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"...
Class: 1 on the approach, 2 to 2+ on the peaks.
Exposure: minimal unless you cross right on the connecting ridge
Total gain: ROUGHLY 3400'
Time Not pushing myself: 2.5hrs to E buffalo, 1hr to West, 2.5hrs back to start.
Most of the Mosquito's have a pretty similar character, the Buffalo's however really don't even feel like they belong. While most of the range are on a pretty much continuous ridge on the edge of a fold that makes southpark the Buffalo's are volcanic in origin, and isolated from the rest of the range.
These peaks are a great climb, and offer the best summit view of the Sawatch Range I've yet seen.
Hopefully I can describe the route well enough as to be some help.
Armed with only a topo and a very basic description of the route I headed down US 285 to Forest Road 431. It's roughly 12 miles south of Fairplay and getting close to the junction with US 24.
Follow the road up just over 8 miles where you go around a tighter turn and you'll see an unofficial campsite with some room to park. Just a little back you'll see the remains of an old road blocked by a gate. This is where I started. "Trailhead" Sorry its blurry.
Head down the road a short ways where you'll encounter a single track that goes up the hill to the left. Follow it until crossing an other old road until you hit a very prominent old road. Staying on the other road MIGHT also work but I'm not positive where it goes. The old road
Follow the old road all the way to its end. Some smaller roads intersect, but stay on the most defined one and you'll be fine. The road ends in the trees just before a clearing (though you can't see a clearing at this point). If you have a GPS (I didn't) this might be a good place to add a waypoint as you can't see the road on your descent. The end of the road
Head south up hill to a clearing. The peaks are well in view. Some short bushwacking through willows gets you to a nice grassy slope. Rocks or Willows, your pick.
From here head up to the low point east of E Buffalo Pk. E Buffalo. Hike to saddle on the left
Once reaching the low point head up the "backside" of E Buffalo to the summit. Its class 2 to upper class 2 from this point out until you're off W Buffalo. The route is not that difficult, but the boulder field terrain takes some time. backside of E Buffalo
Some great views to the east and all around is your reward (though the best west views are yet to come). Antero Res. Pikes on horizon
Heading over to W Buffalo is the worst terrain of the hike. I hiked a little down from the ridge on the S side (the north side is a sheer face). W Buff from East Buff Looking back at EB from lowpoint on connecting ridge On the ridge.
From the top of W Buffalo you get an amazing view of the entire Sawatch Range as well as a great view of the Arkansas River Valley. With the possible exceptions of Belford, Missouri and Huron every 14er in the Sawatch is visible. It was a very hazy day when I climbed and I could still make them out.
From WB. Arkansas Valley, Shavano and Tab., Antero, Princton Princton, Yale, Columbia, Harvard Harvard, Missouri, Huron in back?, La Plata, Elbert Elbert, Massive, Holy Cross barely visible on right EB from WB Buena Vista
The return. One option would to be returning the way you came, but it makes a lot more sense to make a loop out of it. Head west off W Buffalo's summit to where it flattens out a bit and start looping your way back to the end of the old road.
Descending WB's west slope The way back. See the road you came in on? I couldn't either
There is no trail, and going "blind" through the woods is required, but thankfully there is little undergrowth so not much bushwacking, just a lot of log hopping. And there are some excellent pack trails to follow. Thanks Elk!
Pack trail Thanks for the trails guys! First yellow leaves where the single track hits the road
Going straight to the old road would take you down to a creek than back up again. To avoid un-needed gain I recommend dropping to around 11650' and going around the rim gradually dropping. As long as you drop to 11500 by the time you are north of E Buffalo you'll hit the road. If you drop lower you'll just hit it further down. The topo map does show another closed road, that leads back at an even lower elevation, but I can't speak for it.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
5-star trip report! This is the very climb and route that I've thought about doing for a few weeks, but I was unsure about the route. Your information and photos are very helpful!
Awesome Tour de Buffalo TR.......I have looked at these peaks for a while and wanted to learn more info on the two........thank you so much for the info....
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.
