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I am looking for some good options for summits close to the front range to stay in shape on this winter.

I would love any ideas, but ideally I would like

• Max 1.5 hr drive from Denver
• Low avy danger (I do not have a beacon)
• 6-12 miles round trip from winter trail head
• reasonably easy TH access (I have a 4 runner)

From the ones I've done, Grizzly peak D & Cupid (from Loveland pass), James Peak (from St. Mary's glacier), Silverheels, Hoosier Ridge (both from Hoosier Pass) seem to fit the bill. I am sure there are many more out there.

CO mines peak from berthoud pass
Mt. Sniktau from loveland pass

both are pretty short and can be combined with other peaks along the ridges.

Woods Creek Rd is plowed all winter to the Ruby Ck TH. This gets you access to:

Woods Mtn - 12,940 feet
Parnassus, Mt - 13,574 feet
Bard Pk - 13,641 feet
Robeson Pk - 13,140 feet
Engelmann Pk - 13,362 feet

Here's a TR where Boggy B connected all of them: http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Round-trip mileage: 10.6
Total elevation gain: ~6000'

geojed wrote: Here's a TR where Boggy B connected all of them: http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.ph ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the reminder on that TR. As long as avy risk is low, I will be doing that loop this Winter.

Bummer. Monster 5 informed me of the closure of Woods Creek Rd unil next Spring due to Urad mining activity/construction.

Construction project occurring along the URAD / Woods Creek Road
Please be advised that the Climax Molybdenum Company has a construction project occurring along the URAD / Woods Creek road throughout the summer of 2012.
Because of this construction project, there will be no public access to Upper URAD Reservoir through the URAD Valley until spring of 2013.
Access will be restricted to authorized personnel only beginning June 4, 2012.
No camping is allowed on Climax lands or rights of way, and any vehicles preventing gate access will be towed at owners expense.

Guess I'll have to do this one from I-70 this Winter.

If I recall correctly, the route from I70 (Waltrous gulch, I believe) crosses a couple avy paths en route to Parnassus. You may encounter deep postholing too. Certainly keep an eye on amount of snow in that basin.

Bummer indeed. Oh well.

nkan02 wrote:If I recall correctly, the route from I70 (Waltrous gulch, I believe) crosses a couple avy paths en route to Parnassus. You may encounter deep postholing too. Certainly keep an eye on amount of snow in that basin.

Depending on conditions, I'd probably head up the SE ridge of PT12,805 and hit it first to avoid those avy paths and then traverse to Woods/Parnassus/Bard. We'll see what this Winter brings!

Not Front Range, and it is at the upper limit of 1.5hr drive time, but the West Ridge of Atlantic is a fun one. Mayflower Gulch TH is at 11,000ft. Plus if you get to Atlantic's summit for sunrise you get this incredible view.

I put this list up a few months back. I'll leave the Sawatch peaks in to help anyone who might have a wider travel radius. Good luck.

These will go in the snowy season:

Twin Sisters
Estes Cone
Flattop-Hallett
Chief-Squaw-Papoose
Grizzly-Sniktau-Cupid
Lady W
Mines-Eva-Flora-Parry
Bald
Boreas
Peak 10
Peak 9
Northstar
Tweto
Mosquito-Treasurevault-London-Repeater
Evans B (13,577)
Quandary
Sherman
Decalibron from Moose Creek
Elbert
Pikes from Crags
Bierstadt
Evans
Square Top
Gray Wolf
Grays and Torreys (assess the slopes of Kelso)
Rogers and Warren (assess the slopes near Goliath)
La Plata (winter variation)
Fitzpatrick/12780
Tincup Peak and the adjacent unnamed 13er
Yale
Whale
Horseshoe
Buckskin via Loveland Mountain

I see you live in Castle Rock. If you do not need a "big mountain, high altitude experience"...and are just looking for a quick calorie burn to keep in shape...consider Mt. Herman, right here in Monument. It is my "go to" mountain when I want to stretch out the legs. I've climbed it somewhere between 30 or 40 times...lost count. All the maps and books list only one trail... the standard trail from up Mt. Herman Rd. Avoid that ... it is too easy, as you drive off half the elevation gain. I have sniffed out 10 different routes. That keeps it fresh. The ones from the east side are the best. Short but plenty steep. 1,700 verts in a mile. Some offer a little scrambling. You have to poke around a bit to find them, but that just adds to the fun. There are options in the area to add verts and or mileage for a bigger workout. It is a great little mountain to climb for a quick fix, that doesn't consume more than half a day.