Incredibly steep slopes are initially climbed when approaching Little Giant via Dives Basin IF you do not locate or wish not to take the old miner's trail. This is STEEP terrain! We climbed over 1,000 feet in the first half mile. Expect possible Class 3 conditions on mildly exposed slabs of igneous rock and steep staircase tundra. Cross the stream on your right at around 700 feet of gain to intercept the old miner's trail in the basin above timberline.

San Juan Mountains, Fall, 2006.

Digital photo by Ellen Ritt