Mount Guyot

From Main Street in Breckenridge, turn east on Wellington which is just north of the Main St./Lincoln stop light. Follow Wellington through a residential area with tons of stop signs. Continue on Wellington to dirt and past mines. After approximately 4 miles from Main Street, there's a marked parking area on the right with signs that ask you not to continue up the road. This is the trailhead. There's a gate shortly after the trailhead.

From the "trailhead," continue up the dirt road. Along the way, Guyot can be seen to the southeast - 1 and 2. After approximately 0.5 mile, pass a gate and continue on the road for another 0.7 mile to find a trail that leaves the main road on the left. In winter, this trail may have ski and snowshoe tracks.

Follow the trail, into Little French Gulch, for over 0.75 mile where it crosses to the right side of the creek. Continue to 11,300' and Mt. Guyot comes back into view - 3 and 4. If you are prepared for a moderate snow climb, and avalanche conditions are acceptable, the gully in the center of the Northwest Slope can be climbed to reach the upper portions of the Northwest Ridge. The gully does not exceed 30 degrees. In summer or when the slopes ahead may not be safe enough to pass below, it's best to turn right in this area and gain the Northwest Ridge near tree line - 3.

Whether you continue up the center of the slope or gain the ridge, continue to 12,500' on the ridge where the terrain flattens out - 5. 6 looks down from 12,700' and 7 from 13,000'. Grind up through talus to reach the west end of the summit ridge. 8 is another look down the route from the summit ridge.

At the top of the ridge ( 9), turn left and hike 0.1 mile east to the summit - 10.

The Northwest Slope is a fun ski when conditions are right. 4 shows some of the descent choices. The right side of the upper slope ( 11) is just under 30 degrees. 12 was taken near 12,300' on north-facing terrain skier-left of the gully leading down the slope. 13 looks back up at the same area.

In spring, the road past the trailhead is usually melted out to the trail on the left. If you're skiing, this means there is about a 1.25 mile hike to reach some snow.