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Mount Lincoln

 West Ridge
Difficulty Class 2 
Risk FactorsExposure: Moderate
Rockfall Potential: Moderate  
Route-Finding: Low  
Commitment: Low  
 
TrailheadKite Lake
Start12,000 feet
Summit14,293 feet
Total Gain2,600 feet
RT Length6 miles
AuthorBillMiddlebrook
Last UpdatedOct 2022
DownloadsgpxGPX Track
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Trailhead

Take Colorado 9 to Alma. In the middle of town and on the west side of the road, look for a small sign for the road to Kite Lake. It's across the road from the "Caniglia Real Estate" building. Turn here and drive a bit through a residential area. Continue 6 miles to Kite Lake. The last mile of this road can be a bit more rough, but a good-clearance 2WD should still be able to make it to within a couple hundred yards of the TH lot, when the road is dry. There are restrooms and some camping spots at the trailhead. You must pay a $5 fee to park/camp at Kite Lake. If you park below, walk up the road to Kite Lake.

Route

From the parking area, follow the blocked road past the lake. After the lake, begin the ascent out of the basin - 1 and 2. Near 12,200', pass a collapsed mine shack - 3. At 12,600' ( 4), follow the trail up a rugged slope ( 5) to reach the base of Mt. Democrat's east slope - 6. Near 12,800', the trail swings left (south) for a bit before turning right and heading north across the east slope, to reach the Democrat-Cameron saddle - 7 and 8.

From the saddle, turn right and follow the trail along the right side of Mt. Cameron's west ridge - 9 and 10. After some hiking below the ridge crest, the trail swings left to regain the ridge near 13,500' - 11 and 12. Continue along the ridge to 14,000' where the steepness eases and you can see the remaining hike to Cameron's summit - 13. Pass a bump on the left side and walk up to the top of Cameron - 14.

15 shows the next leg of the hike over to Mt. Lincoln. Leave Cameron and descend northeast to the Cameron-Lincoln saddle - 16. Follow the trail past a bump ( 17) to see Lincoln's summit - 18. Walk over to the final, Class 2 pitch ( 19) and gain the summit - 20.

Notes

None
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20

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