Horseshoe Mountain
Boudoir CouloirDifficulty Difficult Class 2
Snow Steepness: Moderate
Snow Steepness: Moderate
TrailheadFourmile Creek
Start11,600 feet
Summit13,918 feet
Total Gain2,350 feet
RT Length6 miles
AuthorBillMiddlebrook
Last UpdatedMay 2023
WARNING!This route should only be climbed with consolidated, stable snow, usually in spring or early summer. In mid-winter, many snow routes have frequent risk of avalanche.
Trailhead
From Fairplay, drive just over a mile south on U.S. 285 and turn right onto County Road 18. Drive 10 miles to reach the Leavick site, at 11,250'. There's a large parking area on the left after you pass the buildings. If you'd like to drive higher, the road is usually in good enough shape for most vehicles. At 12 miles and 12,000', reach the trailhead at a gate and small parking area. If the parking is full, there are pull-offs down the road.
Route
While driving up the Fourmile Creek road, locate a 4wd road on the left, near 11,600' and approx. 0.75 mile past the Leavick site - 1 and 2. Park here or continue up the road if it's dry. Either way, continue 0.5 mile up this road to a point where it takes a sharp left. Continue left on the road or take a more direct line southwest ( 3) and you'll get your first view of Horseshoe, near 12,100' - 4.
Follow the road west to approx. 12,300' until you can see the small lakes just east of Horseshoe. You'll also have a nice, head-one view of Boudoir Couloir - 5. Leave the road and traverse southwest toward Boudoir and the large, horseshoe-shaped cirque - 6. Continue your southwest traverse above the lakes, ascend a large rock heap ( 7) and walk over to the base of Boudoir - 8 and 9.
Near 12,900', begin climbing the couloir - 10. As you ascend, you may notice the pitch isn't as steep as it appears during the approach but a fall here could still send you to the bottom. 11, 12 and 13 were taken in the 2/3 of the couloir. As you approach the top, the angle increases but the route is obvious - 14, 15, 16 and 17. Near 13,800', the difficulty quickly eases ( 18) just a short distance from the summit ridge. Gain the ridge ( 19), pass a small building ( 20) and walk 0.1 mile over to the summit - 21.
Follow the road west to approx. 12,300' until you can see the small lakes just east of Horseshoe. You'll also have a nice, head-one view of Boudoir Couloir - 5. Leave the road and traverse southwest toward Boudoir and the large, horseshoe-shaped cirque - 6. Continue your southwest traverse above the lakes, ascend a large rock heap ( 7) and walk over to the base of Boudoir - 8 and 9.
Near 12,900', begin climbing the couloir - 10. As you ascend, you may notice the pitch isn't as steep as it appears during the approach but a fall here could still send you to the bottom. 11, 12 and 13 were taken in the 2/3 of the couloir. As you approach the top, the angle increases but the route is obvious - 14, 15, 16 and 17. Near 13,800', the difficulty quickly eases ( 18) just a short distance from the summit ridge. Gain the ridge ( 19), pass a small building ( 20) and walk 0.1 mile over to the summit - 21.
Notes
None
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