| Audubon-Paiute Traverse via SE Ridge Route |
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| Audubon-Paiute Traverse via SE Ridge   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 40.09890°N / 105.6164°W Route Type: Scramble Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 3
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| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Jul 15, 2004 / Jul 15, 2004 Object ID: 161512 Hits: 3108 Loading... Page Score: 86.03% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Approach
See the GETTING THERE section on the MAIN PAGE.
Descending a cozy dihedral into the Notch
Southeast Ridge Route of Mount Audubon, IU Trekkers Outing, Summer, 2004 Digital photo by Ellen Ritt
Route Description
Part One
Follow SP member Chris’s route, the Southeast Ridge route on Mount Audubon.
     
    
Part Two
Once on top of Mount Audubon, descend due west from the summit on the solid Class 2 ridge toward Mount Paiute. The rock is solid and use of hands is rarely required. Sticking to the top of the ridge keeps the scrambling interesting and keeps your pace efficient. From the saddle and low point of the ridge, it is a fun scramble over Class 2 rock up to Paiute’s summit. Staying on the ridge or just to the left offers the most expedient route and the most entertaining climbing. This stuff is a joy to move over!
    
Part Three
Descend a rib of Class 3 rock described in Kane’s excellent West Ridge route.
    
Once at the base of this rock rib and on tundra, head east on more tundra just south of the Upper Blue Lake. Some route finding is required to avoid some potential dead ends, but that’s part of the fun of navigating in this glorious basin. Any number of descent routes down draws will get you to the trail that skirts the north side of Lower Blue Lake. Follow the trail due east back to your vehicle.
This route would be an incredible amount of fun in reverse as well.
BAIL ROUTES
If circumstances dictate a descent from Mount Audubon, descend via the Audubon Trail. A descent via the route you climbed is certainly feasible, but time consuming, which in bad weather would not be a wise choice.
Ascent to Audubon's summit is not necessary once you have climbed out of the notch. Gain altitude and veer right (north) to stay clear of a great cliff face on the west end of Audubon's east facing bowl. Staying on a northward course will bring you to the gently rolling tundra of Audubon's east slopes and the Audubon Trail will become visible. Intercept it for your descent.
If the weather turns ugly while on the ridge connecting Paiute and Audubon, there are several bail routes to the south toward the Blue Lakes. Be sure that you do not descend into a trap and get cliffed out or marooned by lingering snow and ice. Expect much loose rock on any bail route option from this ridge.
If you are on Mount Paiute, the safest bail option is the rest of the route, or a talus and scree filled gully just west of the rib described herein.
MILEAGE & LANDMARKS
1.0 Leave the trail after crossing a stream on two double logged bridges
1.2 Engage in boulder hoping just northwest of Mitchell Lake due NNE
1.4 Climb west up the gently rising ridge, encounter some fun obstacles along the crest
2.0 Down climb the notch, about 100 feet, via a dihedral (Class 3), and climb out of the notch (Class 3)
2.6 Summit of Mount Audubon
3.1 Audubon-Paiute Saddle
3.5 Summit of Paiute
3.7 Descent of rib on Paiute southeast face
4.3 Hiking past Upper Blue Lake due east
4.7 After a descent from the upper basin, intercept the trail on north side of Lower Blue Lake
6.0 Complete loop where you departed the trail, just west of two double logged bridges
7.1 Arrive at your vehicle
TOTALS
7.1 miles, 3,158 feet gain
Essential Gear
Standard day hike gear will do. Boots with good tread are strongly recommended.
Assuming you are able to access this route during winter conditions (a daunting proposition to be sure), a full array of winter gear and technical climbing skills on Audubon’s Southeast Ridge Route and Paiute’s Southeast Face (probably via a snow slope just west of the rock rib) would be mandatory. Completion of this entire route in the winter is a serious challenge that while is impressive in scope, is a proposition that is strongly not recommended.
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
Images
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Indian Peaks (CO)
