| 3-17-2007, Hoosier Pass – Hoosier Ridge Route, Last Weekend of Winter.. Trip Report |
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| 3-17-2007, Hoosier Pass – Hoosier Ridge Route, Last Weekend of Winter..   | 
| Page Type: Trip Report Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 39.33920°N / 106.0047°W Date Climbed/Hiked: Mar 17, 2007 Activities: Mountaineering Season: Winter | Page By: altitude14er Created/Edited: Mar 18, 2007 / Mar 21, 2007 Object ID: 278960 Hits: 417 Loading... Page Score: 0% - 0 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
The Long Slog Approximately 8.5 miles roundtrip; 2,283ft. of Elevation Gain
Hoosier Pass TH, 11,539ft.
Featuring Altitude14er
After climbing North Star Mtn. (13,614ft) on 3-11-2007 I was pumped for more climbing. The weekend arrived and I found myself without a climbing partner. Ooops! Looked like I was going to be getting a little Rocky Mountain solitude. I chose to climb Colorado’s 96th highest peak because I had gotten a great chance to preview conditions the week prior and they are great right now. I knew that above tree line things were so windswept snowshoes wouldn’t be needed. I didn’t want to be crossing any avalanche terrain on the solo, ya’ know?!
The morning was clear and sunny, surprisingly warm for mid-March. It took me two hours to get from Denver to Hoosier Pass, departing at 6:45am. I cruised US 285 West to the CO 9 junction in Fairplay, CO. From here I took CO 9 towards Breckenridge. The summit of Hoosier Pass is hard to miss and has a large parking area on the West side of the CO 9. There were only two other cars here. I had that nervous anticipation that precedes a solo climb in the harsh months of Colorado weather – not an ideal time to get injured. I was well equipped with a 35 pound pack on, snowshoes, ice-axe, etc., etc.
I crossed Hoosier Pass and strapped on my MSR snowshoes on the East side of Hoosier Pass at 8:45am. They were much needed on the trail leading East through the trees. The snow was soft and loosing stability quickly under the warm morning sun. Behind me to the West the views of Mt. Lincoln & Bross were great. In a few spots at tree line the snow shifted and made a “uuummpphh” sound as it shifted a half a foot lower while I stood upon it. The terrain in these areas was practically horizontal and not a danger. I would urge others to beware of the avalanche danger right now in Colorado; conditions are prime for it as is to be expected in March.
Once at tree line I previewed the slope leading up Hoosier Ridge.
The terrain was mellow and dry so I shed my snowshoes & hauled them on my back. I reached the top of the first hill, point 12,614ft. From here you loose and gain several ‘bumps’ along the ridge. I was glad that I had chosen this route and not modified it to avoid gaining the extra elevation. Below me and to the South of the ridge were large avalanche cornices and steep snowfields. I wouldn’t want to cross below those!
I followed the ridge to about 13,800ft. and crossed below the top of Hoosier Ridge. From here I descended the ridge in a Southerly direction leading towards Mt. Silverheels massive North Spur. It looked enticing. I surged along the ridge of several ups and downs. Finally I stood below the final incline. No more loss and gain, just upward-steep elevation gain to the summit from here.
As I rested for a moment I saw a herd of roughly 12 bighorn sheep high on Silverheels North Slopes. They were never in good enough view to snap a photo and the camera was right in the sun. Go figure. I climbed the North Slope but never caught up to them, they disappeared from view with there superior climbing prowess. I exclaimed, “Wish I could climb like that!"
It was up here, very high that I remembered Gerry Roach’s words in his climbing guidebook, “Colorado Thirteeners” – “The size of Silverheels’ upper slopes may fool you.” They did indeed! I climbed three false summits before being faced with final, easy slope leading to the summit. I achieved it and soaked up the views, chewing on a cold apple it was now 1:30. It had taken me 4 hours and 45 minutes to ascend. My right hand was freezing and stinging without a glove in the wind up there.
I quickly snapped my pics and descended in a hurry, eager to get up and over Hoosier Ridge again. It really isn’t until your back up this hill that you begin the descent in earnest. The 2,283ft of elevation gain noted in this report excludes any loss and re-gain of elevation. In actuality, it is much, much more than the deceiving number of 2,283ft. Happy Climbs!
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Front Range (CO)
