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Peak(s)  Uncompahgre Peak  -  14,318 feet
Date Posted  06/22/2009
Date Climbed   06/20/2009
Author  MUni Rider
 Uncompahgre Peak, Snowy Day-20 JUNE 2009   
Wetterhorn Peak and Uncompahgre Peak trip on 19th and 20th of June 2009.

After hiking Wetterhorn the day prior in perfect blue-bird conditions, ( http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6225 ) we awoke from our campsite to heavy cloud cover. We had camped at the trail juction on MAtterhorn Creek trail where left gets you to Wetterhorn Peak, and a right takes you up over the pass toward Uncompahgre Peak. After a good breakfast and getting hte gear together, we started hiking over the pass toward Uncompahgre at 7:45 am. By the time we got up to the top of the pass, the sky was looking better.

Forgive the dirty lens in some of these pics.

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Here's the view looking back toward Matterhorn and Wetterhorn Peaks.

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Here's the view of Uncompahgre from the top of the pass. Looks good from here.

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View looking back, showing the on and off snow as you hike. The snow was firm and we never post-holed unless at the very edges of the snow, and there it is only 2-3 inches deep.

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Kathy hiking ahead on the trail heading around one of the dirt humps.

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Kathy hiking ahead on the trail.

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View of Uncompahgre, here the trail crosses one of the largest of the 2,753 stream crossings. This one had plenty of rocks to hop across. Nearly of the other streams are only 1-3 inches deep and 1-3 feet wide. We hiked all day with dry feet so no worries.

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Kathy hiking ahead on the trail. There are 3 or 4 of these mini ridges to get over along the trail.

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Kathy hiking ahead on the trail.

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Kathy hiking ahead on the trail.

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View of the route ahead near where our trail meets the Nellie Creek Trail.

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View looking back down the Nellie Creek Trail at the junction with our trail from Matterhorn Creek Trail.

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As you continue to climb up the class 1 grass slope toward the class 2 section, you pass 3 or 4 large "ramparts" to your left with cliffs below. You can see from the view between tow of them, looking back at the pass we came through how the weather has been changing as we've been hiking.

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THe easy hiking is over. After completing the big Z turn switchback up to the first cliff band, the trail tucks around the left side of the cliffs, and this is your view of the trail leading upward.

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Follow the trail until it leads you to this snote chimney. Trail stair-steps up on the right side of the chimney. Lots of options, but some of the stones are loose. Take care to look back from the top so you recognize your route down. Remember on the way back down to look for that chimney as your marker and the trail will be to the left. (That mental note helped me a lot!)

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THe trail meanders around rock outcroppings eventually meeting up with the next cliff band as it makes it's way toward the right.

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After gaining the 2nd cliff band, we are now on the sloped summit platuae. This is our view as we are hiking, so I didn't take many pics in this area.

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Success! I would have preferred a nice view, the the conditions did make for interesting pics not the less. We didn't spend much time o the summit. Although the ground was free and clear off all snow, the air, however, was full of it!

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Hiking back down the grass slopes below the cliff bands.

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Approaching the pass back toward Matterhorn Creek. THe clouds are finally starting to break and reveal Wetterhorn and Matterhorn summits.

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At the top of the pass, looking back at Uncompahgre Peak.

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Ground mist rising up from the ground as the sun begins to pierce the clouds. Blue sky ahead!

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Crossing the pass.


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Nearing camp, naturally artistic fall marks in the steep snow.

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AFter breaking camp, a view of Wetterhorn and Matterhorn. Hard to believe we just hiked through 5 hours of snowfall!

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Nearing the trailhead, there are many nice views of Matterhorn Creek.



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
lavabomb
User
thank goodness for snow
11/30/2010 5:20pm
It's a really good thing I couldn't tell how close I was to the edge of that abyss! :shock: Why do I listen to you?? lol :lol:


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