Finally successful on my third try. Perfect weather today. Beautiful climb up Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch, but a real challenge; lots of sharp, loose granite that moved under my feet with every step, especially on the last several hundred feet up to the summit. I completely agree with earlier posters about the sketchy route and the need for gloves.
Sarah Simon - Sep 14, 2021 2:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2021
Villa Rudge from Mayflower Gulch
I really enjoyed this route, minus the loose talus crap immediately upon departing the tundra to gain the ridge line proper. We got pelted by graupel a few times, and the wind was a consistent companion, but the views were astounding the the fall colors really popping! With Aaron and Ellen (who had just finished a 50k high elevation trail race…)
myrone - Oct 21, 2019 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2019
From Mayflower Gulch via Villa Ridge
Perfect weather for this summit! Roaches "Classic" route that I would personally rate as Class 3 and the route is anything but "straight forward". Plenty of shifty/teetery large talus and the route finding was tough as well. Leave the kids and pets at home for this one and bring abrasion-resistance gloves.
BLong - Aug 25, 2019 1:11 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2019
Great ski
Skied the SW slopes. Great day out!
Shaylee - Dec 1, 2017 2:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2017
Drift
8-12-2017
Scott - Aug 12, 2017 11:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2017
Drift Peak
Kim, Shaylee, and I climbed Drift Peak from Mayflower Gulch and Villa Ridge. The weather was good until the end, and the views were good, but the route was only so so. I'm not sure why Roach gives this one a classic rating since it was a bit tedious and not that aesthetic.
seano - May 9, 2016 3:27 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2016
Traverse from Fletcher
Some tricky route-finding getting around the gendarmes near the summit. Glissaded the north face for a quick return to the trailhead. A cold night made for perfect, snowshoe-free snow conditions. Trip report.
BradBartick - Oct 10, 2015 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2015
Villa Ridge
Drifted on up this cool peak on V Ridge. Awesome position on the mountain and fun route overall. Love the white granite on the last 200 feet. Saw burly male goat that looked like he had just completed P90X. Climbed with Michelle. Light snow dusting on north slopes, winter she is a comin, lads. There is a metal pole on top. Bring a CO flag and hoist it up. It's good to be in Colorado.
Kiefer - Aug 9, 2014 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
From Boston Mine
Everything in Leadville was full (hotels) because of the bike race. So I camped at the Boston Mine. Great night under the stars sans tent!!
Hiked up Mayflower, Gold (kinda by accident) and Drift. Really enjoyed Drift Peak.
Spent 45 minutes on the summit warming in the sun. Had the mountain completely by myself...and on a Saturday!?
Brian Kalet - Jun 8, 2014 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2014
2 Peaks
With Bellyache Ridge East.
rmjwinters - Aug 9, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
Via Blue Lakes
From the Blue Lakes TH climbed Fletcher and traversed the ridge. Tried to stay on the ridge. Didn't feel like a Class V downclimb for 20 ft. Descended 200 feet and climbed one of the loose gullies.
Fun scramble, pretty solid rock. Might try to ski it some time.
GerryS - Jul 4, 2013 1:36 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2013
Northeast ridge from Fletcher
Passed on the snow filled NE notch (probably the easiest way) and climbed the ridge to the right (NW) of the notch. On the descent, got too far west onto some terrain where every single rock up to refrigerator size was loose (not fun). Re-climbed and got back on the correct ridge down.
strudolyubov - Mar 12, 2012 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2012
Villa Ridge
Climbed Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch. Fun winter route, nice weather, gorgeous views!
thatnissanguy - Nov 27, 2011 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
BRING YOUR SKIS
Done via Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch. Skiers were flying by us on the hike out. Would have been nice!
Senad Rizvanovic - Nov 27, 2011 10:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
After Thanksgiving!
Great hike, Better than most 14?ers!
Matt Lemke - Dec 20, 2010 2:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2009
Villa Ridge
Classic route up Drift peak...We did it starting at 3am and watched the sunrise from the summit. Quandry Peak fit nicely into the sunrise.
MikeyB - Oct 1, 2010 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Traverse From Fletcher
Stuck to the ridge until the technical pitch, then dropped off to the east side and back up via one of the east cols. Great day with Fletcher and Drift to myself.
Fun solo from Boston Mine up to Villa Ridge and the summit. Wonderful views and beautiful day, in spite of the winds. I think it's always windy on that west ridge...
tom5299 - Sep 1, 2023 3:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2023
Drift PeakFinally successful on my third try. Perfect weather today. Beautiful climb up Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch, but a real challenge; lots of sharp, loose granite that moved under my feet with every step, especially on the last several hundred feet up to the summit. I completely agree with earlier posters about the sketchy route and the need for gloves.
Sarah Simon - Sep 14, 2021 2:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2021
Villa Rudge from Mayflower GulchI really enjoyed this route, minus the loose talus crap immediately upon departing the tundra to gain the ridge line proper. We got pelted by graupel a few times, and the wind was a consistent companion, but the views were astounding the the fall colors really popping! With Aaron and Ellen (who had just finished a 50k high elevation trail race…)
myrone - Oct 21, 2019 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2019
From Mayflower Gulch via Villa RidgePerfect weather for this summit! Roaches "Classic" route that I would personally rate as Class 3 and the route is anything but "straight forward". Plenty of shifty/teetery large talus and the route finding was tough as well. Leave the kids and pets at home for this one and bring abrasion-resistance gloves.
BLong - Aug 25, 2019 1:11 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2019
Great skiSkied the SW slopes. Great day out!
Shaylee - Dec 1, 2017 2:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2017
Drift8-12-2017
Scott - Aug 12, 2017 11:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2017
Drift PeakKim, Shaylee, and I climbed Drift Peak from Mayflower Gulch and Villa Ridge. The weather was good until the end, and the views were good, but the route was only so so. I'm not sure why Roach gives this one a classic rating since it was a bit tedious and not that aesthetic.
seano - May 9, 2016 3:27 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2016
Traverse from FletcherSome tricky route-finding getting around the gendarmes near the summit. Glissaded the north face for a quick return to the trailhead. A cold night made for perfect, snowshoe-free snow conditions. Trip report.
BradBartick - Oct 10, 2015 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2015
Villa RidgeDrifted on up this cool peak on V Ridge. Awesome position on the mountain and fun route overall. Love the white granite on the last 200 feet. Saw burly male goat that looked like he had just completed P90X. Climbed with Michelle. Light snow dusting on north slopes, winter she is a comin, lads. There is a metal pole on top. Bring a CO flag and hoist it up. It's good to be in Colorado.
Kiefer - Aug 9, 2014 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
From Boston MineEverything in Leadville was full (hotels) because of the bike race. So I camped at the Boston Mine. Great night under the stars sans tent!!
Hiked up Mayflower, Gold (kinda by accident) and Drift. Really enjoyed Drift Peak.
Spent 45 minutes on the summit warming in the sun. Had the mountain completely by myself...and on a Saturday!?
Brian Kalet - Jun 8, 2014 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2014
2 PeaksWith Bellyache Ridge East.
rmjwinters - Aug 9, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
Via Blue LakesFrom the Blue Lakes TH climbed Fletcher and traversed the ridge. Tried to stay on the ridge. Didn't feel like a Class V downclimb for 20 ft. Descended 200 feet and climbed one of the loose gullies.
rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 5:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2010
Fun climbFun scramble, pretty solid rock. Might try to ski it some time.
GerryS - Jul 4, 2013 1:36 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2013
Northeast ridge from FletcherPassed on the snow filled NE notch (probably the easiest way) and climbed the ridge to the right (NW) of the notch. On the descent, got too far west onto some terrain where every single rock up to refrigerator size was loose (not fun). Re-climbed and got back on the correct ridge down.
strudolyubov - Mar 12, 2012 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2012
Villa RidgeClimbed Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch. Fun winter route, nice weather, gorgeous views!
thatnissanguy - Nov 27, 2011 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
BRING YOUR SKISDone via Villa Ridge from Mayflower Gulch. Skiers were flying by us on the hike out. Would have been nice!
Senad Rizvanovic - Nov 27, 2011 10:58 pm Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
After Thanksgiving!Great hike, Better than most 14?ers!
Matt Lemke - Dec 20, 2010 2:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2009
Villa RidgeClassic route up Drift peak...We did it starting at 3am and watched the sunrise from the summit. Quandry Peak fit nicely into the sunrise.
MikeyB - Oct 1, 2010 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Traverse From FletcherStuck to the ridge until the technical pitch, then dropped off to the east side and back up via one of the east cols. Great day with Fletcher and Drift to myself.
dclimb14me - Sep 7, 2010 1:10 am
Great FunFun solo from Boston Mine up to Villa Ridge and the summit. Wonderful views and beautiful day, in spite of the winds. I think it's always windy on that west ridge...
Foxy Long Bottoms - Apr 12, 2010 9:55 am Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2010
Villa RidgeFun route. It's pretty cool how the snow forms along the ridge into a nice, fine point.