Contribute  Loading...
Geography Parents Loading... Routes
| East Ridge   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 39.64400°N / 105.848°W Route Type: Scramble Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 2
| Route Quality: | | | | Loading...
| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Sep 4, 2005 / May 27, 2007 Object ID: 166604 Hits: 1076 Loading... Page Score: 86.17% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
ApproachTake the Loveland Pass exit just east of Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70. Drive over Loveland Pass to the Keystone Resort area, taking a left into the River Run Resort. This is the first left turn option after the Arapaho Basin ski area.
Take an immediate left onto the Montezuma Road, bypassing the Montezuma Free Parking area on your right. Turn right at the stop sign, continuing up the Montezuma Road, which is paved.
Be on the lookout for a left turn to Peru Creek which is located on a curve. A large parking area is available here, but proceed on up the road which is easily done with a passenger car. A bridge crossing over Peru Creek puts you on the north side of the stream. Keep a sharp eye out for a small sign that says "Lewanee Creek Trail," and drive beyond it about a half mile to the turn off for Chihuahua Gulch. A sign notes the road has been adopted by the Oswhego Jeep Club.
Park your passenger car here on the south side of the road. You may proceed due north with your 4WD up the road to shorten your hiking distance. A turn out on your right amidst some trees is a good place to park (or camp), as the road gets very rough beyond. Jeeps can easily navigate the road to its terminus.
Route DescriptionFollow the 4WD road over a crossing. A board has been placed here for your convenience! A trail detour avoids a bog that jeeps must drive through. After a patchwork section and another covenient board crossing, the road wanders through endless willows, continuing north. Stay on the road, which ends at a fence and some FS markers.
Stay to the left, as the right takes you into Ruby Gulch for a climb of Grays Peak via the SW ridge. The road continues up the spacious Chihuahua Gulch, crossing to the west side of the creek again and climbing up to a shelf and out of willow country. The road becomes a two track trail through a long grassy meadow, then becomes a trail in the higher reaches of the gulch.
Around 11,700 feet, depart the trail which continues to Chihuahua Lake and cross a stream on a northward course. Stay on tundra as much as possible, aiming for the Grizzly-Torreys saddle. Climb northeast to the saddle up two steep tundra covered mounds, then arc toward the west. Large cairns may be encountered.
Hike toward Grizzly's east ridge and follow it to the summit, where some fun and lively Class 2 scrambling is encountered. Beginners might be caught off guard by the narrowness and mild exposure, but this is good training for such folks.
Return the same route.
ROUND TRIP DISTANCE: 7.5 miles
GAIN: 1900'
Totals are less if starting from the end of the jeep road.
GRAYS & TORREYS PEAKS
Popular 14er Torreys Peak can be climbed from the saddle via a steep and loose zig-zagging trail through talus up the mountain's west slopes. If climbing Torreys only, return the same route. A traverse over to Grays would indicate a descent via Grays' Southwest Ridge into Ruby Creek and back into Chihuahua Gulch for a stunning tour of the area (weather permitting, of course!).
Essential GearSUMMER & FALL: Standard dayhike gear will do.
SPRING: Snow shoes and applicable winter apparrel. An ice axe may be handy to acquire the saddle. In heavy snow conditions, an ice axe and crampons are recommended.
WINTER: Full winter gear required, although avalanche danger is minimal except near the saddle. This area is a great winter outing possibility!
Miscellaneous InfoIf you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
Images
|
|
Front Range (CO)
