6/27/2021 Route: From Chicago Basin Posted On: 7/3/2021, By: MC.Ikema Info: One small snow field crossing (15-20 ft) to reach the rocks to ridge. We found a great old miners path traversing from near the Columbine Pass trail to 12,600 (just below the low point in the ridge). This trail ends at an old pit mine and leaves you 600 ft. shy of the ridge with only Class 2 talus hopping to the top. From there you can keep Aztec's east ridge Class 2+ if you stay low on the south side of the ridge (climbers left as you ascend). |
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10/9/2020 Route: From Columbine Lake Posted On: 10/11/2020, By: WildWanderer Info: Summer conditions. |
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9/5/2020 Route: Endlich Mesa Approach + Southwest Ridge Posted On: 9/7/2020, By: supranihilest Info: Beware the drive up to Endlich Mesa Trailhead sucks. It's 10 miles of extremely rough road and slow going. From the trailhead the trail's generally easy to follow and cairned very well. It ascends gradually above treeline and then drops steeply towards City Reservoir, which is darn near dry right now. We camped at the upper end of City Reservoir near the confluence of two streams. To get to Silver Mesa and West Silver Mesa for the 13ers from Kennedy/Aztec through Valois, continue on the Endlich Mesa Trail as it climbs out of Crystal Valley/Florida River drainage. Before it reaches Trimble Pass veer northwest. We left the trail near the Pittsburg Mine, which is kind of neat and worth finding - it's literally a square hole in the ground, we couldn't see the bottom of it (don't fall in). Continue northwest until you're under Aztec and either ascend directly up steep grass broken up by cliffs (Class 2+ to Class 3) or go to the Kennedy/Aztec saddle and up that way (Class 2+). We didn't traverse the ridge to Bullion Mountain, opting to drop back into the valley, but apparently the ridge is tedious. |
