Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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39.04730°N / 106.8532°W |
Route Type:
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Hike |
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Time Required:
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Most of a day |
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Difficulty:
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class 2 |
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Approach
UN13,695’s East Ridge Route uses the Electric Pass Trail to the officially named Electric Pass. The pass resides about 200-vertical feet below the summit of UN13,695 south ridge. The south ridge eventually connects to Cathedral Peak. Most visitors hike to the pass and call it a day while a few others continue to the summit of UN13,695. This is a popular hike with the Aspen-ite locals, however it is not a hike for everybody.
While visiting the popular ski town of Aspen, Colorado, the Electric Pass hike is one of about 5 popular hikes that is recommended by locals. So, expect a few others on your route. Many of these folks fall into the “tourist” category, and most are happy just reaching Cathedral Lake. However there seems to be a few every year that continue the easy but steep trail to Electric Pass and experience a late afternoon thunder and lighting event. The tundra-ridden basin above and beyond Cathedral Lake is not a fun or safe place to be in the early to late afternoon during the monsoonal months of late July-August.
Round Trip-8 miles and 3,700-ft
Starting at the Cathedral Lake Trailhead at 9,880-ft, hike the very popular trail 2 miles and 1,900-ft to a signed trail junction just northeast of Cathedral Lake. Take the “Electric Pass Trail.” Ascend this trail out of the trees and continue up into a beautiful basin below the grassy south slopes of Leahy Peak (13,322-ft). From here, you can preview the remainder of the route up to the pass to the northwest. The view of Cathedral Peak (13,943-ft) is stunning.
Route Description
Continue your ascent up Leahy Peak’s south slopes on an obvious trail. The trail will switch-back almost 1,300-ft to the saddle between UN13,695 and Leahy Peak before traversing all the way across the south face of UN13,695. Once on the south face, continue to the pass which is located on the south ridge of UN13,695, or leave the trail here and ascend a nasty scree slope 200 feet to the summit of UN13,695.
Descend your ascent route.
The south face of UN13,695 gets plenty of early spring sunshine, making it a good option for a very early snow climb.