Ervin, but Shockingly Not Blaurock

My plans for the weekend were up in the air. But Brad McQueen invited me to hike Ervin and Blaurock on Sunday. Once my plans finally solidified, I told him I’d join him.

Andrew Gagnon was also going. That was great. We have talked about hiking together for two years. When we were both about to finish the 58, we tried to connect on a few of the same peaks we needed. The schedules never worked out. Though we have hung out a few times.

Andrew was in the Gores on Saturday, and Brad had a family birthday to celebrate. I hit the Sawatch on Saturday afternoon for a sunset hike of Mountain Boy and Igloo. Then drove over to Winfield and parked near the cemetery to meet them in the morning.

Brad and Andrew were driving from Denver and said they’d be there around 7 a.m. Nice. I got to sleep in a bit.

They drove in. I jumped in Brad’s vehicle and we drove up the road a bit, just past the multi-directional sign post and parked. That put us near the slope that would lead us to Ervin first. It’s the slope on the right if you’re look up at the saddle.

It was a bushwhack. No amount of tree photos with arrows would show the way. Andrew kept an eye on his phone map and waypoints and led the way... UP HILL. It was all up hill. We passed a cabin at one point in the trees, nice looking place for a get away or hunting.

Up the slope, through trees and rocks. Saw several varieties of flowers along the way.

I was sweating. Like dripping sweat. The humidity was up a bit that morning and it kept it moist. There was also a bit of patchy cloud cover in the area.

Had to stop once to put on bug spray. Mosquitoes were out!

Once above treeline, it was a rock hop for a while. Then, it became real rocky, cracked ridge. Andrew stopped to put on his helmet. Helmet? I should have read the other TRs better. Brad said he should have grabbed his at the house when he saw Andrew had his. But Brad lucked out, as his helmet was surprisingly in his backpack. It was left in there from another recent hike. I put on sunscreen and ball cap just to have something on my head.

Up we went, weaving “in and out” and “up and down” the rocky Class 2+ slope. The Ervin summit was easily seen to our right. A summit cairn was some sticks of lumber showed the way. Soon we were at the summit ridge. To our left and below was the saddle to Blaurock. To our right, a fun scramble awaited us.

The ridge proper goes, for the most part. We stayed high as much as we could. We dropped down once or twice to the right, but only for short distances. There were a few airy moves, but nothing above Class 3. Near the summit, there is saddle or gab in the ridge. We down climbed to the right, just before it. (Brad played on a high point, but didn’t need it for access.) From the gap, you could go up a gully on the right, or short gully and rocky patch to the left. They meet up just before the top.

After nearly three hours (2:52) we reach the top. On the summit we signed the register, took pictures of the surround peaks, talked about routes and summits we’ve been or wanted to be on. We grabbed quick snacks, but didn’t linger as we knew there was a good chance of rain today. There were some clouds building, but nothing very threatening (YET).

Back across the summit ridge, we talked about COVID and political views. The three of us differ on a lot of things, but we were able to talk about, discuss our reasons. Like real civil people before social media.

Once back across the ridge, we descended toward the real saddle between the peaks. More rocks to negotiate. Occasionally there was a sign of path, but not more than a few feet at a time. During this time, Andrew talked to us about his move to Colorado, his current and former work, including his degree in meteorology.

Just 45 minutes from the summit of Ervin, we were at the 13,120 saddle (at the 3:37 mark). At this point, we realized the clouds were building faster than expected. But it looked like we still had time to reach the summit of Blaurock. Thunder in the distance, but nothing close.

Well, another .35 miles, 356 feet of gain and 18 minutes later, we had a change of heart.

My trekking poles shocked me!

I had to think about that for just a moment. Did that just happen? Was I about to get hit by lightning?

I tossed my poles like they were wiggling snakes.

Nearly 20 years ago, I was standing 15 feet away from a tree that was struck by lightning. I'm not a fan of being that close again.

Andrew and Brad were a little bit in front of me, just on the other side of a rise. I started yelling and whistling. I scrambled up as fast as I could to get their attention. (Side Note: if you hear your partner yelling/whistling/etc. go check on them.)

I told them my poles just shocked me. I think it took a moment for them to realize what I said. They checked the sky. Checked the map stats on their phones. Could we make it? Was it worth it?

About that time, Andrew lifted his hand and stared at his forearm. My forearm tingled as the hair began to rise. This was no Spidey sense we were having.

“I’m done,” Andrew said and instantly started walking my way.

And just like that, 100 and some feet below the summit of our second peak of the day, we turned around. We still had another 1,500 feet in distance to travel on uneven ground to reach the top.

I was hesitant to pick up my trekking poles, but I knew I would want them on the steep slope, especially with wet rocks and grass. Down we went, as quickly as we could. Graupel started falling. None of us stopped to put on a rain jacket. (I wasn’t getting any more wet from precipitation than I was from sweating earlier in the day.)

Andrew’s pole shocked him. My pole shocked me again. If I raised the tip up, the pole would hum like a bee.

Positive Note of the Day and Advice for Future Hikers: We were very happy we picked Ervin to summit first. The slope up is much harder, rockier. The ridge to Ervin takes longer. And when racing a thunder storm the Blaurock ridge and slope made for an easier get away.

Thunder banged about in the clouds. Rain poured near and far. We made it off the rocks onto the tundra. Yes, Tundra! Tundra is always better than rocks. (read my two previous trip reports). On the way up, Andrew mentioned he spoke with a SAR person that recently had two rescues with people that fell on a grassy slopes. And wouldn’t you know it, Andrew slipped on a rock in the grass. He was fine. But, worth a laugh later after we were out of the rain.

And remember me mentioning Andrew’s degree in meteorology? Yeah, about that. He was very observant of the clouds and weather today. But once we were in the upper treeline he said, paraphrased here, “I’m usually more conservative when it comes to weather. I think Jess (his wife) and I would have turned around sooner.”

“Well, why the hell didn’t you say something about that on the saddle?”

I think he realized Brad and I are taller, so we had the better chance of attracting the lightning. Or he really didn’t care about us.

Then I was honest and told them what I was thinking, if one of us was struck, I was hoping it wasn’t me. Not that I don’t like them. You know, just didn’t want to die today. They took that well. Nothing personal.

About this time, lightning struck near the Apostles. Thunder followed. We wondered how many people just shit their pants on Huron? Brad’s comment was, he would be mad if he got struck and killed now, near treeline, instead of on the summit. That would have been a waste of a retreat and a missed 13er.

We had some good laughs with these discussions.

We continued down the slope, into the trees and made our way toward the road. Brad kept us on a path the led in the direction of the LaPlata trail. Not to it, but general direction, in hopes of easier terrain and reaching the road.

Once we made the road, it was near a great camping spot at the base of the Grey Copper Creek drainage between Blaurock and Ervin. Up above was a good view of the saddle. There are lots of good camping spots on this road. This probably would have been a better place to park for the loop hike, or if you just wanted to go up and down the Blaurock ridge/slope.

Back at the vehicles we split ways. They headed back to Denver. I changed into dry clothes and shoes. Spent some time eating my lunch I never got to eat on the summit of Blaurock.

The storm not only chased us off the peak, but it quickly scratched Blaurock off our lists of peak priorities. It’s only ‘one’ peak now, though ranked. But that slope is no fun and there are better routes to pick from. Though several friends said they want to grab them. We’ll see what happens.