12ers near BV

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justinae
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12ers near BV

Post by justinae »

Hi. I'm headed to BV late August to do a few 14ers, but will have some folks looking for lighter fare stuff. Are there any 12ers near BV, or even better, use either Missouri Gulch or Denny Creek TH?

thanks!
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supranihilest
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Re: 12ers near BV

Post by supranihilest »

Here's a map of 12ers in the state: https://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/gmape.php?s=CO&e=12

There aren't any starting from Missouri Gulch or Denny Creek specifically, but there are a number in the Buena Vista area. I haven't done too many there, but can recommend Point 12,580 C and Wander Ridge from Cottonwood Pass, both of which are an easy stroll, and I also enjoyed Jones Mountain North, which you can access from Ptarmigan Lake trailhead or County Road 344 (easy 4WD) and Grassy Gulch (rough 4WD or hike the road). The latter's a bit of off-trail work but nothing crazy, and no scrambling involved.
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Re: 12ers near BV

Post by Chicago Transplant »

From Denny Creek where the trail splits off to Yale they could keep going up the Browns Pass trail and climb unnamed 12955. Trail all the way to treeline at the pass, then they would follow the ridge to the summit. https://listsofjohn.com/peak/855

Or as noted above, drive to Cottonwood Pass for 12580/Wander Ridge, or the opposite side of the pass for 12581 and Turner. Turner is a 13er, but Cottonwood Pass is at over 12k so with the high trailhead is not much effort. I would think it would qualify as "lighter fare" given the high trailhead, but they would have to reclimb 12581 on the way back to the car, but still only about 2200' of elevation gain total.
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justinae
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Re: 12ers near BV

Post by justinae »

Thank you for the suggestions and map!
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Scott P
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Re: 12ers near BV

Post by Scott P »

Birthday Peak and other 12ers are fairly close to Columbia and Harvard.
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