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| Horseshoe Basin   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 39.63390°N / 105.8169°W Route Type: Scramble Time Required: Half a day Difficulty: Class 2+
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| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Jun 9, 2003 / Jun 16, 2006 Object ID: 158180 Hits: 3125 Loading... Page Score: 87.01% - 4 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
ApproachThis is a fast and easy scramble up the south ridge of Grays Peak. The climb is designed with expediency in mind. If you've got a full schedule and you still want a great climb squeezed in to your day, this is a good one, designed with busy folks who need their mountain fix in mind.
Exit from Highway 6 at the Keystone/River Run area and proceed east up the Snake River drainage toward Montezuma. This is a well maintained county road. At mile 4.5, turn left on the road going up Peru Creek, which rapidly becomes a road best navigated by a high clearance vehicle. Though not mandatory, 4WD is recommended.
Follow this road high up into Horseshoe Basin if you want this trip to be a short outing and a quick climb of a 14er. Start lower if you're looking to linger and enjoy the area.
At 12,000 feet, the road turns west and the route starts.
Route DescriptionWhen the road bends south, leave it and climb directly west up a sweeping tundra ramp that climbs rapidly to a shoulder of Grays' south ridge. The higher you go, the steeper it gets. Recent increased usage has resulted in several climber's trails. Please stay on these trails when feasible to reduce your impact on the fragile tundra.
Just over a mile into your climb, at about 13,600', the ramp changes from tundra to rock and some fun scrambling begins. Once on the ridge, turn right and follow it north through more scrambling to the top.
If you have time and energy, proceed further north down Grays and across the saddle to Torreys peak. If you're in good shape, you can make it to Torreys in 30-45 minutes. The price and workout is climbing back over Grays to get back to your car.
Return the same route.
MILEAGE Starting at 12,000 feet
LEAVE ROAD .23 miles
TUNDRA RAMP BEGINS .41 miles
ROCK CLIMBING 1.1 miles
SOUTH RIDGE 1.19 miles
SUMMIT 1.5
Add 1.5 miles to go to Torreys Peak and back over Grays Peak.
ROUND TRIP DISTANCE: 3 miles
GAIN: 2270'
WITH TORREYS PEAK: 4.50 miles
GAIN: 3245'
Essential GearWINTER
Full winter gear is recommended, including ice axe, snow shoes and crampons. This is serious avalanche territory. Proceed under your own informed judgement. A winter excursion in this otherwise inaccesible area would likely involve a camp.
SPRING
Barring access problems, snow shoes and winter gear are recommended for normal snow conditions. Add ice axe and crampons for heavy snow conditions. Winter gear suggested.
SUMMER & FALL
Standard dayhike gear will do.
For a fast trip, access into Horseshoe Basin requires a high clearance vehicle at the least, with 4WD preferred. Lesser vehicles have managed to make the trip, but at their own peril.
Miscellaneous InfoIf you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
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Front Range (CO)
