OTHER Trip Report 03/12/2008

Peak(s):	Colorado Mines Peak - 12493
Date Posted:	03/12/2008
Date Climbed:	03/08/2008
Author:	DHatfield

Berthoud Pass Peaks
Colorado Mines Peak (12,493') Mount Flora (13,132') Mount Eva (13,130') 9.1 miles, 4,505' gain Trailhead: Berthoud Pass Partner: susanjoypaul The first couple months of the year left us dismally behind on our "peak a week" goal - between work (it really is a four-letter word), HAMS weekends, ice climbing, a trip to Mexico to get Orizaba, and last weekend's failed attempt on snowy Colony Baldy, we found ourselves ten weeks into the year - with only four successful summits! Time to play catch-up. I decided a trip to Berthoud Pass - and nearly endless summit possibilities - fit the bill perfectly. We left Colorado Springs at 5:30am but due to dang skier's traffic we didn't arrive at the Pass until around 8:30am - I hate that - although the roads were in great shape until we started heading up the actual pass, where we ran into heavy, falling snow. There were about a dozen vehicles already there, mostly, if not all, skiers and snowboarders. Parking at Berthoud Pass After carefully layering up with hats, balaclavas, goggles and gloves, we started heading up the west slopes of Colorado Mines Peak, which sits about � miles off the pass, at 9:00am. It was a chilly start with the car thermometer indicating a balmy 12 degrees, but at least no wind, at first. We started hiking with snowshoes and still sank in about 8"; that part was exhausting, but as we broke tree line we found the slopes were for the most part wind-scoured to an inch or two of hard crust, making the going a little easier. The trade-off for smoother terrain would be the wind: around 30-40 mph sustained for most of the day. Deep snow gave way to a hard crust on tundra and talus as we broke tree line above the Pass Just before reaching the summit we met two other hikers and their dog, also headed to Colorado Mines Peak. We arrived on the summit at 10:30am, briefly chatted with the other folks, and stashed our snowshoes at one of the many communication buildings that litter the summit area (yuck), before heading off into the midst of dense clouds and falling snow that reduced visibility to less than a � mile - so much for views on this day! Susan enjoying the less-than-scenic summit of Colorado Mines Peak We hiked down to the saddle at the foot of Mount Flora, on an easy going trail and that gently meanders back up toward Flora's summit, 1 � miles from Colorado Mines Peak. Heading down the northeast slopes of Colorado Mines There were several false bumps and low visibility, so we couldn't really tell where the summit was till we were on top of it. And up the southwest ridge to Flora We finally found the summit cairn at 12:00pm, just in time for lunch, so we took pictures and a much needed fuel break before heading off toward Mount Eva, still 2 miles away yet. With the slow-going, I started to question if we would be able to hit Parry Peak, which was originally to be our fourth peak and final destination that day. Are you in there, Susan? We didn't stay long on Flora's summit, since the thermometer indicated -1 and with the wind continuing to blow staying on the summit too long just made us colder, so off we went through a talus field following the ridge toward Mount Eva. Susan was glad to have her crampons on for the steep descent; the snow there was extremely hard and slippery. The ridge down to the Mount Flora/Witter Peak drops quite abruptly The weather started to clear a little as arrived at the Witter (unranked)/Flora saddle, but it was only brief enough to tell us that we have to go back uphill again. Looking northeast toward our climb to the bench west of Witter Peak (12,884‘ - right) from the Witter/Flora saddle Nearing the flats west of Witter Peak with Mount Flora in distance From the top the bench that sits to the west of Witter Peak we could see Mount Eva, although it still appeared to be quite a ways off yet. Me on the summit of Mount Eva We arrived on the summit at 3:10pm. From there we could just barely make out Parry Peak - we both felt good but knew we were going to be hiking out in the dark that day, and decided not to push our luck further. With the high winds, snow, and low visibility, we thought it more prudent to call it a day, take our three peaks, and head back out. Summit of Parry is still quite hidden We stayed on Eva for about 15 minutes - then headed off to the steep backside of Mt Eva. The tower on Eva had fallen down At that point the thick mist lifted, and we were finally treated to some wonderful views of the snow-blanketed peaks around us; for the first time all day we could actually see something, which was rather pleasant, I might add. Me with Mt Flora - yes, we have to reclimb it to get out of here! The sun actually poked out for a minute as Susan made her way back over Flora This was extremely steep and "avy-suspect" due to the aspect, slope, and snow. We traversed to the right and took the ridgeline back up. Susan looking back at Parry Peak on left, then Mount Eva, and Bancoft Peak As we hiked over Mount Flora again, the wind calmed, and it started to snow again. Looking back at Mount Flora No wind, but plenty of new snow to greet us here in the dark! If you look closely you can see the summit of Colorado Mines Peak here We hiked up the final pitch - to Colorado Mined again, to retrieve our snowshoes - then enjoyed the descent back down to Berthoud Pass. By then it was snowing like crazy, but we didn't care - there was no wind, and we had enjoyed three more beautiful Colorado peaks! What more can you ask of a weekend? At 9:10pm we arrived back at Berthoud Pass. Congrats on the peaks susanjoypaul, and I look forward to hiking with you again someday. It sure was a wonderful trip. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Berthoud Pass Peaks

Colorado Mines Peak (12,493')
Mount Flora (13,132')
Mount Eva (13,130')
9.1 miles, 4,505' gain
Trailhead: Berthoud Pass
Partner: susanjoypaul

The first couple months of the year left us dismally behind on our "peak a week" goal - between work (it really is a four-letter word), HAMS weekends, ice climbing, a trip to Mexico to get Orizaba, and last weekend's failed attempt on snowy Colony Baldy, we found ourselves ten weeks into the year - with only four successful summits! Time to play catch-up. I decided a trip to Berthoud Pass - and nearly endless summit possibilities - fit the bill perfectly.

We left Colorado Springs at 5:30am but due to dang skier's traffic we didn't arrive at the Pass until around 8:30am - I hate that - although the roads were in great shape until we started heading up the actual pass, where we ran into heavy, falling snow. There were about a dozen vehicles already there, mostly, if not all, skiers and snowboarders.

Parking at Berthoud Pass

After carefully layering up with hats, balaclavas, goggles and gloves, we started heading up the west slopes of Colorado Mines Peak, which sits about � miles off the pass, at 9:00am. It was a chilly start with the car thermometer indicating a balmy 12 degrees, but at least no wind, at first. We started hiking with snowshoes and still sank in about 8"; that part was exhausting, but as we broke tree line we found the slopes were for the most part wind-scoured to an inch or two of hard crust, making the going a little easier. The trade-off for smoother terrain would be the wind: around 30-40 mph sustained for most of the day.

Deep snow gave way to a hard crust on tundra and talus as we broke tree line above the Pass

Just before reaching the summit we met two other hikers and their dog, also headed to Colorado Mines Peak. We arrived on the summit at 10:30am, briefly chatted with the other folks, and stashed our snowshoes at one of the many communication buildings that litter the summit area (yuck), before heading off into the midst of dense clouds and falling snow that reduced visibility to less than a � mile - so much for views on this day!

Susan enjoying the less-than-scenic summit of Colorado Mines Peak

We hiked down to the saddle at the foot of Mount Flora, on an easy going trail and that gently meanders back up toward Flora's summit, 1 � miles from Colorado Mines Peak.

Heading down the northeast slopes of Colorado Mines

There were several false bumps and low visibility, so we couldn't really tell where the summit was till we were on top of it.

And up the southwest ridge to Flora

We finally found the summit cairn at 12:00pm, just in time for lunch, so we took pictures and a much needed fuel break before heading off toward Mount Eva, still 2 miles away yet. With the slow-going, I started to question if we would be able to hit Parry Peak, which was originally to be our fourth peak and final destination that day.

Are you in there, Susan?

We didn't stay long on Flora's summit, since the thermometer indicated -1 and with the wind continuing to blow staying on the summit too long just made us colder, so off we went through a talus field following the ridge toward Mount Eva. Susan was glad to have her crampons on for the steep descent; the snow there was extremely hard and slippery.

The ridge down to the Mount Flora/Witter Peak drops quite abruptly

The weather started to clear a little as arrived at the Witter (unranked)/Flora saddle, but it was only brief enough to tell us that we have to go back uphill again.

Looking northeast toward our climb to the bench west of Witter Peak (12,884‘ - right) from the Witter/Flora saddle

Nearing the flats west of Witter Peak with Mount Flora in distance

From the top the bench that sits to the west of Witter Peak we could see Mount Eva, although it still appeared to be quite a ways off yet.

Me on the summit of Mount Eva

We arrived on the summit at 3:10pm. From there we could just barely make out Parry Peak - we both felt good but knew we were going to be hiking out in the dark that day, and decided not to push our luck further. With the high winds, snow, and low visibility, we thought it more prudent to call it a day, take our three peaks, and head back out.

Summit of Parry is still quite hidden

We stayed on Eva for about 15 minutes - then headed off to the steep backside of Mt Eva.

The tower on Eva had fallen down

At that point the thick mist lifted, and we were finally treated to some wonderful views of the snow-blanketed peaks around us; for the first time all day we could actually see something, which was rather pleasant, I might add.

Me with Mt Flora - yes, we have to reclimb it to get out of here!

The sun actually poked out for a minute as Susan made her way back over Flora

This was extremely steep and "avy-suspect" due to the aspect, slope, and snow. We traversed to the right and took the ridgeline back up.

Susan looking back at Parry Peak on left, then Mount Eva, and Bancoft Peak

As we hiked over Mount Flora again, the wind calmed, and it started to snow again.

Looking back at Mount Flora

No wind, but plenty of new snow to greet us here in the dark! If you look closely you can see the summit of Colorado Mines Peak here

We hiked up the final pitch - to Colorado Mined again, to retrieve our snowshoes - then enjoyed the descent back down to Berthoud Pass. By then it was snowing like crazy, but we didn't care - there was no wind, and we had enjoyed three more beautiful Colorado peaks! What more can you ask of a weekend? At 9:10pm we arrived back at Berthoud Pass. Congrats on the peaks susanjoypaul, and I look forward to hiking with you again someday. It sure was a wonderful trip.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Kevin Baker	good work 3/12/2008 11:28pm Nice job, Doug and Susan. Too bad you couldn‘t see much on the day. I had the luxury of hitting those in late May all the way to Bancroft with a car shuttle, so we didn‘t have to go back over everything! I‘m still waiting on that Orizaba TR, Doug. Glad to see you post a report.
susanjoypaul	Thanks Mr Baker 3/13/2008 12:08am Ahhhhh... car shuttle. Good thinkin‘. The views on the way out made it all worth it though, for sure - they were pretty spectacular. I hope to get Bancroft & Parry next time around - and from the other direction :-)
roozers42	I love these peaks! 3/13/2008 12:10am I also had a nice May day last year to do the loop with a car shuttle (and a nice glissade.) Your pictures are fantastic and I love your report - thanks!
SarahT	Nice report Doug 3/13/2008 3:29pm I haven‘t heard a peep from you in a very long time. Glad to see you‘re posting TRs again. Looks like you guys made the most of a not-so-nice weather day. I made the trip in similar weather and decided to call it quits with Flora. I hope that you post a TR on Orizaba, I‘d love to read it.
DHatfield	Thanks 3/13/2008 3:33pm Sarah, yea I thought it would be nice to start posting trip reports again. Kevin and Sarah, I hope to have the Orizaba trip report soon now that work slowed down and allowing me time to sit and do it. Susan, Can I go on the Parry Bancroft trip with you ?
susanjoypaul	Parry / Bancroft 3/13/2008 5:27pm Can you go with me? I don‘t know, Doug. I‘m looking over your climbing resume, and it says here you only had 95 successful summits last year. What were you doing the other 270 days? Eating pizza? Watching ”American Idol?” You sure weren‘t writing any trip reports. I‘ll have to get back to you on this. I‘ll have my people call your people. Maybe we can set up an ”interview hike” for you in April. Bring snowshoes - and plan on breaking trail.
DHatfield	Dear Susan about Parry/ Bancorft 3/13/2008 5:40pm You must surely have me confused with someone else, I couldn‘t of climbed that much since I am a reformed couch potato . No pizza or American Idol, but if you must know I have been watching alot of Hannah Montanta. I will be patiently waiting to hear from my people. Do I really have to break trail, that is not really my thing.
sgladbach	You musta really wanted it 3/16/2008 6:17am to start out in those bleak looking conditions. You really feel like a mountaineer on those days, eh? Did that HAMS class instill some confidence?
DHatfield	Of coarse 3/17/2008 1:33pm Steve - Those condition do make you feel a little more like a mountaineer, but it we are very use to it by now and the weather overall was terrific considering some climbs we have been on within the last few months. HAMS maybe helped a little.
susanjoypaul	I was wondering 3/17/2008 2:29pm ...how you were going to answer that one, Doug. I agree - this was a pretty typical weekend for both of us, and (for me at least) it‘s a lot more enjoyable doing these blustery winter 13er outings than scrambling up 14ers with 100 of your closest friends in the middle of August. As for HAMS - we were doing winter ascents and camping on snow before we took it the first time around, so I don‘t know if it really helped any with the confidence factor. The main reason I take HAMS is to force me to do those ”other things” I‘m not in the habit of doing: crevasse rescue practice, rope travel, ice climbing... there‘s always a peak out there waiting to be climbed, and it‘s hard for me to give up a weekend to do anything else. HAMS forces me to do those things that I wouldn‘t normally do on the weekend, but that I need a certain level of proficiency with to really be safe on the big mountains. A good day out there in the winter is like magic - the solitude, the views, the intense feeling of independence and freedom can be overwhelming at times. There are moments when I look out at layer upon layer of peaks and ridges, all frosted in clean Colorado snow, and I feel like I don‘t even deserve to be there. Untouched, pristine - amazing. Yup, Steve, it does make you feel more like a mountaineer. A very, very lucky mountaineer :-)
maverick_manley	love climbin in crappy weather... 3/18/2008 3:15pm Days like that do have the tendency to unleash the poetry . That‘s some real strong work Susan/Doug, congratulations.

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