Vermilion Peak
Overview
Ice Lake area is located in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado (part of Rockies). It was on my "to do" list for a long time, and finally I made a quick one day trip and hiked up 3 surrounding peaks: Fuller Peak 13,761 feet=4192 meters, Vermilion Peak, and Golden Horn.The hike starts at South Mineral Creek Campground (easily accessible with low clearance cars), elevation at trailhead is 9,827 feet. There is an excellent Ice Lake Trail (great for trail running) starting from the campground, which gradually leads into the lower Ice Lake Basin, and then reaches Ice Lake. It is 3.5 miles to the Ice Lake, and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. The views along the hike are amazing.
Trail to the Ice Lake and along the lake
 Lower Ice Lake Basin |  Trail in the Lower Ice Lake basin |
 Waterfall in the Lower Ice Lake Basin |  Campsite near Ice Lake |
 Ice Lake |  Ulysses S. Grant Peak and Ice Lake |
Fuller Peak 13,761 ft = 4194 m
 Fuller Peak with an old miner's hut |  Fuller lake with Fuller peak in the background |
 Fuller, Vermilion and Golden Horn as seen from Ice lake |  Rest by Fuller Lake |
 Climber approaching the Vermilion-Fuller saddle |  Vermilion-Fuller saddle |
 Duchess in the saddle |  Trail to Fuller Peak |
 Fuller Peak from the saddle |  Duchess hiking along the ridge |
 almost at the top |  View west from Fuller Peak |
 View North from Fuller Peak |  Looking into Yankee Boy Basin |
Vermilion Peak 13,894 ft = 4235 m
 Vermilion Peak as seen from the top of Fuller peak |  Vermilion from Fuller-Vermilion saddle |
 Climber on Vermilion |  Duchess did so great |
 Higher up on Vermilion |  Near the summit |
 Summit of Vermilion |  Wilson Massif as seen from the top of Vermilion |
 Summit log on Vermilion |  Summit pose |
 Golden Horn from Vermilion |  Descent from Vermilion |
Golden Horn 13,780 ft = 4200 m
 Golden Horn looks intimidating, but is not |  Golden Horn and its reflection |
 Wildflower garden |  It indeed looks like a horn |
 Fat marmot |  Golden Horn from Vermilion-Golden Horn saddle |
 on the slopes of Golden Horn, Vermilion in the back |  Duchess, wait for me |
 Higher up on Golden Horn |  Final scramble |
 Climber on the summit |  Chimney leading to the eastern=lower summit |
 Grenadiers as seen from Golden Horn |  Pilot Knob as seen from the top |
 Climber on Golden Horn |  Duchess on summit of Golden Horn |
 Climber on eastern=lower summit |  Vermilion and Fuller Peak from top of Golden Horn |
 Climber descending Golden Horn |  Ledges below Golden Horn |
 and me on the descent with Vermilion in the back |  Clouds over Fuller Peak |
 Vermilion Peak |  Fuller Peak |
