Gore Range help!!!!

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waolsen
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Gore Range help!!!!

Post by waolsen »

Alright, I've been running a lot in the Gore Range the past few years but I have only hit one summit. I've been obsessing over a route. I'd like to link up Willow Lakes to Gore Lake. Has anyone done it? I have seen several reports of climbs from both lakes but it is still difficult to piece it together. I have a map of the area but it lacks the detail I need. Can anyone recommend a quality map? I'm going to make the attempt on Saturday. Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,
Walter
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FireOnTheMountain
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by FireOnTheMountain »

Gore lake to Red Buffalo pass then all the way around to Willow? Super ineffecient but its either that or descend Reds north face (probably a scree fest) or find a weakness in zodiac ridge. Maybe JBchalk could help you out there :wink:
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planet54
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by planet54 »

What map do you have? USGS Willow Lakes 7.5 minutes is as good as it gets. I do know that you can go south from the highest of the Willow Lakes turn west and gain the ridge on a talus slope, C2 but I have not descended the other side. On the map the contours look to be steep and doable for about a quarter mile, and then it should be a breeze for a mile and a half to Gore Lake. I would say go for it but don't cuss me if you get into some scree/talus. :)
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JohnHesse
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by JohnHesse »

A little late, but crossing just south of the Zodiac is a beautiful grassy hike. No real routefinding needed. I stayed a little high in the Gore Creek drainage and had no trouble at all getting to Gore lake.

Crossing back over to South Rock Creek from Deluge was a whole different story.
ekviatnie
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by ekviatnie »

Use http://www.caltopo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Best online, free mapping software. You can get distances, elevations, print maps of various sizes, etc.

As for your specific question, yes, it is possible to use a direct route across the zodiac spires to Gore Lake. You will not be running, but it is scrambling. Hike west of the Willow Lakes and the northern most part of the spire has a loose couloir that you can ascend. It is broken rock columns and loose, but ascent is possible. You then cross two grassy ridges and will then descend to Gore Lake. Again, get on caltopo.com and you can see the route. I will attach a sample route. Once you ascend the couloir across Zodiac Spires ridge, you have many options for gaining Gore Lake. I listed the link to the route below:

http://caltopo.com/map?id=7F7F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Real easy.
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Hornet22
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by Hornet22 »

ekviatnie, that caltopo website is awesome! Now I will never get actual work done at work. Thank you for that :-$
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Jay521
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Re: Gore Range help!!!!

Post by Jay521 »

Hornet22 wrote:ekviatnie, that caltopo website is awesome! Now I will never get actual work done at work. Thank you for that :-$
Bill Middlebrook did that to me years ago with this site. <sigh>
I take the mountain climber's approach to housekeeping - don't look down
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