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I was tired, tired of work, just tired. I needed an escape so I decided to summit a new peak, but in a beautiful area I had not been to in awhile. So I set my mind on going up Redcliff, 13,642' even though it was going to be a long drive after work on Friday night from Denver to Silver Jack Reservoir and Owl Creek Pass. At 10:30 p.m. and after almost 30 miles of mostly good dirt roads in the dark I stopped at roughly 10,600' just before a bit of a rough stream crossing which I vaguely remember from many years ago. I quickly get ready to sleep in the back of my truck and hope I am hydrated enough and not too tired for the hike on Saturday. I am also hoping I haven't driven 270 miles just to sleep in the back of my truck and get stuffed by the monsoon. The forecast was not good when I left Denver and the weather had been rainy on the drive down in places and was threatening when I turned in for the night. There are good camping spots in the trees right before this stream crossing as well as further back down the road.
I wake up and 5:30 a.m. and it appears partly cloudy, but dry. So I get up and take a look at the stream crossing which is doable in a high clearance vehicle, even though numerous 4 wd vehicles had stopped and not gone on up the road to 10,740' trailhead another 2/3 of a mile further. I eat, drive across the stream and on to the end of the road. I am hiking by a little after 6:30 a.m., there are a few other pilgrims at the trailhead getting ready to head towards Redcliff and possibly Coxcomb.
Chimney Rock, early morning light
Chimney Rock can be seen briefly in the 1969 movie "True Grit" as the one eyed fat man Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) is on horseback facing down Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall), Tom Chaney, and a few other outlaws. Why is it I feel like I am carrying a few extra ponds since I last visited this valley?
Anyway, with visions of The Duke (no I am not referring to John Elway) dancing in my head I make my way up the valley across many small washes. Shortly before the trail heads to the west to climb over the ridge to the west of Coxcomb to gain access to Coxcomb's standard route from the Wetterhorn Basin, I leave the trail and work my way towards the Redcliff and Coxcomb saddle. There is still more snow around than I expected, but nothing that presents any problems getting to the saddle. I wonder what it would have been like to have been a month earlier and to travel and climb on snow? Could be really sweet if the aforementioned stream crossing was manageable. The upper slopes are dry and I get passed by the other pilgrims as I am lounging in the area of the saddle. I am tired, but happy to be here and out of the city and happy the weather is holding. Like Coxcomb, the summit of Redcliff offers up excellent views in all directions.
I make it back to the trailhead before the rains come. There are now about a half dozen vehicles at the trailhead, but more than twice that many did not attempt the stream crossing. I am tired driving home, but gradually start feeling better and I stop in Grant along hwy 285 at Al's Pits Barbeque for a Hungry Man Sampler Platter, now that is a good way to finish the trip.
Redcliff (left) and Coxcomb
about time to leave the trail
upper cliffs of Redcliff
Courthouse and Chimney Rock
Coxcomb
Wetterhorn Peak 14,015'
Sneffels group to the west
Fortress Peak to the north from Redcliff summit
Courthouse and Chimney Rock
Coxcomb from Redcliff summit
Wetterhorn Peak 14,015'
Uncompahgre Peak 14,309'
final slopes to Redcliff summit
hike out
Now that was a truly gritty drive and hike, a good way to recharge the batteries.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I was in the group of 3 that followed you up Redcliff (I opted out and stayed at the Coxcomb/ Redcliff saddle). Nkan02 and I continued on for a sporty traverse across Coxcomb, we turned the corner and went up the standard route to that peak. Wish we'd packed the gear I'd originally planned for the NF of Coxcomb, upon closer inspection it looked way easier than reported. Anyway, wish I'd had the chance to say hello. Congrats on your trip and summit, enjoyed your report!
-Tom
Tom - I was going to try the NF route last September, but had bad weather when I was down there. How did the rock quality look? I have been up the std route several times although it has been awhile. Your traverse looked interesting. I am very comfortable with an ice axe, but I am not sure I would have tried that. Hope you enjoyed the day too!
I read Coxcomb NF face went at 2 p, 5.7 but it looked a grade or two easier and a pitch less if I'm looking at the correct weakness/notch with a fixed stopper and sling up top(?). We considered it, but the length and rock quality didn't seem worth hauling the weight in our trip.
John: I agree with Monster, the rating is supposedly 5.7. As reported it looks thin on the pro, a very few small TCU's and wires looks about right. The rock quality is suspect, loose, etc. but the moves looked straightforward, i.e. you'd have to run it out but it looked easy enough, more so on the left side I think. I think it's one full 60m pitch, and of course you'd need to bring a second 60m to rap down. But much, much easier to access this route than the standard Coxcomb route.
Again, enjoyed your report, John. That valley is something special.
That area is one of Colorado's finest. Nice choice!
Also, that's the first time anyone's mentioned Al's Pits that I've noticed. It's nice to hear a positive review. Who hasn't driven by that place 100+ times?
It was nice meeting you on Redcliff, albeit briefly. Given the weather, I was rushing to get down to join Tom for Coxcomb. Spicy traverse indeed with no room for error, wish we did the 5.7 pitch instead :)
Ryan, there is a sling/webbing near the summit for the rappel on 5.7 route. Rock did seem a bit friable at first glance, but I didn't spend much time poking around.
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