Mt. Buckskin Trip Report 07/18/2020

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Buckskin - 13,871 feet
Date Posted	07/18/2020
Date Climbed	07/17/2020
Author	overthe59hill

Buckskin Summit
Hiking Party: Me and my dog Begin Hike: 10:50 am Reach Summit: 1:43 pm Leave Summit: 2:17 pm Reach Parking Lot: 3:57 pm I peaked the four 14ers of Kite Lake in 2017. This year I went for 13er Mt. Buckskin. Actual hiking time was 3 hours 48 minutes. My total time was 3 hours up and 2 hours down. I arrived late morning at Kite Lake. My plan worked. I assumed early hikers will have returned to their vehicles and left the trailhead by now. I drove past countless cars parked along the side of the road. There were spots available in the upper lot near the restrooms and the fee station ($5 day use fee). The hike begins on the Lake Emma trail heading west from near the restrooms. A fisherman was heading for the glacial lake. This is the point at which we turned left off the trail past the willows. Buckskin ahead! Heading across the field toward Mt. Buckskin We stepped over and leaped a few narrow streams, and slogged through some marsh to reach the base of Buckskin. Heading for the ridgeline I read about heading for the three-legged pole of the powerline. I went a steeper route and reached the ridge past it. Looking down the powerline, the 3-legged pole was not in view at this point. I encountered it on my descent. It doesn't look like more than a hill from this point. Photos seldom capture elevation well. This hike is not as rocky as some. There are grassy and mossy patches breaking up rock fields, and streamlets coming down from the snowmelt. There is loose rock but no big boulders to scramble over. I was glad to have my trekking poles for support. No huge boulder fields on this mountain. It does get rockier close to the top. Tippi carried her own water but there was sufficient water available for her most of the way. Lake Emma (center of picture) as viewed from the climb up Mt. Buckskin, and Mt. Democrat above Lake Emma. Looking down at Kite Lake, and Mt. Cameron, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Bross. Tippi reached the summit first. She came down and said, "Nothing up there but a rockpile." There isn't a geological marker. If there is I couldn't find it. There is a rockpile marking the summit. From the summit looking toward Loveland Mountain on the right in photo. Another view from the summit I skipped hiking over to Loveland Mountain. I think it might have been too much. In a younger day I would have made the extra peak. The slideshow below doesn't have the pictures in order. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Buckskin Summit

Hiking Party: Me and my dog
Begin Hike: 10:50 am
Reach Summit: 1:43 pm
Leave Summit: 2:17 pm
Reach Parking Lot: 3:57 pm

I peaked the four 14ers of Kite Lake in 2017. This year I went for 13er Mt. Buckskin.

20379_04 — Actual hiking time was 3 hours 48 minutes. My total time was 3 hours up and 2 hours down.

I arrived late morning at Kite Lake. My plan worked. I assumed early hikers will have returned to their vehicles and left the trailhead by now. I drove past countless cars parked along the side of the road. There were spots available in the upper lot near the restrooms and the fee station ($5 day use fee).

20379_06 — The hike begins on the Lake Emma trail heading west from near the restrooms. A fisherman was heading for the glacial lake.

20379_07 — This is the point at which we turned left off the trail past the willows. Buckskin ahead!

20379_03 — Heading across the field toward Mt. Buckskin

We stepped over and leaped a few narrow streams, and slogged through some marsh to reach the base of Buckskin.

I read about heading for the three-legged pole of the powerline. I went a steeper route and reached the ridge past it.

20379_15 — Looking down the powerline, the 3-legged pole was not in view at this point. I encountered it on my descent.

20379_14 — It doesn't look like more than a hill from this point. Photos seldom capture elevation well.

This hike is not as rocky as some. There are grassy and mossy patches breaking up rock fields, and streamlets coming down from the snowmelt. There is loose rock but no big boulders to scramble over. I was glad to have my trekking poles for support.

20379_12 — No huge boulder fields on this mountain. It does get rockier close to the top.

20379_01 — Tippi carried her own water but there was sufficient water available for her most of the way.

20379_13 — Lake Emma (center of picture) as viewed from the climb up Mt. Buckskin, and Mt. Democrat above Lake Emma.

20379_10 — Looking down at Kite Lake, and Mt. Cameron, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Bross.

20379_08 — Tippi reached the summit first. She came down and said, "*Nothing up there but a rockpile*."

There isn't a geological marker. If there is I couldn't find it. There is a rockpile marking the summit.

20379_17 — From the summit looking toward Loveland Mountain on the right in photo.

I skipped hiking over to Loveland Mountain. I think it might have been too much. In a younger day I would have made the extra peak. The slideshow below doesn't have the pictures in order.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Jay521	13ers are fun! 7/20/2020 2:38am Looks like you had a wonderful day! Nice report!
overthe59hill	Buckskin 7/20/2020 7:22am I expected someone else might be up there but there wasn't another soul. The beauty, solitude, freshness, challenge and victory made a great day. I'm glad we beat the rain.
Jay521	Solitude... 7/20/2020 9:26am ... is pretty common on 13ers. And you aren't "over the hill" as long as you keep hiking and climbing!
overthe59hill	Keep going 7/20/2020 9:54am This was my 9th 13er. I've attempted 2 others and want to return to those. I've summited 12 14ers as well, so far. Thanks!

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