6/16/2024 Route: East and West Ridges (to 12,582) Posted On: 6/17/2024, By: supranihilest Info: From Pico we scrambled the west ridge to a wide, west-facing gully down to the saddle with 13,028. There was some minor scrambling at about Class 3 to reach the saddle, but it could probably be avoided if one desired. From the saddle 13,028 is a walkup. If you are not adding 12,582 to back down to the east and down the slopes between 13,028 and Pico Aislado. We also added 12,582 since it's ranked. Gaining the first ridge bump beyond 13,028 is easy at Class 2, then the ridge gets rougher. There's some Class 3ish scrambling along little gendarmes and through cliffs to reach the final pitch up 12,582, but it could probably be avoided by dropping to the south. The last pitch up 12,582 is Class 2+ on large boulders. The entire distance from 13,028 to 12,582 is on tedious talus and boulders so be mindful of time. To descend 12,582 we backtracked a little and went down the moderate looking ridge to the southeast. These directions don't really make sense for descending 13,028 and I don't know what the best descent route is for that peak, but if you do 12,582 then the ridge to the southeast works well enough. For the most part it's an extremely dense aspen forest where the trees are small and grow very close together. There's also ridiculous amounts of deadfall. Another bushwhack that isn't hard, really, just tedious beyond words. For the most part the ridge crest worked fine, we only deviated west towards the bottom as it became easier than staying on the ridge. We still had the vast majority of the trail and bushwhack to get down but it was a lot easier and faster downhill than up. The road back to the trailhead goes uphill and is sandy so a nice little kick in the seat of the pants at the end of an already large beatdown. |
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9/18/2021 Route: From 13,020-Pico Saddle Posted On: 9/18/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP Info: It's hard to pass up this easy ranked peak when you're already at this saddle coming or going from Pico Aislado. A short scramble of about 350 vertical feet is all it takes to get up here. |
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9/10/2019 Route: Milwaukee->Pico Aislado->13020 A from Sand Lakes Posted On: 9/13/2019, By: JasonKline Info: Dry for now, but that might not last long. The descent north from 13020 A is steep, loose talus. |
