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| Amphitheatre   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 38.12000°N / 107.535°W Route Type: Scramble Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 3
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| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Sep 19, 2003 / Jun 16, 2006 Object ID: 158854 Hits: 1725 Loading... Page Score: 86.33% - 2 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Approach & MapDive up the West Fork Cimarron Road 2.3 miles to a crossing of the Cimarron River. Park here unless you desire to proceed with your 4WD vehicle through the creek and to the end of the road, another .5 mile beyond. In a clearing at the terminus of a great wash, the road ends at the Wetterhorn Basin Trailhead, and your climb of Precipice will begin.
Route DescriptionRock hop due east up the left side of a massive debris field of rocks of all shapes, sizes and colors, traversing some shallow gullies as you go. Aim for the base of a ridge of trees on your left. As you approach the beginning of the tree covered ridge, you may see a faded red plexiglass marker marking the wilderness boundary. Not far beyond, a climb up a steep, grassy slope begins your steep bushwack up this ridge.
Try to stay on top of the ridge as you enter the forest and make your way through a maze of fallen timbers. Actual Class 2 scrambling over logs and through deadfall may be encountered. Serious bushwacking and route finding experience is required to negotiate this section. An occasional hint of a trail may eventually be encountered. Be sure to maintain your eastward course and stay on the crest of the ridge as much as possible.
One mile from the Cimarron River crossing, you’ll enter the first clearing, then pass through another brief patch of forest for another tenth of a mile. At timberline, if you’re on course, you’ll come across a little surprise: a cairn! One of four or five on the mountain, you might be a bit relieved that there have been those that have gone before, but there is little evidence otherwise. Your route finding abilities will still be utilized.
Scramble up through a boulder field on an eastward course, watching upslope on your left for four mysterious holes in a buttress of rock. You’ll arrive at the base of a tundra slope littered in rocks that leads directly to these “coves.” Climb directly toward the coves up the slope, aiming for the large one on the right. When you arrive at the cove opening, traverse to the right across loose scree and talus just below this dark overhang.
Proceed east along the base of some rocks to some orange colored rock slabs. Your boot treads will grip this rock well. Lots of loose rock is littered on these slabs, so proceed cautiously. Scramble northeast to 12,200 feet beneath a great amphitheatre full of spires and hoodoos.
Climb up a tundra slope on your right. This steep slope borders the south edge of this dramatic amphitheatre. The views will keep you entertained as you gain altitude quickly. Continue up this slope until you run out of mountain just beyond some black rocks. At 12,680 feet, enjoy the spectacular view of the Middle Cimarron and the many hoodoos below Precipice’s towering east face. Look left to some hoodoo spires. A scant use trail leads across the tundra to a notch between these spires.
Climb through the notch (Class 2) on solid, knobby rock akin to the Crestones. Traverse north about 30 feet and climb to your right straight up the knobby strata (Class 3), angling left to gain a very interesting ridge mottled in this knobby and pleasantly solid terrain. Follow the ridge as it climbs toward the first summit. Watch your step-drop-offs to the right are immediate and massive.
Pass a balanced rock and go over or around the smooth pinkish-white volcanic tuff formation. This stuff looks like whipped crème, but your boot soles will grip it handily. Scramble to the first summit (Class 2), where the true summit will be seen not far beyond. Dropping to a saddle between the summits means negotiating a 5 foot high knobby rock either directly (Class 2+) or around its left (west) side. It is then a stroll up more stable knob rock to the summit.
Descend the same route, which should be equally as fun as the ascent, a rare statement for most routes.
ALTERNATE DESCENT ROUTE
If you are interested in a round trip that encircles the Amphitheatre, this route is an interesting alternative. However, it does not save you any time and loose rock will be encountered.
Not far below the balanced rock, but before descending to the spires and notch, angle west down a steep slope of talus and scree that is fairly stable. Look for some dark colored rocks and descend toward them, keeping the depths of the Amphitheatre to your left. At the dark rocks, the steep slope is covered in large talus. This rock collection is loose, so proceed through the obstacle one at a time, staying close to the solid buttress as much as possible. Below this 30 foot stretch, conditions improve. Stay on the ridge crest as you descend.
Keep the Amphitheatre to your left, descending a gray colored patch of hard packed scree. This is a serious test of your treads and footing, and a graceful descent may be more difficult than you’d expect. Not far below though is tundra. Follow this steep tundra slope down to the bottom of the Amphitheatre, where you’ll rejoin the ascent route.
DESCENT TIP
At the bottom of the Amphitheatre, guard against the inclination to follow a gray colored gully too far down the mountain. Cross this gully back over to the orange slabs and traverse back to the coves. Descend the tundra band, which is the way you came up. Do not attempt to descend the gully to the south back to the trailhead. Retrace your steps through the bushwack in the forest back to your vehicle or camp. The bushwack on the return goes fairly quick if you can retrace your steps.
MILEAGE: 3.86 miles
GAIN: 2560 ft.
MILE MARKERS (From Cimarron Creek crossing)
.5 Wetterhorn Basin Trailhead
.75 Wilderness marker and bushwacking
1.0 First clearing
1.1 Timberline & cairn
1.2 Boulders
1.3 Tundra and talus
1.4 Coves
1.45 Orange slabs
1.48 Tundra south of Amphitheatre
1.68 Run out of mountain!
1.7 Spires and notch at 12,760
1.8 Volcanic tuff rock
1.9 First summit
1.95 Summit
2.11 Alternate descent
2.42 Routes meet at Amphitheatre bottom
3.86 Vehicle
More Route Photos
More Route Photos
Essential GearStandard day hike gear will do. For winter conditions, see the WHEN TO CLIMB section on the main page.
A 4WD vehicle is suggested to make the stream crossing. The road may require some moderate clearance from year to year. As of Summer, 2003, the road was maintained to the Courthouse Mountain trailhead and passenger cars could navigate it easily. 4WD or high clearance is recommended to reach the Wetterhorn Basin trailhead.
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Uncompahgre Wilderness
