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"Mascot" Peak 13,435
~3.9 Miles, ~4,000 gain.
April 22, 2009
After some brutal runs, and waking up at 3:30 AM for the past few days for work, I was looking for something that was going to have little snow and would be short. Yales' less traveled neighbor Mascot Peak was perfect. I slept in until 4:30 AM and started my two hour drive to Buena Vista. I parked at a bend in the road directly south of the summit at 9,560. Since my route was south facing, I left my snowshoes in the car and started up the steep south face around 6:50 AM.
I was a bit stiff at first, but eventually loosened up. I slowly gained elevation and didn't reach any snow until ~11,000 feet. I avoided the patches of snow the best I could but inevitability I had to start on the snow. Fortunately, it was well packed and easy going until ~11,600 where the mountain levels out a bit. Ok, it's not as brutally steep. At this point, the snow was starting to soften up and every few steps I took was a deep post hole. Luckily, that didn't last long, and I was out of the snow and on the rocky ridge at ~12,000.
Now that I was out of the snow, I made great time up the class 2 talus south ridge and reached the summit around 9:45 AM. The view of Yale was great and the weather was perfect. When I started down back in the snow, the snow had softened significantly and most of my steps were post holes but again, it was short lived and I arrived back at the car around 11:15. This peak made for a great spring climb without much snow and its easy access; however, it might have been more enjoyable to climb Yale and then sneak over to Mascot.
Less steep part of the south ridge.
Out of the snow.
Yale from the summit.
Princeton from the summit.
East and West Buffalo from the summit.
Looking down the ridge.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I like to see some less commonly summited peaks on here - gives me something to think about!
Thanks!
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