East Slopes

Approach

See the Getting There section of the main page for directions to the trailhead.

Route Description

From the gates, follow the road east for a short distance until it curves left. Pass through an unlocked gate, similar to the ones you parked at, and just before the road turns right into a fenced-in ski equipment lot and just before it goes over a stream, look left for a trail that heads up into the forest. It appears this was an old road to a long-ruined cabin but it is more of a trail now. It rises steeply up and west with little in the way of switchbacks. When the trail appears to turn slightly left and you are coming into thinner forests near treeline, look northwest (slightly right) and you should see the rocky false summit.

Abandon the trail now and make your way cross country through thin forests towards the rocks. At about 11,600 feet you should come across the ruins (only the foundation remains) of an old two-room cabin. There is a small pond out in what would have been the backyard. Keep angling slightly right for the rocks. This is the false summit, just east of the true summit. You have two options here, you can contour around to the right (north) of the false summit to easier slopes below the true summit or just go up and over the false summit. Take your pick. Angling around north will probably make it easier but longer. Going up and over gives you a short steep section and then a quick descent into a saddle between the false and true summits.

You can either descend into Dry Gulch and back to the ski equipment area to catch the road back, descend the way you came or, if you are continuing on to do Hagar Mountain, head west on the ridge to catch the Continental Divide ridge.

Essential Gear

None needed.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Images

View East Slopes Image Gallery - 1 Images