Peak(s):	Anvil Mountain - 12531
Date Posted:	12/16/2013
Modified:	12/08/2014
Date Climbed:	12/15/2013
Author:	d_baker

A Beating on the Anvil: Red Mtn Pass Series
A Beating on the Anvil *First Edition to the Red Mountain Pass Series *Red Mountain Pass Series This edition is the first in a series of trips taken over a period of two weeks. The idea of linking my three reports of three different mountains came only recently. The three peaks that we hiked are all along the Hwy 550/Million Dollar Highway/Red Mtn Pass area, and they're a reasonable bunch to do in winter when other peaks may have access issues or avalanche concerns. I hope I have provided enough information and inspiration for others to check them out. Thank you, and I hope you'll enjoy these reports! 2nd Edition, McMillion Dollar Views 3rd Edition, Duco 4th Edition, Just One More December 15, 2013 Hikers: Terri Horvath & Darin Baker Anvil Mountain (12,537') San Juan Mountains Red Mountain Pass/Silverton area Views to the N/NE; Red Mountain Pass area Trailhead: Winter-time parking at junction of Ophir Pass Road & Hwy 550; hike starts on opposite side of parking area (i.e., E side of 550) Route: NW ridge (see map at end of report) Distance: ~2.5mi's RT (miles/round trip) Elevation Gain: ~2400' Time to Complete: ~6+hrs RT; ascent = 4+ hrs, descent = you do the math Difficulty: Class 2; steep heavily treed ridge with trail breaking in snow; start of hike is parallel (to the S) of a gully/potential avalanche run-out area; coincidentally there was a reported large avalanche the same day as our hike but in a different slide path than the one at the start of our approach Hiking up treed ridge Gear: daypack w/Essentials; additional seasonal/winter conditions gear (e.g., avi-gear, snowshoes, goggles, thermos, etc.) Resources Used For Trip Planning: summitpost.org (sp)has a page for Anvil that led me to this route which was a big help; NOAA weather forecast; CAIC avalanche conditions/forecast; Nat-Geo/Trails Illustrated Map #141 Introduction Have you ever felt like you had gotten a severe beating from hiking a mountain? Pounded like steel on an anvil? With the lack of high alpine hiking from my life in recent months, a beating is pretty much what I was feeling when we hiked Anvil. Lungs - heart - legs - all of it was getting worked over in the ring. If it wasn't for Terri breaking 99% of the trench, I would not have made it. She is the winner in this bout! The last alpine hike I did in CO, the ground was clear of snow! With the somewhat frequent snow storms CO has received this late fall there's a fair bit of snow to contend with, and which you may surmise, it isn't always easy to trudge through. Pile those conditions on top of my physical condition from being near sea level for most of this year and not hiking much, I was in for a much needed workout! The Hike We got to the parking area at about 8:30am. The winds were whipping and my tail was already tucked. It looked to be a challenge in the alpine! Snow blowing off from the leeward side of Anvil was going over the top of our ridge route above treeline. Terri gave a hopeful suggestion that maybe they would subside by the time we reached the alpine. Thankfully as it turned out, she was right! Terri and I got our packs on, strapped shoes on our feet, and started our trudge up the mountain. We did our best to stay off of the skin track (for those that detest us snowshoers stepping in your track!) and plodded along. We essentially paralleled the skin track as it meandered to the ridge. This local popular winter route sees plenty of traffic as was suggested on sp. Snow conditions were not horrible, but then again Terri was doing all the trench work! I was still punching through deeper at times, in part because I didn't have the tails on my snowshoes. Those might have helped. An occasional window on the route Peaks above S Mineral Creek (not sure which peaks these two are though) After several hours of snowshoeing up through the steep timber, we finally came upon this view I was already geared up for wind when we hit treeline because this flatlander nomad is not used to Mother Nature's wrath in the mountains! Terri on the other hand was working hard throughout the morning as she forged our way up the ridge, so she needed a stop for a wind layer. Oh, a break?! I'll gladly take another! Once out of the trees and on wind hardened snow, I was able to get into a better rhythm and move a little more efficiently. Not to say I didn't have to take a knee from time to time (Photo by Terri) Terri working her way up the ridge with Ophir Pass Road visible down below 1:10pm and we're finally approaching the summit! Terri scoping out ridges above Silverton for other winter possibilities Peaks along the Grenadier spine Peaks in the Needle district Ice Lake group Mislabeled: "V2" is actually "V5" For views like this, I'll gladly accept the beating to get here The descent went smooth, as we continued to admire the San Juan beauty (Photo by Terri) Back on our track in the trees, we made good progress going back to the car. Great day out, and I'm glad Terri pushed the trench and got us out of the trees in the morning. Thanks for reading, Darin Approximate Route: Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

A Beating on the Anvil: Red Mtn Pass Series

A Beating on the Anvil

*First Edition to the Red Mountain Pass Series

*Red Mountain Pass Series

This edition is the first in a series of trips taken over a period of two weeks. The idea of linking my three reports of three different mountains came only recently. The three peaks that we hiked are all along the Hwy 550/Million Dollar Highway/Red Mtn Pass area, and they're a reasonable bunch to do in winter when other peaks may have access issues or avalanche concerns. I hope I have provided enough information and inspiration for others to check them out.
Thank you, and I hope you'll enjoy these reports!
2nd Edition, McMillion Dollar Views
3rd Edition, Duco
4th Edition, Just One More

December 15, 2013

Hikers: Terri Horvath & Darin Baker

Anvil Mountain (12,537')
San Juan Mountains
Red Mountain Pass/Silverton area

Views to the N/NE; Red Mountain Pass area

Trailhead: Winter-time parking at junction of Ophir Pass Road & Hwy 550; hike starts on opposite side of parking area (i.e., E side of 550)
Route: NW ridge (see map at end of report)
Distance: ~2.5mi's RT (miles/round trip)
Elevation Gain: ~2400'
Time to Complete: ~6+hrs RT; ascent = 4+ hrs, descent = you do the math
Difficulty: Class 2; steep heavily treed ridge with trail breaking in snow; start of hike is parallel (to the S) of a gully/potential avalanche run-out area; coincidentally there was a reported large avalanche the same day as our hike but in a different slide path than the one at the start of our approach

Hiking up treed ridge

Gear: daypack w/Essentials; additional seasonal/winter conditions gear (e.g., avi-gear, snowshoes, goggles, thermos, etc.)

Resources Used For Trip Planning: summitpost.org (sp)has a page for Anvil that led me to this route which was a big help; NOAA weather forecast; CAIC avalanche conditions/forecast; Nat-Geo/Trails Illustrated Map #141

Introduction

Have you ever felt like you had gotten a severe beating from hiking a mountain? Pounded like steel on an anvil? With the lack of high alpine hiking from my life in recent months, a beating is pretty much what I was feeling when we hiked Anvil. Lungs - heart - legs - all of it was getting worked over in the ring. If it wasn't for Terri breaking 99% of the trench, I would not have made it. She is the winner in this bout!

The last alpine hike I did in CO, the ground was clear of snow! With the somewhat frequent snow storms CO has received this late fall there's a fair bit of snow to contend with, and which you may surmise, it isn't always easy to trudge through. Pile those conditions on top of my physical condition from being near sea level for most of this year and not hiking much, I was in for a much needed workout!

The Hike

We got to the parking area at about 8:30am. The winds were whipping and my tail was already tucked. It looked to be a challenge in the alpine! Snow blowing off from the leeward side of Anvil was going over the top of our ridge route above treeline. Terri gave a hopeful suggestion that maybe they would subside by the time we reached the alpine. Thankfully as it turned out, she was right!

Terri and I got our packs on, strapped shoes on our feet, and started our trudge up the mountain. We did our best to stay off of the skin track (for those that detest us snowshoers stepping in your track!) and plodded along. We essentially paralleled the skin track as it meandered to the ridge. This local popular winter route sees plenty of traffic as was suggested on sp.
Snow conditions were not horrible, but then again Terri was doing all the trench work! I was still punching through deeper at times, in part because I didn't have the tails on my snowshoes. Those might have helped.

An occasional window on the route

Peaks above S Mineral Creek (not sure which peaks these two are though)

After several hours of snowshoeing up through the steep timber, we finally came upon this view

I was already geared up for wind when we hit treeline because this flatlander nomad is not used to Mother Nature's wrath in the mountains! Terri on the other hand was working hard throughout the morning as she forged our way up the ridge, so she needed a stop for a wind layer. Oh, a break?! I'll gladly take another!

Once out of the trees and on wind hardened snow, I was able to get into a better rhythm and move a little more efficiently.

Not to say I didn't have to take a knee from time to time

Terri working her way up the ridge with Ophir Pass Road visible down below

1:10pm and we're finally approaching the summit!

Terri scoping out ridges above Silverton for other winter possibilities

Peaks along the Grenadier spine

Peaks in the Needle district

Ice Lake group

For views like this, I'll gladly accept the beating to get here

The descent went smooth, as we continued to admire the San Juan beauty

Back on our track in the trees, we made good progress going back to the car. Great day out, and I'm glad Terri pushed the trench and got us out of the trees in the morning.

Thanks for reading,

Darin

Approximate Route:

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

kman	The Beating 12/17/2013 2:32am looks like it was definitely worth it! Welcome back Darin and congrats on your summit - especially with the winter conditions and not having been at ”altitude” for a while! Very nice pictures, especially that labelled one of the Ice Lake group. That area is definitely the Switzerland of America!
dillonsarnelli	there he is 12/17/2013 4:25am welcome back Darrin! nice report. looks like a fine day.
uwe	Sweet Darin 12/17/2013 1:57pm Great shots and great read. All that good beta and detail. Thanks for posting! And welcome back to Colorado for the holidays. Cant think of a better place to be.
SarahT	Beautiful! 12/17/2013 2:57pm Love the pictures Darin!
Mindy	Nice! 12/17/2013 4:37pm Good to see another report from you both
wooderson	welcome home! 12/17/2013 4:55pm Good to see you back in your proper element, Darin. And I'm sure it felt good, emotionally if not physically. Sweet views from that peak!
SurfNTurf	Beautiful SJ hike 12/17/2013 6:02pm Thanks for sharing and welcome back. Hope to see you in Ouray in a couple weeks.
d_baker	Thanks! 12/18/2013 2:35pm I want to thank everyone for your comments and ”likes.” I think this hike is a safe & beautiful winter outing. It was a nice return to the alpine! I also want to thank Terri for her hospitality while I've been visiting her new home in Montrose! Not a bad place to call base camp for a couple of weeks while I wait for my next job assignment! Plus, she's an ice climber too...and the ice park is just down the road...
piper14er	a Tebow 12/18/2013 8:54pm nice pics and report, can't say I envy the trail breaking...
Johnson	Welcome back! 12/19/2013 7:36pm Looking forward to more of these!

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A Beating on the Anvil

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