Peak C Trip Report 08/08/2010

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	"Peak C" - 13,228 feet Mt. Powell - 13,556 feet
Date Posted	08/08/2010
Date Climbed	08/07/2010
Author	Layne Bracy

C & B
6am: Piney River Ranch TH, 9300' 10:35am: Peak C, 13220' 2:25pm: Mt Powell, 13580; 6pm: TH ~11.5mi/6000'/12hrs Mt Powell & Pk C from Piney Lake Much thanks to Aaron Johnson, whose work on Summitpost was very helpful! I drove the washboarded, potholed 11-mile road to the Piney River Ranch and started hiking at 6am. When the lake first came into view, I couldn't believe my eyes! Moose - my first sighting in Colorado! They paid me no attention as I watched them bottom-feed for 15 minutes. Moose at Piney Lake Within another hour, I came to the cairn and spur trail that leads left towards Knee Knocker Saddle. The valley is lush with vegetation, contrasting with the rugged peaks. Flowers above Piney River Just when I was getting self-congratulatory for staying on trail, I lost the trail. I then headed up the slopes left of the river, thinking the trail wouldn't go right up the cliffy area around the stream. As I found out on the return, the trail does stay very close to the stream. However, marsh, overgrowth, and some jumps in the trail made me think it would take some practice to stay on trail on the ascent. Mushrooms above Piney River Piney Lake & River Eventually, I contoured back towards the valley center, reaching the trail again. I had not yet decided whether to do Mt Powell or Peak C, thinking I'd just see where my feet took me. The scrambler in me won out over the highpointer, and I found myself ascending the gully towards Peak C's west ridge. I used the gully on the right on the next photo, the closer one to the TH. 2 Gullies leading to Pk C's West Ridge Later, when I saw both gullies from above, they looked very similar, so probably the left one would work fine as well. The same gullies from above and east View north from Pk C West Ridge Reaching the west ridge, I was paid with great views. A few high-altitude Gore mosquitos visited me at 12000', so I pressed on. View south from Pk C West Ridge I traversed over near the next gully on the ridge, then contoured over to the ascent gully. I suppose there are many different variations to attain the summit. The next photo shows the large gully I traversed to, with an imposing wall on its right. The subsequent two photos are views up that gully. From the west ridge, the gully to ascend higher on Pk C starts at bottom right Looking up gully I used to get high on C At the reddish rocks, I escaped left out of the gully to the grassy tundra and climbed to the summit. After escaping out of the gully, I made my way up a rocky slope, at times loose. On the descent, I decided I would have done better getting farther to climber's left, where terrain is more solid. I topped out at 10:35am, soaking in the Gore scenery. Mt Powell from Pk C Alpine lake and view SE into the Gores Piney Lake from Pk C southern Ripshaw Ridge French bread & Jalapeno Havarti - brunch of champions! I broke out some food, then called Amy, telling her I would probably be heading back. However, as I sat and ate, I felt strength coming back, and the skies were not threatening. I descended back to the high basin, then found myself contouring over to the trail heading up to Knee Knocker Saddle. I was at 11,500', meaning I had over 2000' of vertical to get Powell. The trail to the saddle was very solid and steep - great for ascent, though not so pleasant to descend. Mt Powell from Knee Knocker Saddle From the saddle, I could see the slopes of Mt Powell. I descended 50-100' to bypass cliffs, then started the trudge up Mt Powell. Only class 2, I still stopped every 10-15 minutes to rest, and was happy to make the summit after nearly 4 hours from Peak C! Eagles Nest from Powell Pk C from Powell At the summit, I met a fearless pika, who even nipped at the bottle by my feet. Powell Pika The descent took me over 3 hours. Only back at the main Piney River Trail did I see three hikers and then many folks at the lake. A beautiful day alone in the Gores! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

C & B

6am: Piney River Ranch TH, 9300'
10:35am: Peak C, 13220'
2:25pm: Mt Powell, 13580;
6pm: TH
~11.5mi/6000'/12hrs

Much thanks to Aaron Johnson, whose work on Summitpost was very helpful! I drove the washboarded, potholed 11-mile road to the Piney River Ranch and started hiking at 6am. When the lake first came into view, I couldn't believe my eyes! Moose - my first sighting in Colorado! They paid me no attention as I watched them bottom-feed for 15 minutes.

Within another hour, I came to the cairn and spur trail that leads left towards Knee Knocker Saddle. The valley is lush with vegetation, contrasting with the rugged peaks.

Just when I was getting self-congratulatory for staying on trail, I lost the trail. I then headed up the slopes left of the river, thinking the trail wouldn't go right up the cliffy area around the stream. As I found out on the return, the trail does stay very close to the stream. However, marsh, overgrowth, and some jumps in the trail made me think it would take some practice to stay on trail on the ascent.

Eventually, I contoured back towards the valley center, reaching the trail again. I had not yet decided whether to do Mt Powell or Peak C, thinking I'd just see where my feet took me. The scrambler in me won out over the highpointer, and I found myself ascending the gully towards Peak C's west ridge. I used the gully on the right on the next photo, the closer one to the TH.

Later, when I saw both gullies from above, they looked very similar, so probably the left one would work fine as well.

Reaching the west ridge, I was paid with great views. A few high-altitude Gore mosquitos visited me at 12000', so I pressed on.

I traversed over near the next gully on the ridge, then contoured over to the ascent gully. I suppose there are many different variations to attain the summit. The next photo shows the large gully I traversed to, with an imposing wall on its right. The subsequent two photos are views up that gully.

From the west ridge, the gully to ascend higher on Pk C starts at bottom right

Looking up gully I used to get high on C

At the reddish rocks, I escaped left out of the gully to the grassy tundra and climbed to the summit.

After escaping out of the gully, I made my way up a rocky slope, at times loose. On the descent, I decided I would have done better getting farther to climber's left, where terrain is more solid. I topped out at 10:35am, soaking in the Gore scenery.

French bread & Jalapeno Havarti - brunch of champions!

I broke out some food, then called Amy, telling her I would probably be heading back. However, as I sat and ate, I felt strength coming back, and the skies were not threatening.

I descended back to the high basin, then found myself contouring over to the trail heading up to Knee Knocker Saddle. I was at 11,500', meaning I had over 2000' of vertical to get Powell. The trail to the saddle was very solid and steep - great for ascent, though not so pleasant to descend.

From the saddle, I could see the slopes of Mt Powell. I descended 50-100' to bypass cliffs, then started the trudge up Mt Powell. Only class 2, I still stopped every 10-15 minutes to rest, and was happy to make the summit after nearly 4 hours from Peak C!

At the summit, I met a fearless pika, who even nipped at the bottle by my feet.

The descent took me over 3 hours. Only back at the main Piney River Trail did I see three hikers and then many folks at the lake. A beautiful day alone in the Gores!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

kaiman	Thanks for the beta... 8/8/2010 6:02pm I haven't climbed Mount Powell in years and was thinking of a return trip to climb it along with Peak C, maybe in September... Congrats on a great climb and trip report!
kimo	Good to see some of the Gore Range 8/9/2010 5:44am Thanks for posting.
Layne Bracy	Thanks, guys. 8/9/2010 6:42pm I haven't been disappointed with the Gores yet and try to get there every year!
Presto	Nice ... 8/11/2010 8:58pm I love Peak C ... would go do that one again in a heartbeat (we spent the night in that high basin below the gulley you ascended). So cool that you got to see moose! Thanks for posting. Happy trails! :D
Brian C	Yum! 8/23/2010 2:48pm Love the bread and cheese! No point in just eating ”hiking food” out there.
Matt	Another fine TR from the Gores 1/19/2011 3:38am ”The scrambler in me won out over the highpointer” That sounds like a tough choice to me, but one that worked out pretty well in the end. Thanks for posting a TR that's got plenty of value, and not a single ”hero” shot. Strong work!

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