V 5 Trip Report 09/10/2018

Peak(s):	"V 5" - 13,156 feet
Date Posted:	09/10/2018
Date Climbed:	09/04/2018
Author:	bergsteigen

A morning quickie up a fun peak
Day 6: V5 Mileage: 3.21 Elevation gain: 1,401' Trailhead: Clear Lake Partners: Solo When I parted ways with Ryan and Tony, I hung around Silverton for awhile, waiting out the intermittent rain showers, enjoying cell service for once. Eventually I decided to drive up to Clear Lake and find a good spot to camp, since all the day tourists should be gone by late afternoon on Labor Day holiday. The drive up wasn't too bad, only a couple of rocks and slopers to drive over. At the lake I sat at a slightly higher parking area and finished reading a Crichton book and started in on Dante's Inferno (because why not?). Eventually the sun came out and I set out my solar panel to charge my external battery a little. I also had plenty of time to contemplate things. After 5 days of hanging out with and hiking with friends, V5 would be my first 'solo' of the trip. It's no secret that I've solo'd most of my 13ers. It's not always by choice, since it's hard to motivate anyone to go hike 13 blah blah blah's with a 12 hour RT drive involved. So soloing is merely the best way for me to do what I like to do, when I want to do it. My schedule of working weekends (mostly) also does not help things. I do tend to have more fun hiking with others. Since how else would you be able to laugh about crappy loose descents than by reminding partners of those pounding descents that sucked? While reading my books, a group of Oklahoman's and their dogs took over my camp spot, and seemed intent on having an illegal campfire, so I moved down the road and actually closer to where I would start the hike anyway. The next morning I woke up as early as I could force myself, since I figured the sunrise would be great. But I barely managed to get moving before the sun started hitting the peaks above me. Sunrise on US Grant The sun kissing the ridge above Clear Lake The talus heading up to the mining road was covered in icy verglace, and made travel a bit slow and slippery. I went straight up the slope, instead of following the actual road, so that also made it worse than it could have been. I wanted to gain elevation quickly for the sunrise shots, so I put up with the nasty ice. Once up on the road, travel was much easier again. V5 from the mining road Interesting morning lake reflection Ryan had mentioned to not take the gully to the left, but go to the one on the right. As I got to that spot, I didn't like either option. Just to the south of the main gully, is a perfectly nice, grassy, gentle slope. No loose rocks to worry about, just nice grass. The gully may be slightly more direct, but my way is more efficient and less erosive. The start of my grassy slope to the ridge Ice Lakes Basin joins into the visual fun The ascent up the grassy slope went pretty quickly, though nearing the ridge, it became more rocky. These rocks also had the same covering in verglace, so I had to tread carefully now. Sooooooo glad I didn't follow Ryan's advice on the gully, I'd be in the thick of the slippery icy rocks for most of the ascent! I got to the notch in the ridge, and saw a fun class 4 chimney to climb up. There was a dirty scree class 2 option a little below it, but I was feeling sporting this morning. V5 from just south of the notch. I went up the tight chimney's in the center. Main trail is a little lower to the left. Once up the chimney, you turn right and go up a grassy - rocky slope to the ridge. Last bit of scramblyness to the ridge. Once up on the ridge, the route to the summit is clear ahead and the views spread out. Pano with V5 when gaining the ridge From there the trek to the summit was easy, if only having to watch out for slippery icy rocks along the way. While I had summitted early, I would have to wait awhile for the rocks to warm up, so that I wouldn't accidentally slip down the Richarson gully... Clear lake like a mirror this morning. Clear Lake basin Wilson Peak with some snow Pano West Pano East Lookout Peak South Lookout Twin Sisters Ryan's favorite peak: Rolling Mountain Big V and the Golden Horn Pilot Knob V 4 US Grant V 3 Waiting a while on the summit allowed the sun to get high enough that I could see the peaks to the east better. Silverton Grenadiers Sunlight and friends Snowy Uncompaghre and friends Eventually I had to descend, even if I didn't want to. I had a long drive home, that wasn't getting done enjoying the views. But with it being such and easy access peak, I'll be back. View of the grassy - rocky gully to descend from the ridge. Next spot is the ridge that descends from the left Class 4 chimneys on left, scree route a bit lower View down my solid chimney. Bedrock baby! At this point, I decided to continue down the ridge to the south, instead of heading down my grassy slope directly to the mining road. View down the easy ridge to the south Looking back on V5 from farther down the ridge. A steep loose gully that likely cliffs out #richardsonwouldpoundthis The views improved as I walked down the nice tundra ridge. There were even cairns. I was quite pleased with the decision to tack on a little extra mileage for the easier terrain. I spy Ice Lakes! Oh the views... Some chipper fluffies along the way Pano from mining road - I could stay here forever Easy mining road return The slope I ascended in the sun Looking back on the slopes along the mining road, my descent in distance Almost back to Clear Lake V 5 from camp Interesting way to avoid the No Parking signs. There'll be more signs eventually... Back at the truck, I went back to the lake for a few photos, and then headed home. I didn't get all the peaks I had planned on the trip due to weather, but I had tons of fun hiking with friends and hanging out with them at camp. Why do people solo hike again? Day 1: US Grant, V4, V2 Day 2: Rolling Man, V9, V8, Beattie Day 3-5: Sheep, Greenhalgh, Brown, Hurricane, Denver Hill, 12,340, Seigal, Trico Day 6: V5 My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

A morning quickie up a fun peak Google Map Included

Day 6: V5

Mileage: 3.21
Elevation gain: 1,401'
Trailhead: Clear Lake
Partners: Solo

When I parted ways with Ryan and Tony, I hung around Silverton for awhile, waiting out the intermittent rain showers, enjoying cell service for once. Eventually I decided to drive up to Clear Lake and find a good spot to camp, since all the day tourists should be gone by late afternoon on Labor Day holiday. The drive up wasn't too bad, only a couple of rocks and slopers to drive over.

At the lake I sat at a slightly higher parking area and finished reading a Crichton book and started in on Dante's Inferno (because why not?). Eventually the sun came out and I set out my solar panel to charge my external battery a little.

I also had plenty of time to contemplate things. After 5 days of hanging out with and hiking with friends, V5 would be my first 'solo' of the trip. It's no secret that I've solo'd most of my 13ers. It's not always by choice, since it's hard to motivate anyone to go hike 13 blah blah blah's with a 12 hour RT drive involved. So soloing is merely the best way for me to do what I like to do, when I want to do it. My schedule of working weekends (mostly) also does not help things. I do tend to have more fun hiking with others. Since how else would you be able to laugh about crappy loose descents than by reminding partners of those pounding descents that sucked?

While reading my books, a group of Oklahoman's and their dogs took over my camp spot, and seemed intent on having an illegal campfire, so I moved down the road and actually closer to where I would start the hike anyway.

The next morning I woke up as early as I could force myself, since I figured the sunrise would be great. But I barely managed to get moving before the sun started hitting the peaks above me.

19039_02 — The sun kissing the ridge above Clear Lake

The talus heading up to the mining road was covered in icy verglace, and made travel a bit slow and slippery. I went straight up the slope, instead of following the actual road, so that also made it worse than it could have been. I wanted to gain elevation quickly for the sunrise shots, so I put up with the nasty ice. Once up on the road, travel was much easier again.

19039_04 — Interesting morning lake reflection

Ryan had mentioned to not take the gully to the left, but go to the one on the right. As I got to that spot, I didn't like either option. Just to the south of the main gully, is a perfectly nice, grassy, gentle slope. No loose rocks to worry about, just nice grass. The gully may be slightly more direct, but my way is more efficient and less erosive.

19039_05 — The start of my grassy slope to the ridge

19039_06 — Ice Lakes Basin joins into the visual fun

The ascent up the grassy slope went pretty quickly, though nearing the ridge, it became more rocky. These rocks also had the same covering in verglace, so I had to tread carefully now. Sooooooo glad I didn't follow Ryan's advice on the gully, I'd be in the thick of the slippery icy rocks for most of the ascent!

I got to the notch in the ridge, and saw a fun class 4 chimney to climb up. There was a dirty scree class 2 option a little below it, but I was feeling sporting this morning.

19039_07 — V5 from just south of the notch. I went up the tight chimney's in the center. Main trail is a little lower to the left.

Once up the chimney, you turn right and go up a grassy - rocky slope to the ridge.

19039_08 — Last bit of scramblyness to the ridge.

Once up on the ridge, the route to the summit is clear ahead and the views spread out.

19039_09 — Pano with V5 when gaining the ridge

From there the trek to the summit was easy, if only having to watch out for slippery icy rocks along the way. While I had summitted early, I would have to wait awhile for the rocks to warm up, so that I wouldn't accidentally slip down the Richarson gully...

19039_10 — Clear lake like a mirror this morning.

19039_17 — Ryan's favorite peak: Rolling Mountain

Waiting a while on the summit allowed the sun to get high enough that I could see the peaks to the east better.

19039_23 — Snowy Uncompaghre and friends

Eventually I had to descend, even if I didn't want to. I had a long drive home, that wasn't getting done enjoying the views. But with it being such and easy access peak, I'll be back.

19039_24 — View of the grassy - rocky gully to descend from the ridge. Next spot is the ridge that descends from the left

19039_25 — Class 4 chimneys on left, scree route a bit lower

19039_26 — View down my solid chimney. Bedrock baby!

At this point, I decided to continue down the ridge to the south, instead of heading down my grassy slope directly to the mining road.

19039_27 — View down the easy ridge to the south

19039_28 — Looking back on V5 from farther down the ridge.

19039_29 — A steep loose gully that likely cliffs out #richardsonwouldpoundthis

The views improved as I walked down the nice tundra ridge. There were even cairns. I was quite pleased with the decision to tack on a little extra mileage for the easier terrain.

19039_32 — Some chipper fluffies along the way

19039_33 — Pano from mining road - I could stay here forever

19039_35 — The slope I ascended in the sun

19039_36 — Looking back on the slopes along the mining road, my descent in distance

19039_39 — Interesting way to avoid the No Parking signs. There'll be more signs eventually...

Back at the truck, I went back to the lake for a few photos, and then headed home. I didn't get all the peaks I had planned on the trip due to weather, but I had tons of fun hiking with friends and hanging out with them at camp. Why do people solo hike again?

Day 1: US Grant, V4, V2
Day 2: Rolling Man, V9, V8, Beattie
Day 3-5: Sheep, Greenhalgh, Brown, Hurricane, Denver Hill, 12,340, Seigal, Trico
Day 6: V5

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

TomPierce	Dante's Inferno?? 09/11/2018 08:55 A little light reading, Otina? That book is perfect for climbing metaphors (willow bashing is the 5th ring of climbing hell...) Nice report, always love your pics. -Tom
bergsteigen	I like to mix my books 09/11/2018 13:54 Some light, some dark. I'm sure references to the book will become more prevalent, especially with some of the scary peaks/willows out there!
Tornadoman	Favorite? 09/11/2018 19:52 Any peak(s) stand out from the Clear Lake/Ice Lake Basin area as your favorites? Have you finished the peaks in that area now?

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