Log In 
 Peak:  Sunlight Peak
 Route:  South Face
 Range:  San Juan
 Posted By:  HikesInGeologicTime
 Date of Info:  6/29/2022
 Date Posted:  6/30/2022
Details

Approach trail to Chicago Basin is clear of deadfall, but there Sunday's monsoon surge created a washout that has potential to become a full-blown gully for about 1000' ~2 miles below the basin (edit: attached example photo taken by daway8). Trail from basin to start of the ascent to Twin Lakes has running water and mud for a significant portion.

There is a brief snow crossing above the headwall, but traction isn't a necessity there. Approach to the saddle consists largely of either frozen mud or liquid mud depending on whether the sun has risen high enough yet. The remaining bit of scrambling is dry.

Summit block is just as intimidating as pictures and video make it look, but if you're with professionals who have ropes and know how to use them, it's doable even for the faint hearted.



#1


Comments or Questions
Skimo95
Nice job Geo!
7/1/2022 6:45am
I really think ropes are overkill for Sunlight, but whatever it takes right?! Congrats on getting it done


MountainBuhn
User
Wash out
7/1/2022 8:07am
Any pics of the wash out? Is it on a steep side trail so it makes crossing it rather sketchy, or is it just a flat ditch that needs to be climbed down into and out of?


HikesInGeologicTime
User
Washout
7/1/2022 8:54am
Added a picture my partner took of the washout area. A lot of the worst can be avoided by hiking to one side or the other as I was doing in that photo, but we did have to climb in and out a few times.

And thanks Skimo!


MountainBuhn
User
Thanks
7/1/2022 10:31am
Thanks for the pic! Yeah not really sketchy unless you‘re not expecting it in the dark lol


HikesInGeologicTime
User
My pleasure!
7/1/2022 11:28am
Yeah, it really is more annoying than treacherous right now (although there‘s been enough rain over the past few days + even more in the forecast that I could see it getting uglier in a hurry), but it‘s still enough of an unpleasant surprise no matter which way you‘re carrying a heavy pack across it that it seemed worth mentioning.



   Not registered?