ppergande - Aug 30, 2007 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2007
Rock Maze
I came up from the Ute Creek TH. A fairly long approach didn't leave much time at the top before the weather moved in. I should have started earlier. Finding a path through the maze of rock made this hike very interesting and definitely one of my favorite places in Colorado. Truly a unique place!
jhansen007 - Jun 12, 2006 3:06 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2006
Southwest Ridge
Solo overnight trip. Saw 2 people on the trail Sat and about 4 on Sunday. What a neat bizarre landscape. My first use of my new bivy sac and there were tons of great sheltered spots in the rocks above treeline. Set up camp, ate dinner and summited Bison. Watched a fantastic sunset and saw the lights of Denver come into view. Got up the next morning, summitted McCurdy, and packed out. If you want to try camping above treeline, this is a good area to do it. However, water is scarce up there. Had to melt snow. I'll be back again I'm sure.
Scott Wisher - May 16, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: May 14, 2006
Lightning Scare from Ute Creek Trailhead Got caught in a thunderstorm right as we were summitting at noon. Very scary. We were only at the summit for about 60 seconds. Beautiful summit area, just wish I could have seen more. Will be back.
Route Climbed: Ute creek Date Climbed: November 29, 2005
The summit ridge is unbelievable! I could spend hours up there on a warmer day playing on the rock formations--looks like a great place to bring my sons back to play when they're a little older.
Route Climbed: Standard trail Date Climbed: July 29, 1992
Climbed with Chiefer, Eric Coffman. Our attempt the first night was unsuccessful and after about a 4 mile roundtrip mistake, we camped at the trailhead and made it up the next morning. Great views. I remembering seeing the world's smallest columbine on that hike (maybe the circumference of a dime).
Route Climbed: SouthWest Ridge Date Climbed: May 22, 1994
A great long hike into one of our great wilderness areas. The summit block can be gained a couple of ways, I found: The east face being a nice Class III scramble of 15' on solid rock, but a gap in the block to the NW allows easier access. I descended to the northwest, bushwhacking below timberline through a not too dense forest, until I reached the Indian Creek Trail again below 11,000', near the marshes. This reduced some distance rather than backtracking to the southwest.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: January 11, 2005
My first summit of 2005. Summitted with Colonelpyat. Chilly day but pretty nice; didn't stay at the summit long b/c the wind was pretty powerful up there. Rock formations extra unique w/ snow plastered to north sides. Snowshoes/skis handy at places.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 6, 2004
I summited and my fiance Julie stopped on Bison Arm due to a sore hip. This route was long and had a very steep section but the feeling of being on Bison Arm with all the cool rock formations was really great with views all the way to Pikes Peak.
Route Climbed: Loop route Date Climbed: September 9, 2004
Unique mountain via a truly great route! I really couldn’t have asked for a better day. I did happen upon an older couple from New Hampshire (according to the summit register). We mutually respected each other’s silence. I eventually lost tack of them and I was the only one around. The summit plateau was a neat place to be with interesting rock formations rising up all around. On the descent I found myself thinking some really deep thoughts. The Wigwam Trail was a nice way to end the loop, a really pleasant surprise.
Route Climbed: Ute Creek Date Climbed: May 16, 2004
I finally got around to going up Bison after seeing so many people rave about it. It lived up to every expectation I had and then some. Incredible hike. We never saw another person the entire day.
Unfortunately we weren't clear on the exact location of the true summit and didn't find it. I think I know where it is now so I'll just have to go back.
Route Climbed: Ute Creek, Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 26 February 2004
Made the climb yesterday with my wife. What an awesome winter climb. The trail was covered with 3-5 inches of snow most of the way to Bison Pass. From Bison Pass to the Arm it was over knee deep even with snowshoes on. Weather was great and summit views even better.
Route Climbed: Ute Creek Route/Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: Many Times
I think I have climbed Bison Peak 6 times now. First on May 6, 2001, again on December 26, 2001, again on October 6, 2002, again on March 12, 2003, again on May 5, 2003, and lastly on May 15, 2005. I am pretty familiar with Bison. It may be one of my favorite winter hikes.
Route Climbed: Loop Route Date Climbed: October 12, 2003
A very nice hike. Wish I could remember more of it - I did the hike a day after getting food poisoning or the stomach flu or something. The hike is somewhat of a blur to me right now. I do remember some really cool rock formations at the top. Very nice day.
Route Climbed: 4-12-2003 Date Climbed: Southwest Ridge
Bison Peak was my first hike of the 2003 season. I will remember this one. Once on the summit plateau things really open up and there just is not enough time to soak it all in. I will return, probably next winter. A perfect intro peak to the LCW.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge via Loast Park Campground Date Climbed: May 27, 2003:October 12, 2003
Wow! What sights up there. I had a pretty good idea of what to expect but was still blown away. Super big thanks to Kane for putting up the Bison Peak page!
Wow! Another nice trip. Even more sights this time since a trip to the northern plateau was undertaken. Had some outstanding company once again. Looking forward to heading back.
ppergande - Aug 30, 2007 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2007
Rock MazeI came up from the Ute Creek TH. A fairly long approach didn't leave much time at the top before the weather moved in. I should have started earlier. Finding a path through the maze of rock made this hike very interesting and definitely one of my favorite places in Colorado. Truly a unique place!
Jeremy Hakes - Jul 12, 2007 4:19 pm
SW ridgeGreat peak. Would like to camp up there and spend more time playing on the rocks.
royswkr - Sep 23, 2006 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2004
From North ForkLong approach to a fine plateau
jhansen007 - Jun 12, 2006 3:06 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2006
Southwest RidgeSolo overnight trip. Saw 2 people on the trail Sat and about 4 on Sunday. What a neat bizarre landscape. My first use of my new bivy sac and there were tons of great sheltered spots in the rocks above treeline. Set up camp, ate dinner and summited Bison. Watched a fantastic sunset and saw the lights of Denver come into view. Got up the next morning, summitted McCurdy, and packed out. If you want to try camping above treeline, this is a good area to do it. However, water is scarce up there. Had to melt snow. I'll be back again I'm sure.
Scott Wisher - May 16, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: May 14, 2006
Lightning Scare from Ute Creek TrailheadClick here to see more photos from this hike.
Jared Scott - Nov 30, 2005 12:14 am
Route Climbed: Ute creek Date Climbed: November 29, 2005The summit ridge is unbelievable! I could spend hours up there on a warmer day playing on the rock formations--looks like a great place to bring my sons back to play when they're a little older.
jbouman - Aug 14, 2005 9:56 pm
Route Climbed: Standard trail Date Climbed: July 29, 1992Climbed with Chiefer, Eric Coffman. Our attempt the first night was unsuccessful and after about a 4 mile roundtrip mistake, we camped at the trailhead and made it up the next morning. Great views. I remembering seeing the world's smallest columbine on that hike (maybe the circumference of a dime).
ColoradoScott - Feb 9, 2005 5:20 pm
Route Climbed: SouthWest Ridge Date Climbed: May 22, 1994A great long hike into one of our great wilderness areas. The summit block can be gained a couple of ways, I found: The east face being a nice Class III scramble of 15' on solid rock, but a gap in the block to the NW allows easier access. I descended to the northwest, bushwhacking below timberline through a not too dense forest, until I reached the Indian Creek Trail again below 11,000', near the marshes. This reduced some distance rather than backtracking to the southwest.
Brad Snider - Jan 11, 2005 9:41 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: January 11, 2005My first summit of 2005. Summitted with Colonelpyat. Chilly day but pretty nice; didn't stay at the summit long b/c the wind was pretty powerful up there. Rock formations extra unique w/ snow plastered to north sides. Snowshoes/skis handy at places.
csmcgranahan - Oct 31, 2004 4:43 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 6, 2004I summited and my fiance Julie stopped on Bison Arm due to a sore hip. This route was long and had a very steep section but the feeling of being on Bison Arm with all the cool rock formations was really great with views all the way to Pikes Peak.
Gareth - Sep 11, 2004 1:50 pm
Route Climbed: Loop route Date Climbed: September 9, 2004Unique mountain via a truly great route! I really couldn’t have asked for a better day. I did happen upon an older couple from New Hampshire (according to the summit register). We mutually respected each other’s silence. I eventually lost tack of them and I was the only one around. The summit plateau was a neat place to be with interesting rock formations rising up all around. On the descent I found myself thinking some really deep thoughts. The Wigwam Trail was a nice way to end the loop, a really pleasant surprise.
jrf - May 23, 2004 9:36 pm
Route Climbed: Ute Creek Date Climbed: May 16, 2004I finally got around to going up Bison after seeing so many people rave about it. It lived up to every expectation I had and then some. Incredible hike. We never saw another person the entire day.
Unfortunately we weren't clear on the exact location of the true summit and didn't find it. I think I know where it is now so I'll just have to go back.
DaveC - May 20, 2004 9:11 pm
Route Climbed: ute pass Date Climbed: may 95graupel/hail made for a hasty descent to treeline and tarp camp.
miztflip - Feb 27, 2004 9:04 am
Route Climbed: Ute Creek, Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 26 February 2004Made the climb yesterday with my wife. What an awesome winter climb. The trail was covered with 3-5 inches of snow most of the way to Bison Pass. From Bison Pass to the Arm it was over knee deep even with snowshoes on. Weather was great and summit views even better.
JonBradford - Nov 5, 2003 11:56 pm
Route Climbed: Ute Creek Route/Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: Many TimesI think I have climbed Bison Peak 6 times now. First on May 6, 2001, again on December 26, 2001, again on October 6, 2002, again on March 12, 2003, again on May 5, 2003, and lastly on May 15, 2005. I am pretty familiar with Bison. It may be one of my favorite winter hikes.
Jon Bradford
mtnhiker13 - Oct 28, 2003 5:23 pm
Route Climbed: Loop Route Date Climbed: October 12, 2003A very nice hike. Wish I could remember more of it - I did the hike a day after getting food poisoning or the stomach flu or something. The hike is somewhat of a blur to me right now. I do remember some really cool rock formations at the top. Very nice day.
RyanS - Jun 9, 2003 11:06 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: May 3, 2003What a spectacular place! My trip report is available here.
Kane - Jun 8, 2003 8:06 am
Route Climbed: 4-12-2003 Date Climbed: Southwest RidgeBison Peak was my first hike of the 2003 season. I will remember this one. Once on the summit plateau things really open up and there just is not enough time to soak it all in. I will return, probably next winter. A perfect intro peak to the LCW.
Colonelpyat - May 28, 2003 4:25 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge via Loast Park Campground Date Climbed: May 27, 2003:October 12, 2003Wow! What sights up there. I had a pretty good idea of what to expect but was still blown away. Super big thanks to Kane for putting up the Bison Peak page!
Wow! Another nice trip. Even more sights this time since a trip to the northern plateau was undertaken. Had some outstanding company once again. Looking forward to heading back.