Beautiful day, amongst beautiful scenery. Started at Milner Pass, summitted Ida and then dropped down into the saddle between Ida and Chief Cheley and then summited Cheley. Planned on heading to Cracktop, Julian and Terra Tomah but the weather was looking a bit iffy and one of the group was a bit overwhelmed by the downclimb off of Ida, so given that continuing onward would have been more difficult than what we just did, we returned the way we came. Snowed a bit on the way back to Milner Pass. Great views. I'm heading back someday!
DayHikerJr - Jul 28, 2008 6:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
Milner Pass
A few weeks ago Daddy brought me to the ~11920-foot summit of Charleston Peak, the highest mountain in any direction for over 134 miles. But I wanted to go higher! So Mommy and Daddy brought me to Colorado, and I got to summit Mount Ida, my first mountain over 12000 feet! I made Daddy carry me because I am only 10 1/2 months old, and I can't walk yet.
Day Hiker - Jul 28, 2008 4:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
Milner Pass
It is interesting to read the summit logs from 3 or 4 weeks ago, as we had absolutely no snow on or near the trail. I hiked this in the afternoon with my wife, and I carried DayHikerJr, age 10 1/2 months, for his first summit over 12000 feet.
It's nearly impossible to get an early start with a 10-1/2-month-old, and with the one-hour drive from Estes Park, we were guaranteed to have an afternoon hike, closely watching the monsoon-season Colorado skies. Near the summit, we had some light rain and then brief light hail, but no nearby thunder until about 20 minutes after we had left the summit. We were glad to be off the summit and down away from the high part of the ridge when the thunder rumbled overhead, but we were not completely safe. The main page is definitely right about there being absolutely no cover on the entire upper part of the trail.
Arthur Digbee - Jul 7, 2008 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2008
Good hike
We took the Milner Pass route in a heavy snowpack year; the switchback section (mostly facing NE) was covered in 4-6 feet of snow. After getting through the trees, the tundra was snow-free and an easy hike. We saw about three dozen bighorns in several herds. Beautiful views along the way and at the summit!
Kruck - Jun 30, 2008 10:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Calm day
For being exposed to the weather all day, this was a calm and pleasant hike. Hiked among a flock of ewes for part of the route. The rams gave us no trouble at all. Snow in trees made for a trail-shortening bushwhack as we marched straight through the forest to treeline. Also provided a few brief glissades on the way down, which were refreshing. In sum, an excellent day above treeline.
kavak - Jun 29, 2008 10:14 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
From Milner Pass
Still lots of snow in the trees. Made for lots of postholing on the way down. We had 4 male bighorn sheep charge us in what I can only describe as a phalanx and then stopped short of us by 20 feet. Hmmm...
Bob Sihler - Dec 18, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2007
Second Try
The first time I tried, it was on a July afternoon in 2004, and a strong thunderstorm chased me away when I was less than a mile from the summit (one of the most terrifying experiences ever as I hustled across the open, rolling tundra with lightning, thunder, hail, and snow pounding the area).
No problems at all the second time. I started shortly after dawn and had a pleasant, uneventful hike there and back.
altitude14er - Aug 26, 2007 7:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2007
Route Climbed: Timber Lake TH
Did this long hike solo. Began at 7:30am. Summited at 12:30am. Its 5.3 mile to the lake alone; From the lake an additional mile "or so" and 1,840ft. higher on steep, off trail talus and tundra. The seclusion was surreal..saw Elk, Hawks, Deer & a Coyote!
This was a consolation prize in what would have otherwise been a really long, really wet adventure in the park.
spannring29 - Feb 25, 2007 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2006
Ida to Timber Lake
Very nice hike. We encountered a couple of sheep running down the trail toward us on the way to Ida. The route to Timber Lake is fairly easy to determine and definitely worth the time. We had a little trouble getting a ride back to Milner Pass, but all around, a great day.
boisedoc - Dec 19, 2006 5:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 1989
quick access to a high peak
too lazy to keep heading over to Cracktop
lindasyh - Nov 10, 2006 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2000
Survived the "Death March"
A long day in the park ...
Michael Hoyt - Nov 9, 2006 1:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2000
Death March
A continental divide hike from Milner Pass to Bear Lake, later referred to as "The Death March", took us over Mount Ida, Chief Cheley Peak, and Flattop Mountain.
Dan Leonhard - May 31, 2006 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
great mountain!
I climbed this peak, like many others, on a trip across the Park. The peak gave me a little surprise after the summit- it had been hidding a storm coming my way! Pretty area. I'll do it over again and again!
Mountain Jim - Mar 29, 2006 1:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 1969
Milner Pass to Bear Lake
Total ascents = 8. First time on a long, one day, traverse from Milner Pass to Bear Lake. The summits that day included Ida, Chief Cheley, Cracktop, Julian, Terra Tomah, Sprague and Flattop. I've repeated that trip without the side trip to Julian and Terra Tomah on two other occasions.
Bill Reed - Jul 22, 2010 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2010
Via Milner PassFortunate to have good weather, great views and lots of Big Horn scattered about. For me, a very long walk- 9 hours!!
Kane - Jul 22, 2009 8:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2009
tundra worldEasy slog from Milner Pass.
ash80 - Feb 22, 2009 5:08 am
IdaWanted to do about 4 or 5 peaks that day but had back problems so just did Ida.
JoeyBagoDonuts - Nov 4, 2008 6:01 pm Date Climbed: Oct 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!!Wonderful secluded walk on the Continental Divide.
coljayms - Oct 31, 2008 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2004
Milner PassDid this one with my dad and younger brother.
argothor - Sep 22, 2008 2:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
Ida and Chief Cheley from Milner PassBeautiful day, amongst beautiful scenery. Started at Milner Pass, summitted Ida and then dropped down into the saddle between Ida and Chief Cheley and then summited Cheley. Planned on heading to Cracktop, Julian and Terra Tomah but the weather was looking a bit iffy and one of the group was a bit overwhelmed by the downclimb off of Ida, so given that continuing onward would have been more difficult than what we just did, we returned the way we came. Snowed a bit on the way back to Milner Pass. Great views. I'm heading back someday!
DayHikerJr - Jul 28, 2008 6:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
Milner PassA few weeks ago Daddy brought me to the ~11920-foot summit of Charleston Peak, the highest mountain in any direction for over 134 miles. But I wanted to go higher! So Mommy and Daddy brought me to Colorado, and I got to summit Mount Ida, my first mountain over 12000 feet! I made Daddy carry me because I am only 10 1/2 months old, and I can't walk yet.
Day Hiker - Jul 28, 2008 4:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
Milner PassIt is interesting to read the summit logs from 3 or 4 weeks ago, as we had absolutely no snow on or near the trail. I hiked this in the afternoon with my wife, and I carried DayHikerJr, age 10 1/2 months, for his first summit over 12000 feet.
It's nearly impossible to get an early start with a 10-1/2-month-old, and with the one-hour drive from Estes Park, we were guaranteed to have an afternoon hike, closely watching the monsoon-season Colorado skies. Near the summit, we had some light rain and then brief light hail, but no nearby thunder until about 20 minutes after we had left the summit. We were glad to be off the summit and down away from the high part of the ridge when the thunder rumbled overhead, but we were not completely safe. The main page is definitely right about there being absolutely no cover on the entire upper part of the trail.
Arthur Digbee - Jul 7, 2008 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2008
Good hikeWe took the Milner Pass route in a heavy snowpack year; the switchback section (mostly facing NE) was covered in 4-6 feet of snow. After getting through the trees, the tundra was snow-free and an easy hike. We saw about three dozen bighorns in several herds. Beautiful views along the way and at the summit!
Kruck - Jun 30, 2008 10:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Calm dayFor being exposed to the weather all day, this was a calm and pleasant hike. Hiked among a flock of ewes for part of the route. The rams gave us no trouble at all. Snow in trees made for a trail-shortening bushwhack as we marched straight through the forest to treeline. Also provided a few brief glissades on the way down, which were refreshing. In sum, an excellent day above treeline.
kavak - Jun 29, 2008 10:14 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
From Milner PassStill lots of snow in the trees. Made for lots of postholing on the way down. We had 4 male bighorn sheep charge us in what I can only describe as a phalanx and then stopped short of us by 20 feet. Hmmm...
Bob Sihler - Dec 18, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2007
Second TryThe first time I tried, it was on a July afternoon in 2004, and a strong thunderstorm chased me away when I was less than a mile from the summit (one of the most terrifying experiences ever as I hustled across the open, rolling tundra with lightning, thunder, hail, and snow pounding the area).
No problems at all the second time. I started shortly after dawn and had a pleasant, uneventful hike there and back.
altitude14er - Aug 26, 2007 7:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2007
Route Climbed: Timber Lake THDid this long hike solo. Began at 7:30am. Summited at 12:30am. Its 5.3 mile to the lake alone; From the lake an additional mile "or so" and 1,840ft. higher on steep, off trail talus and tundra. The seclusion was surreal..saw Elk, Hawks, Deer & a Coyote!
slowpoke - Jul 28, 2007 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2007
From Milner PassThis was a consolation prize in what would have otherwise been a really long, really wet adventure in the park.
spannring29 - Feb 25, 2007 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2006
Ida to Timber LakeVery nice hike. We encountered a couple of sheep running down the trail toward us on the way to Ida. The route to Timber Lake is fairly easy to determine and definitely worth the time. We had a little trouble getting a ride back to Milner Pass, but all around, a great day.
boisedoc - Dec 19, 2006 5:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 1989
quick access to a high peaktoo lazy to keep heading over to Cracktop
lindasyh - Nov 10, 2006 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2000
Survived the "Death March"A long day in the park ...
Michael Hoyt - Nov 9, 2006 1:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2000
Death MarchA continental divide hike from Milner Pass to Bear Lake, later referred to as "The Death March", took us over Mount Ida, Chief Cheley Peak, and Flattop Mountain.
Dan Leonhard - May 31, 2006 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
great mountain!I climbed this peak, like many others, on a trip across the Park. The peak gave me a little surprise after the summit- it had been hidding a storm coming my way! Pretty area. I'll do it over again and again!
Mountain Jim - Mar 29, 2006 1:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 1969
Milner Pass to Bear LakeTotal ascents = 8. First time on a long, one day, traverse from Milner Pass to Bear Lake. The summits that day included Ida, Chief Cheley, Cracktop, Julian, Terra Tomah, Sprague and Flattop. I've repeated that trip without the side trip to Julian and Terra Tomah on two other occasions.