Trinity Peak Trip Report 08/22/2012

Peak(s):	Trinity Peak - 13,816 feet "West Trinity" - 13,765 feet "East Trinity" - 13,752 feet
Date Posted:	08/22/2012
Date Climbed:	08/07/2012
Author:	jesse

Vestal Basin #1 Trinities Traverse
Determined to get a long wilderness peak bagging trip in this summer Marc and I headed down to Silverton to catch the train. After a late start of 6:45 we got to the train with just 15 min to spare. After a short ride and hike up a small hill we joined the Colorado trail. Wemimuche Wilderness Sign This trail was well maintained and provided for a great wilderness entrance. First View of Vestal & Arrow Peaks from above the Beaver Pond After a short stop at the beaver pond (all we saw was ducks and moose) we embarked on the Vestal Creek trail. This trail leads away from the pond then down a very steep hill to the stream, then relentlessly climbs up into the basin. With a light rain and 65lb packs of rope gear food and more gear this could have been the most difficult part of our week. Climbing up into Vestal Basin on the steep Vestal Creek Trail We came to the lower meadow at 11,400 just after sunset. After a little searching we found a nice spot in the trees between the lower and upper meadow. A short while later we passed out hard determined to get the Trinities early the next morning. Sunset View of the Trinities Vestal Peak from 11,400 in the lower meadow After hitting the snooze a few times we got up and started our way into the upper meadow. Trinities at Sunrise Marc ready to start scrambling Vestal and Arrow Peaks in the morning sun Ascending towards the Vestal West Trinity saddle the views were unparalleled. Trinities Stark contrast on Vestal & Arrow from the upper basin E of Vestal lake Shortly after gaining the saddle the difficulty amped up to class 3 and the Trinity Traverse was begun. The start of the scrambling on West Trinity Marc getting some rock breakdancing The climbing up West Trinity's west ridge was great. Mostly solid with lots of exposure and wonderful views of the San Juans. This climbing went by very quickly and soon the first summit of our trip was claimed. Marc on the Summit of West Trinity Trinity Peak from the summit of West Trinity 1 down 4 to go Successful first summit of the trip The downclimb from West Trinity was easy class 2+ with not much loose rock. From the Saddle the class 4 climb up Trinity peak requires some route finding, staying exclusively on the South side of the ridge and mostly well below the ridge proper. Trinity Peak from the West Trinity Trinity saddle A few scrambling sections and a couple of chimneys lead to grassy ledges or solid rock above. Either the nice grass ramp Or the highline class 4 ridge Contouring around Trinity's towers on the South side East Trinity from near the Summit of Trinity Peak The hardest part of the day was climbing around to find the best way up Trinity peak. The route became apparent and logical the further we climbed. But it was of little consequence we didn't need to ever put on rock climbing shoes. Soon the 2nd summit of our Vestal Basin adventure was ours. Summit #2 Descending the wrong gully on Trinity peak's East side The descent to the Trinity East Trinity saddle was a bit more loose and in our haste we took the wrong one. It ended up being class 3 and once we were on the other side the easier gully was clearly the better choice. The climb up to East Trinity looks very menacing from Trinity peak but it never exceeds class 3. The view of the climb up East Trinity Class 3 From the top of East Trinity's gully looking at Trinity Peak The correct descent gully is to the left where I'm pointing. We descended the Right gully class 3 Jagged Peak Windom Sunlight Spire and Sunlight peak 3rd Summit of the day was ours and the Trinity traverse was mostly completed. #3 with a good view of Trinity The downclimb to the basin from East Trinity was at first nice scrambling then we reached the saddle and it became very loose and it also started raining. View of the hike down from the upper basin When we were safely down in the basin the thunder clapped to quicken our pace. The Trinities!!! Shortly after we got back to camp it started raining heavily and being exhausted from the last two days of elevation gain we got to sleep very early. Wham Ridge awaited us at sunrise!! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Vestal Basin #1 Trinities Traverse

Determined to get a long wilderness peak bagging trip in this summer Marc and I headed down to Silverton to catch the train. After a late start of 6:45 we got to the train with just 15 min to spare. After a short ride and hike up a small hill we joined the Colorado trail.

This trail was well maintained and provided for a great wilderness entrance.

First View of Vestal & Arrow Peaks from above the Beaver Pond

After a short stop at the beaver pond (all we saw was ducks and moose) we embarked on the Vestal Creek trail. This trail leads away from the pond then down a very steep hill to the stream, then relentlessly climbs up into the basin. With a light rain and 65lb packs of rope gear food and more gear this could have been the most difficult part of our week.

Climbing up into Vestal Basin on the steep Vestal Creek Trail

We came to the lower meadow at 11,400 just after sunset. After a little searching we found a nice spot in the trees between the lower and upper meadow. A short while later we passed out hard determined to get the Trinities early the next morning.

Vestal Peak from 11,400 in the lower meadow

After hitting the snooze a few times we got up and started our way into the upper meadow.

Vestal and Arrow Peaks in the morning sun

Ascending towards the Vestal West Trinity saddle the views were unparalleled.

Stark contrast on Vestal & Arrow from the upper basin E of Vestal lake

Shortly after gaining the saddle the difficulty amped up to class 3 and the Trinity Traverse was begun.

The start of the scrambling on West Trinity

The climbing up West Trinity's west ridge was great. Mostly solid with lots of exposure and wonderful views of the San Juans. This climbing went by very quickly and soon the first summit of our trip was claimed.

Trinity Peak from the summit of West Trinity

The downclimb from West Trinity was easy class 2+ with not much loose rock. From the Saddle the class 4 climb up Trinity peak requires some route finding, staying exclusively on the South side of the ridge and mostly well below the ridge proper.

Trinity Peak from the West Trinity Trinity saddle

A few scrambling sections and a couple of chimneys lead to grassy ledges or solid rock above.

Contouring around Trinity's towers on the South side

East Trinity from near the Summit of Trinity Peak

The hardest part of the day was climbing around to find the best way up Trinity peak. The route became apparent and logical the further we climbed. But it was of little consequence we didn't need to ever put on rock climbing shoes. Soon the 2nd summit of our Vestal Basin adventure was ours.

Descending the wrong gully on Trinity peak's East side

The descent to the Trinity East Trinity saddle was a bit more loose and in our haste we took the wrong one. It ended up being class 3 and once we were on the other side the easier gully was clearly the better choice. The climb up to East Trinity looks very menacing from Trinity peak but it never exceeds class 3.

The view of the climb up East Trinity Class 3

From the top of East Trinity's gully looking at Trinity Peak

The correct descent gully is to the left where I'm pointing. We descended the Right gully class 3

Jagged Peak Windom Sunlight Spire and Sunlight peak

3rd Summit of the day was ours and the Trinity traverse was mostly completed.

The downclimb to the basin from East Trinity was at first nice scrambling then we reached the saddle and it became very loose and it also started raining.

View of the hike down from the upper basin

When we were safely down in the basin the thunder clapped to quicken our pace.

Shortly after we got back to camp it started raining heavily and being exhausted from the last two days of elevation gain we got to sleep very early. Wham Ridge awaited us at sunrise!!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

MtnHub	Great report! 8/22/2012 3:10pm Great shots again, although I do have to say when I looked at image #7, the first thing I thought was, Hmmm, bad hair day? Have been hearing a lot about this Wemimuche area lately. Gotta check it out someday! Thanks for the post!
michelle	Nice TR 8/23/2012 12:00am You always appear to be having the best time. . . ever!

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