Durgango Train

[AlejandraOutside]

This could be the type of thing that folks would prefer be gatekept, but heads up that tickets for the Durango train into the Chicago Basin went on sale today! That's all... but since we're here, feel free to drop any tips you have for these 4. As an under 5' person, already looking forward to (and training for!) that Sunlight summit.

[masonzastrow]

My tip for Chicago Basin: Go up the west ridge of Sunlight! I have a trip report with some details, it's a super fun alternate route that adds some great scrambling.

PS: For anyone who has sticker shock at the ticket price, the Purgatory approach is an excellent alternative!

[daway8]

Good to know. As for tips, my main one is allow yourself an extra day over what you think you need - the weather is often stormy in the basin so if lightning chases you down before you can get all 4 you'll want some margin the next day to finish up.

You can see my approach to the Sunlight summit block in my profile pic - but that method is not for the faint of heart (nor anyone without full confidence that they can stick the landing, lol)

I'm planning to go for lap 2 on the Eolus pair later on this year though at the moment I'm leaning towards giving the Purgatory approach a go just to round out the experience of these peaks since I took the train the last two times I was in the basin.

[Jorts]

"Kennedy Pass" is a good alternative also. It goes from Missionary Ridge. More vert on the return (~500 ft), more off trail, more remote, more beautiful, less mileage (Almost 15 MILES LESS ROUNDTRIP).

Maybe I'll do a TR for it at some point.

Here's the route:

https://www.strava.com/activities/9914131628

[JChitwood]

My tip is add Jupiter. Not many think about the Centennials when they’re hyperfocused on their 14er quest but it’s often the next step. Chicago Basin is such a time sucking trip and expensive if you take the train that you may regret not adding Jupiter when you’re up there. I’ve regretted it for 13 years now. You’ll probably be camping near the junction of the trail that heads up to Columbine Pass so might as well tack it on.

[WildWanderer]

My tip is add Jupiter. Not many think about the Centennials when they’re hyperfocused on their 14er quest but it’s often the next step. Chicago Basin is such a time sucking trip and expensive if you take the train that you may regret not adding Jupiter when you’re up there. I’ve regretted it for 13 years now. You’ll probably be camping near the junction of the trail that heads up to Columbine Pass so might as well tack it on.

This, and peak eleven if you're planning on going for the 13ers. It's an add on to the 14ers and on your route anyway.

[d_baker]

My tip is add Jupiter. Not many think about the Centennials when they’re hyperfocused on their 14er quest but it’s often the next step. Chicago Basin is such a time sucking trip and expensive if you take the train that you may regret not adding Jupiter when you’re up there. I’ve regretted it for 13 years now. You’ll probably be camping near the junction of the trail that heads up to Columbine Pass so might as well tack it on.

This, and peak eleven if you're planning on going for the 13ers. It's an add on to the 14ers and on your route anyway.

Peak Eleven is worth the add.
So is Glacier Pt.

[daway8]

"Kennedy Pass" is a good alternative also. It goes from Missionary Ridge. More vert on the return (~500 ft), more off trail, more remote, more beautiful, less mileage (Almost 15 MILES LESS ROUNDTRIP).

Maybe I'll do a TR for it at some point.

Here's the route:

https://www.strava.com/activities/9914131628

I love the idea of 15mi less RT but if I'm reading the elevation profile correctly (looks like the track starts at ChiBa and goes out...) then it appears that on the hike out you have to gain nearly 2,000ft in about 1.4mi with no trail. That's not my idea of fun for a return trip - especially if I was carrying camping gear (which, even with the reduced mileage, when you add on 4 peaks to that, it's still probably outside my dayhike capability - especially with a virtual wall on the return).

Compare that to Purgatory - a quick, rough skim of a file in the gpx library shows it to be about 1,000ft gain on the return spread over nearly 4mi, and all of that on a trail.

So kudos for being an absolute monster and banging out a very creative new approach but I suspect few normal humans will be tempted by that route (though there are enough insane people on this site who do entire mountain ranges in a day that it would probably have a lot of appeal if you posted a TR...).

If I somehow totally butchered the stats, let me know since I would love to have a more efficient approach without doing the train for a 3rd time.

[JerJerBinks]

Kennedy Pass??? You should totally do a TR, with a track. I can't figure out Strava. Still working off a stop watch and a sun dial over here.

As far as the train goes. I've had dreams of riding that train and backpacking in the Chicago basin before I even knew Eolus was a thing. Being chained to a schedule and predicting weather months in advance isn't really my jam though. The added miles from Purgatory are real miles, but they're about as cruiser as cruiser can get. No real gain until you meet back up with the railroad gang anyway.

If you're going for 14ers, focus on the 14ers. It's tempting to go having desert before dinner, but the 14ers are a significant amount of work. Make sure you're saving enough mental and physical gas/spoons in the tank to cover priorities. Plenty of people have had to make more than one trip to the Chicago basin just to cover those. My guess is most, if not all people who get serious, go back anyways. That said, Glacier Pt is an easy add.

Some people are strong enough to summit all four in a day, and more power to them, but that's a big day. You'd probably need a sunrise summit, perfect weather, two lunches©, and a rock star energy drink. I did two and two and didn't regret it. The upper basin is a slog, but it's absolutely gorgeous. Imo, you can't find better scenery on earth. Different, but not better. Hang out and take it in. I spent the afternoon at Twin Lakes taking in the views of the Thumbs etc with my twin bro. It's an adventure I'll remember forever. Much more than a check mark. Except N. Eolus, that's not a real 14er.

As far as the summit on Sunlight, nothing to it but to do it. Do it immediately, don't wait. Once you're on, you'll have no choice but to get off. If you can make it to the move, you can do the move. There's a difference between climbing a mountain and summiting. Be a finisher. Seal the deal. Sunlight is easier than Eolus imo.

For camping, I'd hike nearly to the singed fork in the trail where it splits to the upper basin or the pass. There's more camping up that way. It's easy to feel like you need to grab a spot lower down, but relax, there's a place for everyone. Bill's description describes it really well. Some people like to camp trail side and some people get a little more off the beaten path. There's choices. The wildlife will absolutely be looking for that salt and all the other free smells. Don't pee by your tent and don't leave smells in your tent. They are fiends. We jumped the gun and camped all the way down in the shadow of Aztec. Camping was ok, but it's better up higher. At the same time, I found myself being strangely drawn to it. Pretty sure my life won't be complete until I climb Aztec.

Bring a friend. Or make a friend, but these peaks and backpacking are always better with a bud. When mental and physical exhaustion set in, route finding and accountability are harder to do. Four eyes are better than two.

[seannunn]

Sunlight is overrated IMO. Then again I am 6 3". The last move might be a little tough if you are 5', but I still don't see it being anything terrible.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[Jorts]

"Kennedy Pass" is a good alternative also. It goes from Missionary Ridge. More vert on the return (~500 ft), more off trail, more remote, more beautiful, less mileage (Almost 15 MILES LESS ROUNDTRIP).

Maybe I'll do a TR for it at some point.

Here's the route:

https://www.strava.com/activities/9914131628

I love the idea of 15mi less RT but if I'm reading the elevation profile correctly (looks like the track starts at ChiBa and goes out...) then it appears that on the hike out you have to gain nearly 2,000ft in about 1.4mi with no trail. That's not my idea of fun for a return trip - especially if I was carrying camping gear (which, even with the reduced mileage, when you add on 4 peaks to that, it's still probably outside my dayhike capability - especially with a virtual wall on the return).

Compare that to Purgatory - a quick, rough skim of a file in the gpx library shows it to be about 1,000ft gain on the return spread over nearly 4mi, and all of that on a trail.

So kudos for being an absolute monster and banging out a very creative new approach but I suspect few normal humans will be tempted by that route (though there are enough insane people on this site who do entire mountain ranges in a day that it would probably have a lot of appeal if you posted a TR...).

If I somehow totally butchered the stats, let me know since I would love to have a more efficient approach without doing the train for a 3rd time.

It’s definitely steep. But no worse than most 14ers. Seriously one of the prettiest views imaginable looking down into Chicago Basin from the top of the pass.

[Jorts]

Here is a roundtrip comparison:
https://caltopo.com/m/JC1BUSR
The Kennedy Pass route is actually LESS elevation total roundtrip. And 14 miles less. It's an amazing route.

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