Centennial Peak Trip Report 11/12/2017

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Centennial Peak - 13,068 feet
Date Posted	11/12/2017
Date Climbed	11/11/2017
Author	SurfNTurf

Exploring a Hidden Corner of Colorado
Mountain(s): Centennial Peak (13,062') Route: North Ridge via Sharkstooth Trailhead Date: November 11, 2017 RT Distance: 8 miles RT Gain: 2,550' RT Time: 5.5 hours Climbers: Solo I've wanted to reconnoitre the La Plata Range since moving to Durango in July, but other interests or poor weather pushed me elsewhere every weekend. Finally, with no prior plans and a reasonable forecast, I pulled the trigger. Centennial Peak is one of a handful of 13ers in the range -- Hesperus Mountain is the highest at 13,232' -- and likely the easiest. It's included in The Best Durango & Silverton Hikes guidebook from CMC Press, which I've slowly worked my way through since relocating. In the summer, it's a casual 5-mile stroll on a good trail most of the way. That's why you'll see most dry-season trip reports combining it with other peaks. The hills around Durango received about 6-8 inches of snow earlier in the week. My AWD Suzuki SX4 is a surprisingly daring little adventure wagon, but a 4WD road with fresh snow is pushing it. I parked at the intersection of FR350 and the 4WD road, adding about 3 miles and a negligible amount of elevation gain to my round trip. The La Platas are everything I'd hoped. I started hiking 14ers and 13ers in earnest in 2009, and I know that's late compared with many folks on this site. Still, I've witnessed an exponential increase in crowds. I remember summiting Quandary Peak on a summer weekday and only seeing 15-20 other people. Many of the more difficult or remote 14ers I did the first time around, my party was the only one on the route. It's hard to believe that was ever the case. This isn't to say "get off my lawn." Most of us moved here for the same reason, and everyone has an equal right to enjoy public lands. As I get older, however, I care less about impressing strangers on social media or inflating my peak list or recording a personal-best climb time. The mountains, to me, represent a last remnant of wildness in America. I venture into them to experience the purifying silence, the endless azure sky, the heartrendingly beautiful vistas. Not to dodge hordes from Meetup.com, trail runners yelling "on your left" or people without souls complaining about dogs. Six hours from the Front Range with no 14ers, no Centennials (well, except the peak called Centennial), and only a handful of 13ers, the La Platas are overlooked by just about everyone. This was my first foray into the range, and I'm giddy at the thought of more thorough explorations. I only saw three other people, on the way down, a group hiking to Sharkstooth Pass. For the majority of the day, it felt like I had an entire mountain range to myself. The 1.5-mile hike from my parking spot to the summer trailhead was an easy, mostly-flat road with some mild ups and downs. I had consistent, shallow snow from the get-go except for a few short dry patches. Impressive views of Hesperus Mountain dominate the approach. Walking the 4WD road. Hesperus, as seen from the Sharkstooth TH. Still Hesperus... Two trails begin at the trailhead, but they're clearly marked. Take the option for Sharkstooth Pass. The road transitions to singletrack and continues at a gentle grade as it meanders toward timberline. You'll pass some informative signs detailing the mining history in the area, with optional side trails. Treeline arrives abruptly, along with the realization that you're already pretty damn close to Sharkstooth Pass. The snow got deep enough to be annoying here, but snowshoes would have been extreme overkill. The trail switchbacks in earnest until you reach the pass at nearly 12,000', between Sharkstooth Peak and Centennial Peak. The scene from here is jaw-dropping. You're standing in the heart of the La Platas with views of the Needles and Grenadiers, the La Sals, canyon country, Lizard Head and the Wilson Group. It only gets better as you turn south and follow the ridge to Centennial's summit. There's supposedly a trail all the way to the top, but it's either faint or it was covered in snow. Probably both. I could see what looked like a trail in spots. It was mostly steep scree covered in a couple inches of snow. I gave up trying to follow a path pretty quickly, instead just picking my way up what looked like the easiest route. Centennial reminds you quickly that even though it's "easy," it's still in the San Juans. Everything is loose and rotten. There is a section of welcoming tundra partway up for a nice mental break. I eventually chose to stay near the ridge proper and some moderate exposure. Combined with the snow, it was fairly slow going. The route relents once you hit a false summit. From there it's a short, gentle stroll to the top. The setting is majestic, with the views mentioned before plus close-ups of Hesperus. The temperature was colder than forecast and the wind had picked up to a steady 20mph, but I lingered for nearly a half-hour to soak it all in. The pup starting to whine stirred me out of my reverie and we reversed our track back down. Sharkstooth from Sharkstooth Pass. Beginning of Centennial's North Ridge, with faint trail visible. Brief section of tundra between steep, loose scree/talus. Zia hitting the false summit. Summit! Mighty Hesperus. Looking back down the ridge. La Platas. Utah It's rare for something to live up to the hype you create inside your head, especially after a long build up. The La Platas delivered and then some. What an awesome hidden corner of Colorado! Thanks for reading. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Exploring a Hidden Corner of Colorado

Mountain(s): Centennial Peak (13,062')
Route: North Ridge via Sharkstooth Trailhead
Date: November 11, 2017
RT Distance: 8 miles
RT Gain: 2,550'
RT Time: 5.5 hours
Climbers: Solo

I've wanted to reconnoitre the La Plata Range since moving to Durango in July, but other interests or poor weather pushed me elsewhere every weekend. Finally, with no prior plans and a reasonable forecast, I pulled the trigger.

Centennial Peak is one of a handful of 13ers in the range -- Hesperus Mountain is the highest at 13,232' -- and likely the easiest. It's included in The Best Durango & Silverton Hikes guidebook from CMC Press, which I've slowly worked my way through since relocating. In the summer, it's a casual 5-mile stroll on a good trail most of the way. That's why you'll see most dry-season trip reports combining it with other peaks.

The hills around Durango received about 6-8 inches of snow earlier in the week. My AWD Suzuki SX4 is a surprisingly daring little adventure wagon, but a 4WD road with fresh snow is pushing it. I parked at the intersection of FR350 and the 4WD road, adding about 3 miles and a negligible amount of elevation gain to my round trip.

The La Platas are everything I'd hoped. I started hiking 14ers and 13ers in earnest in 2009, and I know that's late compared with many folks on this site. Still, I've witnessed an exponential increase in crowds. I remember summiting Quandary Peak on a summer weekday and only seeing 15-20 other people. Many of the more difficult or remote 14ers I did the first time around, my party was the only one on the route. It's hard to believe that was ever the case.

This isn't to say "get off my lawn." Most of us moved here for the same reason, and everyone has an equal right to enjoy public lands. As I get older, however, I care less about impressing strangers on social media or inflating my peak list or recording a personal-best climb time. The mountains, to me, represent a last remnant of wildness in America. I venture into them to experience the purifying silence, the endless azure sky, the heartrendingly beautiful vistas. Not to dodge hordes from Meetup.com, trail runners yelling "on your left" or people without souls complaining about dogs.

Six hours from the Front Range with no 14ers, no Centennials (well, except the peak called Centennial), and only a handful of 13ers, the La Platas are overlooked by just about everyone. This was my first foray into the range, and I'm giddy at the thought of more thorough explorations. I only saw three other people, on the way down, a group hiking to Sharkstooth Pass. For the majority of the day, it felt like I had an entire mountain range to myself.

The 1.5-mile hike from my parking spot to the summer trailhead was an easy, mostly-flat road with some mild ups and downs. I had consistent, shallow snow from the get-go except for a few short dry patches. Impressive views of Hesperus Mountain dominate the approach.

Hesperus, as seen from the Sharkstooth TH.

Two trails begin at the trailhead, but they're clearly marked. Take the option for Sharkstooth Pass. The road transitions to singletrack and continues at a gentle grade as it meanders toward timberline. You'll pass some informative signs detailing the mining history in the area, with optional side trails. Treeline arrives abruptly, along with the realization that you're already pretty damn close to Sharkstooth Pass. The snow got deep enough to be annoying here, but snowshoes would have been extreme overkill. The trail switchbacks in earnest until you reach the pass at nearly 12,000', between Sharkstooth Peak and Centennial Peak. The scene from here is jaw-dropping. You're standing in the heart of the La Platas with views of the Needles and Grenadiers, the La Sals, canyon country, Lizard Head and the Wilson Group. It only gets better as you turn south and follow the ridge to Centennial's summit.

There's supposedly a trail all the way to the top, but it's either faint or it was covered in snow. Probably both. I could see what looked like a trail in spots. It was mostly steep scree covered in a couple inches of snow. I gave up trying to follow a path pretty quickly, instead just picking my way up what looked like the easiest route. Centennial reminds you quickly that even though it's "easy," it's still in the San Juans. Everything is loose and rotten. There is a section of welcoming tundra partway up for a nice mental break. I eventually chose to stay near the ridge proper and some moderate exposure. Combined with the snow, it was fairly slow going.

The route relents once you hit a false summit. From there it's a short, gentle stroll to the top. The setting is majestic, with the views mentioned before plus close-ups of Hesperus. The temperature was colder than forecast and the wind had picked up to a steady 20mph, but I lingered for nearly a half-hour to soak it all in. The pup starting to whine stirred me out of my reverie and we reversed our track back down.

Beginning of Centennial's North Ridge, with faint trail visible.

Brief section of tundra between steep, loose scree/talus.

It's rare for something to live up to the hype you create inside your head, especially after a long build up. The La Platas delivered and then some. What an awesome hidden corner of Colorado!

Thanks for reading.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

globreal	Nice write up! 11/12/2017 11:29pm Jeff, you are a talented wordsmith. Well written report. Makes me want to come climb the peaks hardly anyone climbs. Looks like you are enjoying that south-west corner. And I may just have to put that CMC Press book on my Christmas list. :wink:
dillonsarnelli	reconnnoittre WTF 11/13/2017 8:17am Nice work, Jeff. Someone told me a joke yesterday about there being 2 Sharkstooths in CO. I get it now. :D Nice spot back there eh? Looks like you had some better weather than me buddy. Keep it up!!
TomPierce	Two thumbs up 11/13/2017 9:45am Jeff, I really enjoyed your report. This quote really captured my views as well: "As I get older, however, I care less about impressing strangers on social media or inflating my peak list or recording a personal-best climb time. The mountains, to me, represent a last remnant of wildness in America. I venture into them to experience the purifying silence, the endless azure sky, the heartrendingly beautiful vistas. Not to dodge hordes from Meetup.com, trail runners yelling 'on your left' or people without souls complaining about dogs." Amen, I fully agree. -Tom
Jay521	What they said... 11/13/2017 2:52pm I was planning on quoting the "As I get older..." and then I saw that Tom beat me to it. Nice one, Jeff!
SurfNTurf	Thanks! 11/14/2017 9:14am @Britt: It's a nice little book! Definitely covers most of the best hikes within 1.5 hours of me, from the desert to Silverton @Dillon: Maybe I should do one of those locals nights at ComedyWorks @Tom: It's a liberating way to approach the outdoors, and much more fulfilling @Jay: It's been too long since we've accidentally ran into each other!
Ridge runner	Centennial 11/16/2017 9:28am One of my favorites in the La Platas, especially with the views it has of Hesperus Peak. Congrats on a fine day out!
david1	Great Report! 3/23/2018 3:17pm I'm planning on hiking Centennial this July. Great information and narrative. Thanks for posting!!

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