Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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9patrickmurphy
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by 9patrickmurphy »

The train is fun! It goes choo choo. What's not to love? I'd recommend taking the train for anyone who's never been to the area as it's a unique experience, but I have no intention of taking it again for all the reasons listed above.

What a lovely area, you're going to have a great time.
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mmcgarity
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by mmcgarity »

Thanks everyone!

Great advice and your thoughts and opinions are getting me pretty excited to take this trip. I tend to move faster than some folks, but have some speed and conditioning restrictions from the folks who are going with me.

Honestly, I've never looked at the Purgatory trail to hike in. I'll study that this week and think about it. I really appreciate that idea / option. I fully intend to carry enough food to stay an extra day. I've been caught out on trips that took an extra day so I know an extra freeze dry meal or 2 is lightweight insurance.

Thanks again!!
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by mtnkub »

And bring info on the route for Jupiter with you, just in case.
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by ltlFish99 »

The only time I was there, in a Late August, we took the train to needleton, hiked into camp.
Next day partner and I hiked windom.
partner was not comfortable with going to Sunlight for whatever reason.
So I hiked Sunlight myself.
Next day partner still had no interest in any other 14ers. She said she was leaving at noon, with or without me to make sure she meet the train on time.

So I got up EARLY to hike the eoluses, descended to camp by 11:30 to meet partner pack, and hike out.
Got to needleton early enough to dip a shirt in the river to sponge bathe some dirt and sweat off, then train showed up.
I agree another day would have been nice, as it is very beautiful and Jupiter would have been fun on an extra day.
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by chicagostylehotdog »

I just checked the train website and it's a huge bummer to see this:
There are no southbound stops at Needleton for departures from Silverton.
When we did it, that was an option. We drove from Denver to Silverton on day 1, grabbed the afternoon train and hiked in. On day 2, we hit all 4 14ers (long day). On day 3, we hiked out, caught the morning train back to Silverton, and drove home to Denver. Really efficient way to do it.

I'm also not seeing anything specifically about it on the website, but I believe you can flag the train and get picked up from Needleton on any day (not just the day you reserve). Something worth double checking, but it gives you the option to plan for 5 days, but leave on day 4 if the weather cooperates and you finish everything you were trying to do up there.
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by DaveLanders »

chicagostylehotdog wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 5:07 pm I just checked the train website and it's a huge bummer to see this:
There are no southbound stops at Needleton for departures from Silverton.
When we did it, that was an option. We drove from Denver to Silverton on day 1, grabbed the afternoon train and hiked in. On day 2, we hit all 4 14ers (long day). On day 3, we hiked out, caught the morning train back to Silverton, and drove home to Denver. Really efficient way to do it.
There were 2 more advantages to this. One, you didn't need a reservation because the afternoon trains always have lots of empty seats. So you could time your trip based on the weather forecast. Second, you could park for free at the train depot in Silverton.

Please note: it's not the train's fault that this restriction is in place. Instead this has been imposed by the Forest Service. It's this kind of nonsense that erodes public support for the Forest Service.
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by nyker »

I'd add my vote for doing it from Purgatory, hike in day one and take your time. 2+2 peaks is a good target if things go as planned. If things don't go as planned, due to weather or health or something else, then give yourself another day and you're not wed to the schedule of a train.
The hike in and out is flat and very nice and gives you time to reflect on your time up high and move at your own pace in a beautiful area.

Have fun!
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by justiner »

DaveLanders wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 6:48 pm Please note: it's not the train's fault that this restriction is in place. Instead this has been imposed by the Forest Service. It's this kind of nonsense that erodes public support for the Forest Service.
Were the restrictions put in place as part of the $20 million settlement with the D&S RR in regards to the 416 Fire, a fire that at the time was the State's 6th largest in its history?
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by DaveLanders »

justiner wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 11:46 pm
DaveLanders wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 6:48 pm Please note: it's not the train's fault that this restriction is in place. Instead this has been imposed by the Forest Service. It's this kind of nonsense that erodes public support for the Forest Service.
Were the restrictions put in place as part of the $20 million settlement with the D&S RR in regards to the 416 Fire, a fire that at the time was the State's 6th largest in its history?
I think it's a result of the quota on how many people per day the train is allowed to drop off at Needleton. The fire changed some of the train's operations but the quota has more to do with overuse in Chicago Basin. The Forest Service could have split the quota between people coming from Durango and people coming from Silverton but chose not to do that.
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Re: Looking for thoughts on Chicago Basin trip in August 2025

Post by Ptglhs »

I opted for hiking rather than the train. This was in 2018.

Day 1 drive down and hike to near where the train would have dropped someone off. About 8.5 miles and it goes very fast (I did the hike in less than 3 hours).

Day 2 hike into the basin. It's about 6.5 miles but 3k vertical gain. I broke the approach into 2 days so I could rest a bit. Got in to camp about 2pm and took it easy.

Day 3 sunlight and windom.

Day 4 Eolus and N Eolus. My plan had been to hike back to my campsite from day 1 and then hike out on day 5 but I was making decent enough time that I just pushed it. It was a long day of about 19 miles and 4500ft of gain iirc. Breaking it up into 2 days would be better: either just doing the peaks and hiking the 15 miles out in 1 day, of stopping somewhere along the way.

Backpacking is cheaper, and there's no pressure to meet a trains schedule. If neither of those reasons is an issues for you, then choo-choo-cha-choo.