Category Archives: Hikes & Scrambles

April Showers Bring April Powder

Ben May 6, 2021 No Comments

The month of April has come and gone and it feels like things are rapidly heading towards summer below 12,000 ft around here. Statistically, despite Denver and the Front Range being above 100% SWE on the season, we’re at 71% of the median for the state as a whole. Though truncated spring seasons can be frustrating, they can also make for a good excuse to return to reliable lines on peaks close to home and just enjoy the skiing for what it is, while it lasts. Read more…

Medano and Herard

Ben October 14, 2020 8 Comments

With our late-summer dry spell continuing into October and showing no signs of cooling off, it was time to head south and finally pay the Sangre de Cristos a visit in 2020. Down to just seven 13ers left in the range, I decided on Mt. Herard and “Medano Peak” from the Wet Mountain Valley side via Medano Pass. Medano and Herard reside about four miles to the northeast and a vertical mile above the Great Sand Dunes. Read more…

The “Peak Q” Sneak

Ben October 2, 2020 6 Comments

A few summers back Steve and I packed into Slate Lake intent on climbing Peaks Q and L, but a freak mid-September storm dropped several inches of snow on both peaks the night we arrived. Through sheer stubbornness we managed to eke out a summit of “Peak L” despite the snow, but packed out a day early leaving what would’ve been my Gore 13er finisher for another day. Read more…

Beartown 2020: Gaper Sloggin’ for Miles and Miles….

Brian Miller September 10, 2020 7 Comments

Keeping the tradition of an annual summer trip down in the San Juan’s going, sights were set on another Beartown slog fest. This was initially supposed to be in Glacier NP, but with COVID putting a nice damper on everything, not to mention the local Blackfoot indian tribe completely closed off access to the entire Eastern side of the park, the decision for a plan B was pretty obvious and easy. Keep reading…

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