This hike starts along the West Winfield 4WD road which is used primarily for access to 14er La Plata Peak. If you have 2WD, park near Winfield. From Winfield turn west onto the West Winfield 4WD road and continue past the final buildings. You can start this hike in several places along the 4WD road but the best starting point is at approximately 1.2 miles. Pass the Winfield Cemetery after approx. 0.4 mile. Shortly after the cemetery there's a parking loop to the right and shortly after that a large parking area to the left. If you are able to drive to the 1.2mi point, there's parking in a clearing on the right.
1 is an overview in Google Earth. From the 1.2mi point on the road, start walking north through meadows and intersect a faint road that heads east. Follow this road east for less than a 1/4 mile. It ultimately goes to a building on private property so you'll want to leave this road shortly after your cross Grey Copper creek. Turn left (north) and begin your ascent of Ervin Peak's south ridge. You might find trail segments but don't expect much. Bushwhack up to steeper terrain near 11,600' and grind up to tree line, at 11,900' -
2 and
3. Continue up the talus-covered ridge (
4) to 12,600' where the angle eases and you can see the remaining route up Ervin -
5. Stay near the ridge crest and continue to the west end of Ervin's west ridge -
6 and
7. Now the fun begins! The ridge to Ervin's summit has plenty of Class 3 sections -
8. Staying mostly near the ridge crest, begin scrambling toward the summit -
9. When you reach the point seen in
10, bypass its top by dropping slightly to the right -
11. Regain the ridge and scramble over more rugged points -
12,
13 and
14. When you reach the light-colored rock of the final pitch, scramble up the left side -
15. From the summit,
16 looks north to 13er Mount Hope.
Return to the west end of the ridge and decide whether or not you should continue to Mt. Blaurock. If so, drop west off the ridge, toward the Ervin-Blaurock saddle -
17. Zig zag down the obvious, Class 2 ridge -
18 and
19. From the saddle, begin your ascent of Blaurock's southeast ridge -
20 and
21. You'll find plenty of loose rock here but this ridge has far fewer Class 3 sections compared to Ervin. Continue on or just left of the ridge crest -
22,
23 and
24. With only 0.1 mile remaining, drop to a small saddle (
25) before continuing up to Blaurock's summit -
26.
For the descent, start by returning over Blaurock's ridge -
27. When you have returned to 13,400' on a point that overlooks the remaining descent to the saddle (
28), you have a decision to make. You can either 1) Return to Ervin's west ridge and descend via your ascent route or 2) Descend Blaurock's south ridge, shown with the arrow in
28. While the terrain is easier if you go back via Ervin, its longer and requires regain. Option #2 is more direct but the ridge is a bit more difficult and loose. Let's take option #2. Turn right and start down the ridge. You won't find a trail here and you'll have to work around rocky sections and carefully navigate some loose rock -
29. Continue along the ridge -
30 and
31. Near 12,700', reach the crux of the ridge - you can either stay on the ridge crest or bypass some difficulties by dropping left -
32 and
33. Going left is loose but still Class 2. On easier terrain, turn right to bypass a rock outcrop and then continue down the ridge -
34. Enter the trees and bushwhack south along the ridge -
35,
36 and
37. Intersect the main road near your starting point.
GPX Track File
