Uncompahgre Peak Trip Report 07/05/2006

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Uncompahgre Peak - 14,318 feet
Date Posted	07/05/2006
Date Climbed	07/02/2006
Author	aubrey

Uncompahgre
Part 2 of my three-part trip report, "2 of us, 3 days, 4 fourteeners." Uncompahgre Peak - Sunday, July 2, 2006 As a result of the previous night's rain, the 4WD road was pretty slick and muddy, but we still made it up OK. Thankfully, where the road traversed steep slopes, it was angled into the mountain. That way, when we slid in the mud, I didn't have to worry about rolling down a slope hundreds of feet. There were also two creek crossings. One was small and easy, and the other was a good 50 feet or so wide and kind of deep (at least up to the axles on my 2001 Xterra). Water was flowing pretty good (on my way down, a Jeep Liberty hesitated crossing), but the creeks really weren't a problem at all. Looked much worse than they really were. My wife and I started up the trail at 6 a.m. Once above treeline, the abundant wildflowers were truly amazing. Many patches of columbines, and every other color you could imagine ... red, magenta, yellow, many shades of purple, etc. After switchbacking up a little (beyond where you cross the rocks near the creek -- first pic below), we found a fork in the road. After reviewing our maps, we headed left (correctly), toward Uncompahgre. Many sections of the trail were muddy, and some even had water running down them. Had to cross snow in a few areas, but it was packed and easy (no special gear or Yaktrax necessary). Here's a pic looking back down into the valley: After the ridge, the rock section was short and easy, but there were a lot of loose rocks that you had to be careful around. Some rocks were precariously settled, just waiting for a small nudge to set them free. Even though nobody was below us, we were careful not to disturb any of them. Walked up the broad slope and stepped onto the spacious summit at 8:30 a.m. It was all ours. Hung out for about 20 minutes and soaked up the magnificent views - especially those to the north (loved the mountains with rocky spires), over Uncompahgre's sheer cliffs. Being at the highest point in the San Juans was a really good feeling, and it was by far one of the best sights I've ever seen ... definitely a top-5 in Colorado, IMO. At one point, while I was trying to set up a photo, my wife said, "Hey, I think someone is screaming!" Come to find out, there were some elk bugling down in the valley below. I couldn't believe how far their voices carried. Started back down at about 10 'til 9, after briefly chatting with some climbers that were on their way up. Had great weather all day, at least until that point. A huge front of clouds was already heading our way from the west-southwest. And the skies didn't look friendly. By the time we got to treeline, clouds were above Uncompahgre and its ridge. Made it back to the parking area at 10:20 a.m. and looked back at a cloudy, dark sky. The old "off the summit before noon" adage wasn't conservative enough. And just when I was thinking that, I saw a couple heading up the trail from the parking lot ... yeesh. When we rolled back into Lake City less than an hour later, thunder was already rumbling above us. I could only imagine what it was like on the peak. Redcloud and Sunshine were up next, and based on the early thunderstorms we had been experiencing, we decided to start that climb even earlier than we had planned. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Uncompahgre

Part 2 of my three-part trip report, "2 of us, 3 days, 4 fourteeners."

Uncompahgre Peak - Sunday, July 2, 2006

As a result of the previous night's rain, the 4WD road was pretty slick and muddy, but we still made it up OK. Thankfully, where the road traversed steep slopes, it was angled into the mountain. That way, when we slid in the mud, I didn't have to worry about rolling down a slope hundreds of feet.

There were also two creek crossings. One was small and easy, and the other was a good 50 feet or so wide and kind of deep (at least up to the axles on my 2001 Xterra). Water was flowing pretty good (on my way down, a Jeep Liberty hesitated crossing), but the creeks really weren't a problem at all. Looked much worse than they really were.

My wife and I started up the trail at 6 a.m. Once above treeline, the abundant wildflowers were truly amazing. Many patches of columbines, and every other color you could imagine ... red, magenta, yellow, many shades of purple, etc.

After switchbacking up a little (beyond where you cross the rocks near the creek -- first pic below), we found a fork in the road. After reviewing our maps, we headed left (correctly), toward Uncompahgre.

Many sections of the trail were muddy, and some even had water running down them. Had to cross snow in a few areas, but it was packed and easy (no special gear or Yaktrax necessary).

Here's a pic looking back down into the valley:

After the ridge, the rock section was short and easy, but there were a lot of loose rocks that you had to be careful around. Some rocks were precariously settled, just waiting for a small nudge to set them free. Even though nobody was below us, we were careful not to disturb any of them.

Walked up the broad slope and stepped onto the spacious summit at 8:30 a.m. It was all ours. Hung out for about 20 minutes and soaked up the magnificent views - especially those to the north (loved the mountains with rocky spires), over Uncompahgre's sheer cliffs.

Being at the highest point in the San Juans was a really good feeling, and it was by far one of the best sights I've ever seen ... definitely a top-5 in Colorado, IMO.

At one point, while I was trying to set up a photo, my wife said, "Hey, I think someone is screaming!" Come to find out, there were some elk bugling down in the valley below. I couldn't believe how far their voices carried.

Started back down at about 10 'til 9, after briefly chatting with some climbers that were on their way up.

Had great weather all day, at least until that point. A huge front of clouds was already heading our way from the west-southwest. And the skies didn't look friendly. By the time we got to treeline, clouds were above Uncompahgre and its ridge.

Made it back to the parking area at 10:20 a.m. and looked back at a cloudy, dark sky. The old "off the summit before noon" adage wasn't conservative enough. And just when I was thinking that, I saw a couple heading up the trail from the parking lot ... yeesh.

When we rolled back into Lake City less than an hour later, thunder was already rumbling above us. I could only imagine what it was like on the peak.

Redcloud and Sunshine were up next, and based on the early thunderstorms we had been experiencing, we decided to start that climb even earlier than we had planned.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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