We Do Stuff: Colorado's Centennials Finisher - Jupiter Mountain and Sunlight Spire

Jupiter Mountain 13,836’ and Sunlight Spire 13,996'

August 30 - September 2, 2024

Labor Day weekend is popular in Chicago Basin, but Laura reserved herself, Hazel and me tickets on the Silverton-Durango train. Wyatt, Isaac, Nicole and their girls would join us as well. We all met up at the train station in Durango on Friday morning and caught up before loading our backpacks into the cargo car of the historic train. The ride is scenic as you leave Durango and the open-air cars is where we would all congregate. Hazel was excited that her friends were coming camping and Laura and I were ready to stand atop our final summit of Colorado's highest 100 mountains. We would also attempt to reach the summit of Sunlight Spire at 13,999', reached by it's easiest route by a 5.10 crack.

Hazel was so happy that Taylor and Kayla were coming with us

The 6 miles into Chicago Basin went by easy. Wyatt and I hiked together as Hazel, Laura, Nicole and the girls walked the trail following the cascading falls together. Isaac went ahead and found a good camp site in the lower basin. When Wyatt and I made it there, we agreed it was a good spot and set up tents before the girls made it to camp.

Hazel walked the entire way into Chicago Basin with Taylor, who was very gracious and held her hand and kept her motivated and entertained for hours of hiking

Our tent setup in Chicago Basin

Hazel played in the hammock with Taylor

For our first full day in the basin, Laura, Hazel, Wyatt and I chose to attempt Sunlight Spire. We left camp early, knowing that Hazel would take a long time to complete the hike and climb to the base of the route. The approach was class 4, the highest difficulty Hazel had attempted on her own outside of proper, roped, technical climbing. The three of us hiked into the upper basin as the sun arose and Hazel was doing amazing along the well beaten trail. We hiked around the upper lakes and eventually into the boulder field that needs to be navigated toward Sunlight Spire.

Hazel wanted to take a photo by every cairn to see if she was taller than it or not

Hazel and Wyatt by one of the many cairns. Wyatt even carried the rope for us.

After taking a rest and putting on our helmets, we began the lengthy scramble to 13,900' and the base of our intended route. Hazel made easy work of the scramble, although it did take us several hours! At the base of the route, Wyatt and I uncoiled the rope and I racked up with cams and stoppers to place in the crack and protect the route. Starting off I was able to climb cleanly, placing cams and clipping stuck stoppers from previous parties. By the halfway point of the route, I had tired as I was far out of climbing shape from not being on a rope for almost three years. I asked Laura to take slack and rested for a minute before continuing on, placing pro as I progressed to the top of the climb.

Hazel waiting for our turn to climb

Wyatt on the lower pitch

Justin leading the second pitch

Laura muddling her way up

The summit had been obtained and I was proud that I was able to climb as well as I did having not been on a rope for so long. I belayed Laura to the top of the climb and then Wyatt gave it a shot.

Justin and Laura on the summit of Sunlight Spire

The spire was a fun summit, but unless you're wanting to climb it for personal satisfaction, really not worth carrying all that gear up there for 50' of climbing.

Justin leading the Spire with Laura, Wyatt and Hazel belaying and waiting on the ledge below

Laura and Hazel tandem rappelling down

Hiking off the peak, we had almost reached the lakes in the upper basin again when Laura and I talked about a potential route across and over to Jupiter Mountain. We agreed that Hazel would likely be tired the following day and that she may enjoy hanging out in camp rather than climbing another mountain. I chose to cut over a ridgeline and across a basin that led to the route up Jupiter. Downclimbing a loose gulley was the only sketchy part of the route, and I made excellent time ascending the easy slopes and gullies leading to the summit. I let out a loud whoop and although I was all alone, the solidarity of a solo summit was a fine way of completing my goal of climbing Colorado's 100 highest mountains.

Hazel was in great spirits as we hiked back to camp, she was having fun spotting pikas and even a baby mountain goat

I jogged down back to camp, arriving near dinnertime and relaxed for the evening.

Hazel, Justin and Wyatt back at camp relaxing

Hazel enjoying dinner in her zanyan (Hazel's name for a table and chair setup in nature)

The next morning, Wyatt, Laura and the others got a 5 am start and successfully summitted Jupiter, thus completing her goal of climbing Colorado's 100 highest mountains. While I was bummed to not be there to celebrate with Laura, I was happy that Wyatt was there. He was proud and I believe he made the final climb fun for Laura.

Laura's final centennial, Jupiter Mountain

The whole gang on the summit of Jupiter Mountain

Hazel and I spent the day around camp, drinking hot tea and roaming the trail toward the upper basin. We spent time throwing rocks in the stream and generally had a great day.

Hazel playing in the creek

Justin, Wyatt, Taylor and Hazel enjoying a little down time by the creek

That night at camp, weather moved in and a hailstorm blasted our camp. It was definitely one of the worst storms I had sat through in a tent. While we ate dinner, the hail blasted us for over an hour, piling up 4 or 5 inches of hail outside. Hazel jammed to Thunderstruck while wearing earplugs because of the noise. We were worried that the tent would not hold up, but were happy that it did without any issues, leaks or tears.

Hazel wasn't even phased by the weather; it was party time in the tent with loud music to drown out the hail

We had to keep knocking the hail off the tent as it kept coming down

Following the storm, we all cleared our tents, grabbed anything left out around camp and retired to bed before hiking back out to the train the next morning. We were so proud of Hazel for her amazing hiking and climbing this weekend and were both happy to be Colorado Centennial's Finishers!

Back down in Needleton, we met other climbers and traded adventure stories. Hazel was the youngest, but she fit right in with the crew and the stories