Great mountain!
The last hundred feet or so was pretty cool! A great fall day.
mattpayne11 - Apr 27, 2009 2:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 1986
Beware of Lightning. Date Climbed: July 5, 1986
I recall this one vividly from my childhood. As we were about 200 feet from the summit, weather moved in very fast. The closer we got to the top, the louder this sound was, turned out there was a lightning rod on the top and it was buzzing. The metal thing on the inside of my hat rattling as well. We bolted down very fast despite the fact that it was lightly raining. I'm very lucky to be alive. This happened when I was 7 years old...
A great solo from North Fork Lake. Blue skies & sun, sleet, more blue skies, whiteout, blue skies, then thunder snow....an interesting finish to the official summer season.
Eric Holle - Aug 24, 2008 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
French, Frasco BM & Casco
Perfect day for a nice hike...
kavak - Jul 31, 2008 9:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 1990
From Halfmoom Creek TH
I was supposed to meet up with the Colorado Mountain Club on this one. Somehow missed them and started solo up Casco. Later crossed paths with them on top of Frasco Peak, but continued on to French Mtn.
SarahThompson - May 23, 2008 2:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
Twice
10/27/07 - Roach's standard circuit for climbing French, Frasco & Casco. Traversed the ridge from French. A nice fall solo hike.
1/19/14 - Hiked the East Ridge from Echo Canyon. A wind scoured line provided an avy safe path to the Bull Hill saddle. I'm sure this is not always the case in winter.
MountainHikerCO - Mar 17, 2008 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2002
North Lake Creek TH
We climbed Casco from North Lake Creek trailhead. This hike introduced us to this interesting group of mountains just west of Mt Elbert.
thebeave7 - Nov 5, 2007 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2007
Francisco Traverse
Traverse the big 3, French, Frasco, and Casco. Snow on the North ridge of Casco made it interesting, a little class 3/4 mixed climbing right near the ridge made for some fun. Snow was pure sugar, and didn't hold. A fun and beautiful day out.
http://www.ericjlee.com/Photos/071102%20FrenchMt/index.php
Completed the French/Frasco/Casco traverse here. N Ridge had substantial amount of unconsolidated snow on it, increasing the difficulty of the final scramble to Casco's summit. Climbed some interesting, snow-filled 4th class chimneys.
started at Halfmoon 2wd TH and combined Casco with French, Frasco BM, 13660, & Lackawanna via a car shuttle. Nice scrambling opportunities below the summit on the north ridge.
csmcgranahan - Aug 4, 2007 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2007
Success
Summited along with Frasco and French from Halfmoon Road.
miztflip - Jul 1, 2007 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2007
From North Lake TH
Climbed Casco after making the out and back to French. The climbing on Casco was the best of the bunch with some optional fun scrambling on very solid rock near the summit.
Brian Kalet - Aug 5, 2006 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
North Ridge
En route to Frasco Benchmark and French Mountain. 5:58 roundtrip.
Route Climbed: from French/Frasco Date Climbed: September 12, 2002
This is a beautiful peak and the ridge from Frasco to here is what I consider to be the definition of Class 2+. A beautiful autumn day with the willows turned into a sea of gold.
Pete Castricone - Sep 30, 2009 10:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2009
Via North Lake CreekCasco/Frasco/French combo With Kiefer. "Class 2 my ass."
Kiefer - Sep 29, 2009 11:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2009
from North ForkGreat mountain!
The last hundred feet or so was pretty cool! A great fall day.
mattpayne11 - Apr 27, 2009 2:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 1986
Beware of Lightning. Date Climbed: July 5, 1986I recall this one vividly from my childhood. As we were about 200 feet from the summit, weather moved in very fast. The closer we got to the top, the louder this sound was, turned out there was a lightning rod on the top and it was buzzing. The metal thing on the inside of my hat rattling as well. We bolted down very fast despite the fact that it was lightly raining. I'm very lucky to be alive. This happened when I was 7 years old...
heather14 - Sep 22, 2008 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
French, Frasco BM & CascoA great solo from North Fork Lake. Blue skies & sun, sleet, more blue skies, whiteout, blue skies, then thunder snow....an interesting finish to the official summer season.
Eric Holle - Aug 24, 2008 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
French, Frasco BM & CascoPerfect day for a nice hike...
kavak - Jul 31, 2008 9:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 1990
From Halfmoom Creek THI was supposed to meet up with the Colorado Mountain Club on this one. Somehow missed them and started solo up Casco. Later crossed paths with them on top of Frasco Peak, but continued on to French Mtn.
SarahThompson - May 23, 2008 2:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
Twice10/27/07 - Roach's standard circuit for climbing French, Frasco & Casco. Traversed the ridge from French. A nice fall solo hike.
1/19/14 - Hiked the East Ridge from Echo Canyon. A wind scoured line provided an avy safe path to the Bull Hill saddle. I'm sure this is not always the case in winter.
MountainHikerCO - Mar 17, 2008 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2002
North Lake Creek THWe climbed Casco from North Lake Creek trailhead. This hike introduced us to this interesting group of mountains just west of Mt Elbert.
thebeave7 - Nov 5, 2007 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2007
Francisco TraverseTraverse the big 3, French, Frasco, and Casco. Snow on the North ridge of Casco made it interesting, a little class 3/4 mixed climbing right near the ridge made for some fun. Snow was pure sugar, and didn't hold. A fun and beautiful day out.
http://www.ericjlee.com/Photos/071102%20FrenchMt/index.php
Gahugafuga - Sep 27, 2007 6:30 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2007
Francisco TraverseCompleted the French/Frasco/Casco traverse here. N Ridge had substantial amount of unconsolidated snow on it, increasing the difficulty of the final scramble to Casco's summit. Climbed some interesting, snow-filled 4th class chimneys.
shknbke - Sep 24, 2007 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2007
from French/Frascostarted at Halfmoon 2wd TH and combined Casco with French, Frasco BM, 13660, & Lackawanna via a car shuttle. Nice scrambling opportunities below the summit on the north ridge.
csmcgranahan - Aug 4, 2007 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2007
SuccessSummited along with Frasco and French from Halfmoon Road.
miztflip - Jul 1, 2007 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2007
From North Lake THClimbed Casco after making the out and back to French. The climbing on Casco was the best of the bunch with some optional fun scrambling on very solid rock near the summit.
Brian Kalet - Aug 5, 2006 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
North RidgeEn route to Frasco Benchmark and French Mountain. 5:58 roundtrip.
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:27 pm
Route Climbed: via Date Climbed: July 24, 2004Great combo with French and Frasco Benchmark, some fun light scrambling on the ridge.
ColoradoScott - Feb 7, 2005 4:34 pm
Route Climbed: S. Halfmoon Creek TH to French to Frasco and Casco Date Climbed: August 6, 2000Please see my trip report under French Mountain's page titled "The San Francasco Treat"
Larry V - Sep 12, 2004 6:55 pm
Route Climbed: north ridge, Lackawanna Gulch approach Date Climbed: August 2004Lovely place, climbed with Ron and Ryan. Didn't see another soul.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 4:24 pm
Route Climbed: from French/Frasco Date Climbed: September 12, 2002This is a beautiful peak and the ridge from Frasco to here is what I consider to be the definition of Class 2+. A beautiful autumn day with the willows turned into a sea of gold.