Gladstone Peak and Vermillion Peak

June 26-27, 2021

Gladstone Peak 13,919’

Vermillion Peak 13,894’

After last weeks three peak weekend, we headed off to climb Gladstone Peak and Vermillion Peak near Telluride. Friday we drove to camp at Matterhorn Campground and set up camp. My old hiking partner Mandy who lives in Telluride came by for a while to hang out. 

Having fun at the campsite

In the morning, Laura and I started early to beat the rain that was forecasted to start at 9 am. We hit the Bilk Basin trailhead at 3:45 and made good time to the first creek crossing. We picked up an excellent trail after crossing the creek and quickly made our way to tree line in the spectacular basin. As the sun lit the sky the clouds already surrounded us and Wilson peak next to Gladstone. 

High up in Bilk Basin with Lizard Head in the background

Sunrise in Bilk Basin

Morning sun on Gladstone Peak

We climbed as fast as we could and pushed for the summit while constantly keeping an eye on the building clouds. As we climbed the views of Lizard Head - which we climbed a few years back - and the entire Lizard Head wilderness were breathtaking. We really enjoy the beauty of this area and we’re happy for at least a few views below the clouds. The clouds never got too dark and it didn’t thunder so we continued on.  We intended to take the north ridge all the way to the summit but because of time, we chose the slightly easier north face.

Headed toward the ridge high above Bilk Basin

On the ridge with the Gladstone summit in sight, the El Diente Mount Wilson traverse to the right

Negotiating the ridge

We summitted at 8:30 am, took some pictures with the rusty crowbar on the summit and bailed hoping to beat the rain as we descended. 

Signing the summit register

Clouds keep building, looking down from the summit

Views were limited from the summit, but there was a crowbar

We glissaded on the snow a few times and with a few miles of jogging were back at the Jeep at 11:06 am. 

First of many glissades.  Justin said it was like a water slide.

Contemplating the best route

Another glissade

One more glissade

We used rocks to slow our speed since we had not brought ice axes.

Views of Lizard head on the descent

One of many waterfalls in the lush Bilk  Basin

We went to dinner in Telluride with Mandy that afternoon and then continued on to do the via ferrata above Telluride and Bridal Veil Falls. 

Beautiful afternoon in Telluride

Fun on the via ferrata

We were chased off by rain and hail.

Back to camp we went with a plan to meet up with Mandy the next morning at 4 am. We drove over to Hope Lake trailhead and began our hike up Vermillion Peak at 4:25 am. 

Working toward Vermillion Peak

Beautiful sunrise looking toward Wilson Peak

Contemplating the best route

Looking up the gulley we decided to take

Working up the gulley

After taking a slightly obscure route up a gulley, we later named it the middle finger gulley. We summitted Beattie Peak and continued to Fuller Mountain, both of which are over 13,000 feet. Finally, we continued on to Vermillion Peak and our goal for the day. 

Looking at the rest of the route from the top of middle finger gulley

Summit of Beattie with Fuller and Vermillion in the background

Looking down at Ice Lakes Basin

Summit of Fuller


Traversing between Fuller and Vermillion

Fun on the summit of Vermillion

Summit of Vermillion

Our intended descent was impassable due to lingering snow in the Vermillion dollar couloir so we backtracked and chose a descent route thru the basin and back to the trail. Walking at a fast pace we were back to the trailhead at 12:30 pm. It was great to hang out and hike with Mandy again. 

Posing with the ascent gulley in the background

We had hiked 15 or so 14ers almost a decade ago and it’s been too long since we have hiked together. Hopefully it won’t be that long again since we always have a great time in the mountains no matter where we go.

Hanging at the campsite

An old railroad grade we passed on the way back to camp from the trailhead

Rio Grande Pyramid, Phoenix Peak and Stewart Peak

June 18-20, 2021

Rio Grande Pyramid 13,821’

Phoenix Peak 13,895’

Stewart Peak 13,990’

Laura, Hazel and I went to the San Juan‘s this weekend to check off a few more high 13er peaks. We had a plan that we thought worked well. With Big Momma in tow and meeting us there to babysit Hazel for two days, Laura and I figured we’d hit Rio Grande Pyramid as a day trip then head over to Phoenix Peak and lastly we would take Hazel up her first 13er, Stewart Peak. So off we went and we arrived at 30 mile campground where the trailhead for Rio Grande Pyramid starts and we set up camp. Just as we got set up, several moose walked by, just 50 feet from our camp. We had a nice dinner and went to bed early as Laura and I would wake up at 2 AM to start hiking the 20 miles in and out of Rio Grande Pyramid. 

Moose walking by our campsite

Hazel and Leia at our camp

Hazel approves of the nice campsite

We started early and the trail miles went fast. We crossed the creek several times and took off our shoes in the deep crossings without any bridges. We missed the cut off to the Skyline Trail and so we side hilled a few hundred feet too low and ended up losing an hour or two worth of time in our day. As the peak came into view it was amazing to be out in the middle of nowhere in the Weminuche wilderness. We were all alone. We had not seen anybody all day and we absolutely loved it. The Weminuche is vast and remote, but out there it was gorgeous. 

Rio Grande Pyramid on the right and the window on the left

Crossing one of the streams with our shoes off

We submitted Rio Grande Pyramid around 8  a.m. and spent a few minutes looking around picking out peaks that we had stood atop of in the past. We then went down and jogged most the way back catching the proper Skyline Trail back down to the river crossings and on back into camp. It took us just over nine hours.

Looking around at the many amazing mountains in the San Juan range

Summit of Rio Grande Pyramid

Jogging back to the trailhead at 30 mile campground

After a nice afternoon of rest we were ready to go the following morning. We woke up, ate breakfast and broke down camp. We drove the hour from 30 mile campground to Creede where we set up Hazel and Grandma at the park in town. Laura and I drove out to the 4wd road and went most of the way to the trailhead. We pulled off at a safe area and started our hike up Phoenix Peak. We quickly ascended to tree line on the excellent trail and then cut off to cross an open grassy area. Here we saw a herd of about 50 elk. We stopped while they crossed where our trail lead. As they went thru and on past, we started up again. 

Extensive beaver ponds on the trail to Phoenix Peak

The beaver ponds were impressive and there were lots of recent additions

Large herd of Elk on Phoenix Peak

We hiked our way up rocky and grassy slopes to the summit of Phoenix Peak and its massive man made cairn - we both climbed it since it was obviously the summit of the mountain. We ran most of the way down and were back to the Jeep 4 hours after starting. 2:30 up, 1:30 down. 

Rocky slopes high on Phoenix

You can see the summit cairn in the distance

Justin reaching the highest point

Summit of Phoenix Peak

Summit selfie

There were rain showers in the distance but they never reached us

We went back to Creede and relaxed in the park before taking the long dirt road to the Stewart Peak trailhead.

Justin and Hazel having fun in the park in Creede

We stopped to check out Clear Creek Falls on the way from Creede to the Cebolla Trailhead

It rained much of the way and when we reached the trailhead we found a camp spot in willow park. I set up camp and cooked dinner while Laura and Hazel played in the Jeep. We ate dinner and were in bed shortly after. 

Camp at Willow Park

The next morning we all hiked up Stewart Peak. I carried Hazel in her carrier and Laura carried our water, food and jackets. 

Starting out from the Cebolla Trailhead toward Stewart Peak on Fathers day

Hazel relaxing on the hike

We encountered lots and lots of willows, but managed to work through them

Hazel riding with Dad on the way up Stewart Peak

High meadows on Stewart Peak

We made it to 13,800’ before the wind picked up and Hazel became unhappy. We stopped just below the summit and while I held Hazel, Laura ran to the summit. When she returned I did the same. 

Summit of Stewart Peak

Summit register, Stewart Peak

Summit Register

Sheltering Hazel from the wind

We all headed down to the basin and less wind. With a casual hike out we were back at the Jeep at 12:55 pm. There were several marmots around the car when we got there and we were worried they had chewed on the car while we were gone. Well, we were wrong. 

We found an arrowhead on the way down

Hazel sleeping on the way down

Hazel happy to have some milk back at the car

We drove home and the following day after work I was going to change the oil in the Jeep but when I popped the hood I heard something chirping at me. It was a marmot and he was in the front bumper. He had rode all the way home and stayed all the next day too. Laura and I didn’t know what to do and since it was evening, the department of wildlife was already closed. We decided to drive him up in the mountains and nudge him with a stick to go on his way. We drove him to where he could live and hopefully find some friends and then gave him a few taps. He bailed and we were relieved. Wow, pretty fun weekend with an interesting ending.

Crazy marmot that rode home with us in the bumper