty fast but some areas down there hold snow more than others, witness my descent here with a lot of snow and the ascent to 13,050 not much at all.
Good photos and beta (need to do these sometime). Billie Jean is such a willing, and pretty, subject for your camera. Like the mix of color and black-n-white photos. Pretty cool getting those bear print shots. Thanks for posting. Happy trails, you two!
funny because I was thinking I could hardly get a picture without the dog in it as she seems to be a camera bug
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
