12724 B, 13017, "Window Peak", Rio Grande Pyramid & 13278 : Trip Reports : SummitPost

Stats

Peak Name	CO Rank	Elevation
12724 B	841	12724
13017	628	13017
“Window Peak”	517	13157
Rio Grande Pyramid	97	13821
13278	417	13278

Distance: ~25 miles
Elevation Gain: ~7000'

12724 B

I camped at the Ute Creek Trailhead Saturday night because camping at the Weminuche Trailhead parking area is forbidden. I woke up and drove to the Weminuche Trailhead parking area Sunday morning and left the parking area at 2:30 am. I followed the Weminuche Trail to the Pine River Trail to the Rincon La Vaca Trail. I passed by Opal Lake and got a good view of Rio Grande Pyramid. I left the Rincon La Vaca Trail and contoured to the 13017-12724 B saddle. I climbed towards 12724 B and reached the summit at 8:15 am.

Rio Grande Pyramid from Opal Lake

13017

I descended towards the 13017-12724 B saddle and climbed to the base of 13017’s east ridge. The ridge was composed of loose boulders. The climbing was mostly third class with a couple of fourth class moves, but very slow in order to avoid pulling a large boulder on top of me. I reached the summit at 9:22 am.

"Window Peak"

I descended the east ridge, then the north face and traversed to the “Window Peak”-13017 saddle. I followed Window Peak’s easy south ridge and reached the summit at 10:35 am.

“Window Peak” & The Window

Rio Grande Pyramid

I descended Window Peak’s north ridge, then contoured to the east below the hoodoos on the ridge. I walked by The Window, gained the Rio Grande Pyramid-“Window Peak” saddle and began climbing the western of two south facing couloirs on Rio Grande Pyramid. The rock was more stable than I anticipated. It began raining prior to gaining the Continental Divide. I followed the Continental Divide and reached the summit at 11:45 am.

Rio Grande Pyramid’s South Face

13278

I descended the east slopes to the Rio Grande Pyramid-13278 saddle. The rain had ceased, so I ascended 13278’s southwest ridge. The rain started again. I reached the summit at 12:45 pm. The skies were very dark and the rain was falling hard. I descended the 13278’s southeast ridge, then a loose gully and joined the Opal Lake Trail. I followed the Opal Lake Trail to the Weminuche Trail and reached the parking area completing a 14 hour day.

Images