Route Description

From the junction of U.S. 285 and U.S. 24, south of Buena Vista, drive 5.5 miles south on U.S. 285 and turn right (west) on Chaffee County Road 162 - towards Mt. Princeton. Drive almost 12.5 miles on this road (dirt after 10 miles) to reach the signed Baldwin Gulch Jeep Road on the left (also listed as the 277 Road). If you plan on parking here, there are plenty of pull-offs along the road. This is the lower trailhead. Short, high-clearance 4WD vehicles can drive up the 277 road. Above the river crossing (10,850'), there are dispersed camping spots along the side of the road.

Details:

Start up the #277 jeep road - Photo #1. Snow usually covers portions of this road in early June. Even in mid-June, you may not be able to drive above 11,500'. The road is fairly steep in portions but can be driven with a small 4WD vehicle. Hike/drive 3 miles to a road junction at 10,850' - Photo #2. Turn left on the #278 road and cross the stream in Baldwin Creek - Photo #3. Continue another mile to tree line (Photo #4) on this rough road. You can now see the road as it climbs the slopes west of Antero. Taken from the northwest, Photo #5 and Photo #6 show the area. Above tree line, and near 12,000', continue on the road as it switchbacks up a slope southwest of Antero.

Hike up the road as zigzags up the west side of Point 13,800' - Photo #7, Photo #8 and Photo #9. Near 12,800', there is a long section of the road that heads south and gradually ascends (Photo #10) to 13,100' on the crest of a ridge - Photo #11. Once on the ridge, your next goal is to reach the top of Point 13,800', and you have two options (Photo #12, Photo #14):
1) Leave the road, and hike east/northeast directly to the top of Point 13,800' - Photo #12: If you intend to use the shortcut option, it's important to leave the road while still on the SW ridge - Photo #4. After leaving the road, there’s a couple hundred feet of easy terrain and then 500' of talus hopping to reach the top.
2) Follow the road to the top of Point 13,800' (Photo #13): For this option, simply hike east on what is now the 278A road. Stay left on 278A at a junction - Photo #15. Continue east to 13,200' on the east side of the point and stay left on 278A at another junction - Photo #16. Follow the road as it zigzags up the south side of Point 13,800' - Photo #17 and Photo #18. Near 13,700', reach the end of the road, near the top of Point 13,800' - Photo #19 and Photo #20.

It may be slightly longer, but Option #2 is easier. Taken from the south, Photo #14 shows the two options.

From the top of Point 13,800', Antero's summit is visible, but you must first cross the ridge between Point 13,800' and Antero - Photo #21 and Photo #22. Begin hiking along the ridge - Photo #23. In late spring, snow may cover the small trail along the east side of this area. Hike along the ridge to reach the final, 400-foot summit pitch - Photo #24. As seen in the photo, there's a trail that ascends right of the ridge crest and then traverses across the upper south slope before turning left to climb to the summit. The start of this trail is a bit rugged, washed out and braided, but gets better near the middle of the slope. Your other option is to stay near the ridge crest and climb directly toward the summit. The trail may disappear a few times but the route is fairly obvious - Photo #25. Since the initial section of the old trail (on the right) has become more confusing over the years, many climbers use the more direct route, straight up the ridge. Photo #26 and Photo #27 look down the pitch. Photo #28 looks north from the summit.