13,048 and 13,015

RT Length: 16.36 miles

Elevation Gain: 3188’

This hike starts at Fall Creek Trailhead. However, Google doesn’t seem to know where that is. To get there first go to the Little Cimarron Trailhead and continue past it for 4.4 miles until the road ends. It’s a total of over 18 miles on a 2WD dirt road to get to Fall Creek Trailhead. There’s room for about 10 vehicles to park, and some dispersed campsites along the way and at the trailhead.

There’s been a fire and a lot of logging in the area, so the beginning of the trail isn’t easy to find. There isn’t a trailhead marker, etc. but the trail starts at the south end of the parking area.

Once I found the trail I followed it south. This trail follows Fall Creek, and on a map is labeled Fall Creek Trail 9231. For the first few miles the trail is easy to follow. It goes through a rocky area and through several large meadows following the creek.

Just after descending through the trees I came to a creek crossing.

From here the trail can be difficult to follow but there are no trail junctions. It gets marshy and there are many game trails due to the mud and water. Also, horses have torn up this area. Be prepared with an extra pair of socks. From here I stayed on the left side of the creek until an obvious crossing point.

I crossed the stream and the trail brought me into the trees to avoid the willows below. This is where the elevation gain begins. There are some downed trees in this area but overall it was much easier to follow than heading through the marsh. But don’t change your socks yet: it’s going to get muddy through the willows up ahead.

After hiking for 6 miles, and at 12050’ of elevation I found my campsite for the night. It’s important to note this spot even if you don’t plan on making this an overnight, as this is where you’ll cross the creek again.

It took me just under 3 hours from the trailhead to my campsite. I set up camp and enjoyed the rest of my afternoon. I saw two different herds of elk, lots of raptors, and had amazing views of the peaks nearby. I could see PT 13015 to the northeast, and PT 13048 to the south. It was my goal to just enjoy the solitude.

It was a long night, but that was just because I could hear the elk bugling and calling to each other. I’m also pretty sure I heard a cow moose at one point. This was why I’d made this trek an overnight: to enjoy the wildlife and fall scenery. It was worth it. I was the only one in the basin the entire time I was there. The next morning I was up and on the trail by 7am. I crossed the creek on a game trail and headed for the 13015/13048 saddle on tundra.

Once on the saddle my first objective was 13048. I turned right and headed up a small gully to the ridge. This was a class 2 gully and easy to navigate.

At the top of the gully I turned right to gain the ridge, also on class 2 tundra.

Once I’d gained the ridge I followed it southwest on easy tundra terrain to the summit.

I summited PT 13048 at 7:30am

PT 13048:

I could see PT 13015 to the northeast, so I descended back to the 13015/13048 saddle.

Here’s my overall route to the summit of 13015. It’s all class 2 on mostly tundra and then rocks at the end.

Back on the saddle I aimed for a low point in the tundra

Then I rock hopped to the saddle.

Once on the ridge I followed it north to the saddle. There was a game trail here to follow. There are a few false summits, and the last one has a trail that goes to the left so you don’t need to summit it if you don’t want to. It’s rocky, but all class 2.

I summited PT 13015 at 8:30am

PT 13015:

By this point it was very windy and very cold. I need to start carrying my balaclava again. I turned and headed back down towards the saddle.

Here’s the overall route back to my campsite:

I made it back to my campsite at 9am, so I’d summited both peaks in under 2 hours. I ate breakfast, packed up my gear, and was back on Fall Creek trail heading north by 9:30am. Here are some pictures of the 6 miles back to Fall Creek Trailhead.

I made it back to the trailhead at 11:50am, making this a 16.36 mile hike with 3188’ of elevation gain.

On to the next trailhead!