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From Epaulet Mountain
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From Epaulet Mountain 

Page Type: Route

Location: Colorado, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 39.55610°N / 105.6061°W

Route Type: Hike

Time Required: Half a day

Difficulty: Class 1

Route Quality: 
 - 2 Votes
 

 

Page By: Aaron Johnson

Created/Edited: Jul 28, 2005 / Aug 13, 2008

Object ID: 166026

Hits: 1361 

Page Score: 86.02% - 1 Votes 

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Approach

From Denver, go west to Idaho Springs on Interstate 70. Take exit 240, then proceed south on Highway 103 for 13.4 miles. Continue up Highway 5, the Mount Evans Road four roughly 11.2 miles. Find a spot to park well off the road and preview your route, which heads due south across rolling tundra. Rosalie Peak is the great dome in the left foreground.

There is a $10 fee for driving up the Mount Evans Road, paid at the fee booth at the beginning of Highway 5 just east of Echo Lake Lodge. I suggest not paying the fee. See this video.

Route Description

Hike due south across the great expanse of tundra, aiming for the summit of Epaulet Mountain. You'll loose 91 feet through this stretch. You'll gain 332 feet in your walk up Epaulet Mountain. Nice views of the area, including Mount Bierstadt and the Sawtooth will be enjoyed from this perch above craggy west slope cliffs.

Descend Epaulet for 144 feet, aiming for the obvious broad saddle due east, then southeast. Ascend Point 13,530 and regain your 144 feet.

Aim southeast along the broad ridge to a saddle and Mount Rosalie, descending 610 feet. Ascend 656 feet to the broad summit of Rosalie Peak.

Return the same route. If you're short on time, contour around Epaulet on the east side above some grottos on good tundra and rock.

GAIN With all the Ups and Downs!: 2,121 feet
MILEAGE: 4.8 miles-all above timberline!

This is a great half day outing, good for getting in shape or doing an early Spring snowshoe or ski outing with relatively safe conditions.

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Essential Gear

SUMMER and FALL: Standard dayhike gear will do. Be wary of high winds and the constantly changing afternoon Mount Evans thunderstorm extravaganza. Be prepared!

SPRING: Standard winter gear with skis or snow shoes.

WINTER: The Mount Evans road is closed in the winter, making execution of this route as described impractical.

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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