Rolling Mountain Trip Report 12/09/2022

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Rolling Mountain - 13,697 feet
Date Posted	12/09/2022
Date Climbed	10/22/2022
Author	ReginaThomas
Additional Members	Kiefer, 13erRetriever

Rolling through COVID
Rolling Mountain 13,693' Colorado Rank #153 Date Climbed: 10/22/2022 Distance: 7.03 Miles 2871' Elevation Gain Kiefer is working on the bi-centennials, I’m working on all the San Juan Range 13ers, and Allie is working on all the 13ers, so when we finally had a good weather day Rolling Mountain checked all the boxes. There is not a lot of beta out there for the route we took, so this trip report will hopefully provide some more information. Morning Alpenglow on the flanks of Fuller Peak Kiefer had been wanting Rolling Mountain as a new Bi all summer, I had been wanting it after reaching Rolling Pass on the Colorado trail, so we coordinated with Allie to head out and take advantage of the dry trails before the first big snow hit Silverton the next day. I was still recovering from COVID, but I figured after two weeks and with perfect weather I should be able to sloth my way up to the summit. Thankfully both Kiefer and Allie (and the weather) were patient with my glacial pace as we headed up the trail. We followed Laura’s trip report (linked here) for our route, and we found it to be very enjoyable. The route starts from the end of South Mineral road. The road past ice lakes basin TH is rated as 4wd, but I would say late season it is easily doable as long as you have clearance. The only true obstacle is a creek crossing which was low by October, and was almost to the trailhead, so it would not add much distance if you had to park and walk the remainder of the road. A milky and icy creek crossing in the morning We began by taking the Rico-Silverton trail into the forest. Rolling Mountain was visible from the trailhead, and we had a head on view of its steep north face. As we headed up the trail, the Twin Sisters dominated the view to the left and soon we were in a meadow filled with beaver ponds. Many prior trip reports for Rolling and the Sisters have mentioned that moose live in this basin. Sure enough as soon as the trees cleared there were FOUR moose watching us from across the meadow. Any time I see a moose it’s automatically a good day. Nearing Treeline and watching Moose, Kaiah kept me company! Two of the Four Moose East Twin Sister and part of West in the foreground Looking Toward V5, you can see Clear Lake Road switchbacking up the slope After some pictures, we continued up the trail. As Engineer Mountain comes into view, you will cross a rocky area of the trail and see a drainage with a small waterfall at the base heading up to a saddle on the south ridge of rolling Mountain. You will continue on the trail past the waterfall then head up the drainage following the path of least resistance through the willows. No matter which way you go, you will run into some willow bashing but they were tolerable for the humans and Harper. Kaiah was a bit overwhelmed by these scary dog eating monsters. Kiefer ahead crossing the willows, myself and Kaiah behind. This is the drainage you will want to follow to read the saddle to the left of the bump in the ridge center. After the willows the drainage crosses some loose talus/scree above the waterfall and gorge above the waterfall before heading steeply into the gorge. We had to butt scoot down the short slope as it was quite steep, but on the way back we were able to kick steps into the small amount of snow which made for easier progress. At this point I thought I was done… both Kiefer and Allie were up for turning back with me, as I would do the same for them. However, I wasn’t up for turning back. I knew as long as we could go slow I wanted to keep going. So 100 feet at a time, we plodded up the drainage toward the ridge. We inched closer to the ridge, and reached the small saddle. The views were beautiful of the Twin Sisters, Engineer Mtn, and the Ice Lakes/Island Lake peaks. Kaiah and Harper after the buttscoot into the Drainage Kiefer building a cairn in the drainage Vermilion and Golden Horn In View Allie and Myself Headed Towards the saddle. She was the best cheerleader! Kiefer waiting patiently on the saddle with Kaiah From the saddle looking at the Rolling Summit. You can go to the left or right of the ridge bump, and you will see the climbers trail headed up to the ridge to the left of the summit. We were all happy to see a faint climbers trail up the final slope to the summit, as the rock was loose all around us, and the trail made progress much easier. Harper triumphantly summitted first, followed closely by Allie, then Kiefer and Kaiah who waited back with me, and I joined everyone on the small summit a minute later. I was so happy for Kiefer to get a new bicentennial as the weather was not kind to us due to the summer monsoonal storms hitting so early this summer, and I was excited to stand on a new 13er with two of my favorite people, and two of my favorite doggies. Allie and Harper heading up the climbers trail to the summit Kiefer, Kaiah, and Myself Head up the climbers trail Kiefer and Kaiah summit I summit Best Crew!! Harper is the best mountain doggie!! Kaiah is glad to be on the way down! She is learning to be a good mountain dog! I would strongly recommend following this route up Rolling Mountain rather than taking the ridge direct from V9 or the ridge prior to reaching this drainage. This avoids loose class 3-4 terrain and is a nice way to reach an enjoyable summit. My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): View on the Map Download GPX file used in this map Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Rolling through COVID

Rolling Mountain 13,693' Colorado Rank #153

Date Climbed: 10/22/2022

Distance: 7.03 Miles

2871' Elevation Gain

Kiefer is working on the bi-centennials, I’m working on all the San Juan Range 13ers, and Allie is working
on all the 13ers, so when we finally had a good weather day Rolling Mountain checked all the boxes.
There is not a lot of beta out there for the route we took, so this trip report will hopefully provide some
more information.

21996_17 — Morning Alpenglow on the flanks of Fuller Peak

Kiefer had been wanting Rolling Mountain as a new Bi all summer, I had been wanting it after reaching
Rolling Pass on the Colorado trail, so we coordinated with Allie to head out and take advantage of the
dry trails before the first big snow hit Silverton the next day. I was still recovering from COVID, but I
figured after two weeks and with perfect weather I should be able to sloth my way up to the summit.
Thankfully both Kiefer and Allie (and the weather) were patient with my glacial pace as we headed up
the trail. We followed Laura’s trip report (linked here) for our route, and we found it to be very
enjoyable. The route starts from the end of South Mineral road. The road past ice lakes basin TH is rated
as 4wd, but I would say late season it is easily doable as long as you have clearance. The only true
obstacle is a creek crossing which was low by October, and was almost to the trailhead, so it would not
add much distance if you had to park and walk the remainder of the road.

21996_01 — A milky and icy creek crossing in the morning

We began by taking the Rico-Silverton trail into the forest. Rolling Mountain was visible from the
trailhead, and we had a head on view of its steep north face. As we headed up the trail, the Twin Sisters
dominated the view to the left and soon we were in a meadow filled with beaver ponds. Many prior trip
reports for Rolling and the Sisters have mentioned that moose live in this basin. Sure enough as soon as
the trees cleared there were FOUR moose watching us from across the meadow. Any time I see a moose
it’s automatically a good day.

21996_03 — Nearing Treeline and watching Moose, Kaiah kept me company!

21996_26 — East Twin Sister and part of West in the foreground

21996_25 — Looking Toward V5, you can see Clear Lake Road switchbacking up the slope

After some pictures, we continued up the trail. As Engineer Mountain comes into view, you will cross a rocky area of the trail and see a drainage with a small waterfall at the base heading up to a saddle on the south ridge of rolling Mountain. You will continue on the trail past the waterfall then head up the drainage following the path of least resistance through the willows. No
matter which way you go, you will run into some willow bashing but they were tolerable for the humans
and Harper. Kaiah was a bit overwhelmed by these scary dog eating monsters.

21996_04 — Kiefer ahead crossing the willows, myself and Kaiah behind. This is the drainage you will want to follow to read the saddle to the left of the bump in the ridge center.

After the willows the drainage crosses some loose talus/scree above the waterfall and gorge above the waterfall before
heading steeply into the gorge. We had to butt scoot down the short slope as it was quite steep, but on
the way back we were able to kick steps into the small amount of snow which made for easier progress. At
this point I thought I was done… both Kiefer and Allie were up for turning back with me, as I would do
the same for them. However, I wasn’t up for turning back. I knew as long as we could go slow I wanted
to keep going. So 100 feet at a time, we plodded up the drainage toward the ridge. We inched closer to
the ridge, and reached the small saddle. The views were beautiful of the Twin Sisters, Engineer Mtn, and
the Ice Lakes/Island Lake peaks.

21996_20 — Kaiah and Harper after the buttscoot into the Drainage

21996_05 — Kiefer building a cairn in the drainage

21996_02 — Vermilion and Golden Horn In View

21996_16 — Allie and Myself Headed Towards the saddle. She was the best cheerleader!

21996_28 — Kiefer waiting patiently on the saddle with Kaiah

21996_27 — From the saddle looking at the Rolling Summit. You can go to the left or right of the ridge bump, and you will see the climbers trail headed up to the ridge to the left of the summit.

We were all happy to see a faint climbers trail up the final slope to the
summit, as the rock was loose all around us, and the trail made progress much easier. Harper
triumphantly summitted first, followed closely by Allie, then Kiefer and Kaiah who waited back with me,
and I joined everyone on the small summit a minute later. I was so happy for Kiefer to get a new
bicentennial as the weather was not kind to us due to the summer monsoonal storms hitting so early
this summer, and I was excited to stand on a new 13er with two of my favorite people, and two of my
favorite doggies.

21996_21 — Allie and Harper heading up the climbers trail to the summit

21996_07 — Kiefer, Kaiah, and Myself Head up the climbers trail

21996_12 — Best Crew!! Harper is the best mountain doggie!!

21996_13 — Kaiah is glad to be on the way down! She is learning to be a good mountain dog!

I would strongly recommend following this route up Rolling Mountain rather than taking the ridge direct
from V9 or the ridge prior to reaching this drainage. This avoids loose class 3-4 terrain and is a nice way
to reach an enjoyable summit.

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

View on the Map

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Jay521	Love it! 12/11/2022 5:37pm Great narrative and pix. I just gotta get down that way again one of these days!
Tornadoman	Looks great 12/22/2022 12:41pm I am eyeing that route for Rolling, some of the other options don't look so pleasant. Glad you were able to find a peak that everyone enjoyed, seems a good choice for a nice day post-Covid.
Presto	Same route for us ... 1/25/2023 8:41am When we climbed it. You had better weather than us. We ran into Mike Garratt and his way down when we were on our way up. Thanks for posting.
Marmot72	Love that peak 2/8/2023 8:30pm Nice report! I especially like Rolling, because it takes on such different aspects from different vantages- like a completely different mountain from the sisters or from v10.

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