With Scot up the south slopes/ridge from Beaver Creek. Gate still open until Jan 1, so we got about 1/2 mile from the normal winter closure but still about a 12 mile day. Packed road to the upper trailhead, then had to break trail to treeline. Scot did all the work while I was stuck in snowy traffic on Vail Pass and Hoosier Pass and I caught him near treeline. Mostly windblown above treeline, windy and cold. Very safe winter route.
habaceeba - May 20, 2019 7:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2017
East ridge
East ridge is long with many bumps
Liba Kopeckova - May 5, 2019 5:04 pm Date Climbed: May 4, 2019
nice show shoe
Went from Hwy 9 east, the hike went pretty quickly. Still tons of snow, had to use snow shoes lower down and later went through periods of removing snowshoes, just to put back on again.
Somber day but a good hike. East Ridge is LONG with at least 4 bumps to wander over. Only last 300 feet is any fun. Fierce winds. Mountain sort of just sits out there alone.
seano - May 17, 2016 3:54 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2016
From Hoosier Pass
An afternoon slog after doing Horseshoe in a white-out in the morning. Nice views, but a blah peak. Trip report.
Scott - Nov 19, 2015 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2005
Silverheels
I camped at Hoosier Pass at -14F, and the next morning, I met up with SP member Cgueck, and we climbed Silverheels via the Hoosier Ridge/North Face Spur. That route had lots of extra elevation gain, but pretty good snow conditions. We actually reached the summit around 2pm, but Cgueck was faster than me and arrived on the summit 10 minutes earlier. It was cold and windy, with the chill factor around -50F or so, so we only spent a few minutes up there eating lunch.
We then descended the NW ridge and then climbed Heartbreak Hill. Since climbing back up to the ridge would cause us an extra 600 feet of elevation gain and since we just climb Heartbreak Hill, I thought it would be a good idea to make a beeline to Hoosier Pass and cross the basin. Big mistake. We should have climbed back up to the ridge, and I was pretty dumb for suggesting the other route. We had also ditched our snowshoes after the first 30 minutes of the climb in the morning, so we didn't have them with us.
That route really sucked, and we got back to the vehicles two hours past the time it got dark and we were both exhausted. Both of us were also dehydrated because our water had frozen solid long before the end of the day. Everyone should remember that Nalgene water bottle jackets are completely worthless for cold weather and if its cold, your water will freeze solid even with the "insulating" jacket. I had a mountaineering thermos as well, but the lid was so frozen I couldn’t open it, though I could hear liquid inside. Cgueck’s water was frozen solid as well. I was also sore from the "incident" on North Star the day before. It was cold and windy, but not as bad as the day before on North Star.
rmjwinters - Jun 30, 2015 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2015
From Beaver Creek
From Beaver Creek TH it was a nice gentle hike. I measured 9.9 miles and 3,500 ft elevation gain.
SarahThompson - Jan 16, 2015 10:54 am Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2005
Always windy
4/3/05 - Climbed the gentle west ridge from Highway 9 in high winds. Lost a glove.
1/10/15 - Climbed the west ridge again for a calendar winter ascent in a snowstorm. Got some frostbite on my cheek where there was a gap between my face mask and glasses. Fun times.
Hiked from Hoosier pass. First mountain without a defined trail so it was fun. Perfect weather all day and my first 13er. Not a soul to be seen was super peaceful.
strudolyubov - Jan 5, 2014 8:13 pm Date Climbed: Dec 24, 2013
From Hoosier Pass
Hiked to the summit of Mt. Silverheels starting from Hoosier Pass in the middle of the snowstorm. Zero visibility and high winds most of the way. Interesting exercise in route finding and frost-bite prevention.
telemarkdude - Dec 15, 2013 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Dec 15, 2013
Great Hike
Very nice hike with great views. Deep snow at the start but wind scoured on the ridge. Winds were strong enough to almost blow me over.
boisedoc - Sep 1, 2013 12:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2013
short day
pleasant tundra walk up the south slopes. I can understand why it is a popular mountain for winter ascents
Good hike with Brian up the South Ridge. Saw a herd of about 100 Elk, which made our day. Here is my TR: http://www.coloradoascents.blogspot.com/2013/07/mount-silverheels.html
milan - Oct 22, 2012 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 11, 2011
Nice trip in a group
Another group with people devoted to centennial 13ers. It was great trip and very cold on the summit.
pyerger - May 29, 2012 11:54 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Silverheels
South ridge route. Very windy, but nice hike!
DerekFreed - Mar 30, 2012 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2010
2010 Personal Grid Finisher
Started 2010 season with a post-cancer goal of completing at least 10 ranked peaks of each elevation level (6ers through 14ers) and this was my final one. Windy, cold day but some great views of the Tenmile range from the summit.
Eight of us went up the Beaver Creek TH route (South Ridge Classic). Crisp morning start, a bit breezy higher up, but overall excellent weather. Our route was about 10.5 mi/3670', so slightly different than the one Roach outlines. Note that the TH is at the jct of FS659 and FS183 (NatGeo TI map says 184, but sign says 183), though once right on the trail you'll see FS184 as well. At about 1.65 mi you'll go right up the old road and then go left on the trail that heads to views of Mt. Silverheels (make note of this jct for the return to the TH!). You don't have to climb Point 12,282, but can go around to the left and pick a route up the slope to the summit. There is a bit of a trail on the east side, but we headed mostly straight up (north) to the summit.
argothor - Jun 27, 2011 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
Southern Slopes
Started at Beaver Creek, and forded the cold stream. Beautiful sunny day, with bluebird skies. Quite breezy. Great views.
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Mt SilverheelsSummited
chicagotransplant - Dec 28, 2020 7:42 am Date Climbed: Dec 27, 2020
South Slopes in winterWith Scot up the south slopes/ridge from Beaver Creek. Gate still open until Jan 1, so we got about 1/2 mile from the normal winter closure but still about a 12 mile day. Packed road to the upper trailhead, then had to break trail to treeline. Scot did all the work while I was stuck in snowy traffic on Vail Pass and Hoosier Pass and I caught him near treeline. Mostly windblown above treeline, windy and cold. Very safe winter route.
habaceeba - May 20, 2019 7:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2017
East ridgeEast ridge is long with many bumps
Liba Kopeckova - May 5, 2019 5:04 pm Date Climbed: May 4, 2019
nice show shoeWent from Hwy 9 east, the hike went pretty quickly. Still tons of snow, had to use snow shoes lower down and later went through periods of removing snowshoes, just to put back on again.
BradBartick - Sep 11, 2016 8:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2016
East a Ridge on 9/11Somber day but a good hike. East Ridge is LONG with at least 4 bumps to wander over. Only last 300 feet is any fun. Fierce winds. Mountain sort of just sits out there alone.
seano - May 17, 2016 3:54 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2016
From Hoosier PassAn afternoon slog after doing Horseshoe in a white-out in the morning. Nice views, but a blah peak. Trip report.
Scott - Nov 19, 2015 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2005
SilverheelsI camped at Hoosier Pass at -14F, and the next morning, I met up with SP member Cgueck, and we climbed Silverheels via the Hoosier Ridge/North Face Spur. That route had lots of extra elevation gain, but pretty good snow conditions. We actually reached the summit around 2pm, but Cgueck was faster than me and arrived on the summit 10 minutes earlier. It was cold and windy, with the chill factor around -50F or so, so we only spent a few minutes up there eating lunch.
We then descended the NW ridge and then climbed Heartbreak Hill. Since climbing back up to the ridge would cause us an extra 600 feet of elevation gain and since we just climb Heartbreak Hill, I thought it would be a good idea to make a beeline to Hoosier Pass and cross the basin. Big mistake. We should have climbed back up to the ridge, and I was pretty dumb for suggesting the other route. We had also ditched our snowshoes after the first 30 minutes of the climb in the morning, so we didn't have them with us.
That route really sucked, and we got back to the vehicles two hours past the time it got dark and we were both exhausted. Both of us were also dehydrated because our water had frozen solid long before the end of the day. Everyone should remember that Nalgene water bottle jackets are completely worthless for cold weather and if its cold, your water will freeze solid even with the "insulating" jacket. I had a mountaineering thermos as well, but the lid was so frozen I couldn’t open it, though I could hear liquid inside. Cgueck’s water was frozen solid as well. I was also sore from the "incident" on North Star the day before. It was cold and windy, but not as bad as the day before on North Star.
rmjwinters - Jun 30, 2015 8:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2015
From Beaver CreekFrom Beaver Creek TH it was a nice gentle hike. I measured 9.9 miles and 3,500 ft elevation gain.
SarahThompson - Jan 16, 2015 10:54 am Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2005
Always windy4/3/05 - Climbed the gentle west ridge from Highway 9 in high winds. Lost a glove.
1/10/15 - Climbed the west ridge again for a calendar winter ascent in a snowstorm. Got some frostbite on my cheek where there was a gap between my face mask and glasses. Fun times.
rockymountain_guac - Oct 22, 2014 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2014
AmazingHiked from Hoosier pass. First mountain without a defined trail so it was fun. Perfect weather all day and my first 13er. Not a soul to be seen was super peaceful.
strudolyubov - Jan 5, 2014 8:13 pm Date Climbed: Dec 24, 2013
From Hoosier PassHiked to the summit of Mt. Silverheels starting from Hoosier Pass in the middle of the snowstorm. Zero visibility and high winds most of the way. Interesting exercise in route finding and frost-bite prevention.
telemarkdude - Dec 15, 2013 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Dec 15, 2013
Great HikeVery nice hike with great views. Deep snow at the start but wind scoured on the ridge. Winds were strong enough to almost blow me over.
boisedoc - Sep 1, 2013 12:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2013
short daypleasant tundra walk up the south slopes. I can understand why it is a popular mountain for winter ascents
rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 31, 2009
HalloweenWindy, snowy, spooky. Have climbed numerous times since then with better weather!
nickkarl - Jul 23, 2013 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2013
South RidgeGood hike with Brian up the South Ridge. Saw a herd of about 100 Elk, which made our day. Here is my TR: http://www.coloradoascents.blogspot.com/2013/07/mount-silverheels.html
milan - Oct 22, 2012 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 11, 2011
Nice trip in a groupAnother group with people devoted to centennial 13ers. It was great trip and very cold on the summit.
pyerger - May 29, 2012 11:54 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
SilverheelsSouth ridge route. Very windy, but nice hike!
DerekFreed - Mar 30, 2012 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2010
2010 Personal Grid FinisherStarted 2010 season with a post-cancer goal of completing at least 10 ranked peaks of each elevation level (6ers through 14ers) and this was my final one. Windy, cold day but some great views of the Tenmile range from the summit.
thunderable - Sep 5, 2011 12:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2011
Perfect Day on SilverheelsEight of us went up the Beaver Creek TH route (South Ridge Classic). Crisp morning start, a bit breezy higher up, but overall excellent weather. Our route was about 10.5 mi/3670', so slightly different than the one Roach outlines. Note that the TH is at the jct of FS659 and FS183 (NatGeo TI map says 184, but sign says 183), though once right on the trail you'll see FS184 as well. At about 1.65 mi you'll go right up the old road and then go left on the trail that heads to views of Mt. Silverheels (make note of this jct for the return to the TH!). You don't have to climb Point 12,282, but can go around to the left and pick a route up the slope to the summit. There is a bit of a trail on the east side, but we headed mostly straight up (north) to the summit.
argothor - Jun 27, 2011 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
Southern SlopesStarted at Beaver Creek, and forded the cold stream. Beautiful sunny day, with bluebird skies. Quite breezy. Great views.