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Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:59 pm
by tiogap
Hi. I am interested in day hiking a third class peak in the San Juans. Suggestions appreciated.
thanks.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:24 am
by steppendonk
Engineer. Hesperus. Lookout. Fuller.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:29 am
by Layne Bracy
Sneffels, Wetterhorn, Lavender, Wilson Pk

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:43 am
by Teresa Gergen
Tiogap, I'm guessing from your image collection that you might be from CA and used to climbing in the Sierras? If so, our definition of Class 3 is not the same as yours, and our San Juan rock is about as different from Sierra granite as you can get. Imagine your idea of Class 3 on the scree slopes of Keith, where the Class 3 holds are just as loose as the scree they're embedded in.

You might find South Lookout or US Grant to be closer to your idea of Class 3. A wonderful little gem is "Dragons Back."
http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=416
http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=143
http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/Climbers.php?Id=844
Another might be Mount Wilson (not Wilson Peak) by its south ridge from Kilpacker Basin, which is long for a dayhike.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:53 am
by Koy
I would recommend the SW Ridge on Sneffels from Blue Lakes basin. Easily one of my favorites in the whole state.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:59 am
by drjohnso1182
Arrow Peak - solid rock, spectacular setting. The hike in's a chore.

Edit - just saw "day hiking". My bad. Though I guess a good number of people do it in a day.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:25 am
by paisajeroamericano
I haven't climb too extensively in the San Juans, but I did climb Wetterhorn this spring and it was definitely the most interesting of the dozen or so peaks I've climbed in Colorado... it seemed like a solid Class 3 Route by Sierra standards... and a fairly short day-hike, making for a good fall climb... plus, you can always try your hands on the Matterhorn (Class 3?) or Uncompahgre (Class 2?) if you're looking for a bigger day. Good times.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:20 am
by Scott
Wetterhorn and the NE ridge of Lone Cone are good ones.

Re: Third Class Route in San Juans

PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:45 pm
by mattpayne11
I don't have any specific suggestions beyond what has already been posted (Sneffels' SW Ridge is a really fun climb), but thought I would share a little tool I created that might help you find more options.

If you go to my summit list, you can filter for class and mountain range (among many other variables).

So you can go here: http://www.100summits.com/full-summit-list.html

and then filter class for 3.0 and 3.0 (to only show mountains with class 3 rating), and then filter for San Juan Mountains.

Enjoy.

Oh and here's that one that Teresa is mentioning - looks really cool! http://www.100summits.com/full-summit-l ... 5C%22.html