Crystal Mountain, Boiler Hill, Parks Hill, Mica Mine Ridge 8/3
3600' EVG 14.1 miles
The eastern arms of the Storm Mountain-10720-Lookout Mountain ridge is home to several low elevation, unranked peaks. For most people these would be an unappealing summits outside of Crystal Mountain, which has both excellent views and jeep road access. Boiler Hill is a substantial peak that dominates a lot of lower views, while Parks Hill and Mica Mine Ridge are quite obscure and somewhat remote bumps. To add some interest the area is encompassed in the Crystal Mountain Pegmatite District, which is a regional mining area that primarily produced Beryl and Mica along with some Tourmaline and even Uranium supposedly. There are several mines in the area well worth exploring.
Crystal Mountain
I reached the start of the Crystal Mountain 4WD road at 9:30 and parked in a small pullout at the 4-way junction. The road looks pretty manageable along the beginning stretches, and about a half mile in I noticed a small cut in the hillside and some boards which turned out to be a small undocumented mine. The area was a pegmatite outcrop, a type of rock formation which can hold valuable green Crysoberyl and large books of Mica. Continuing along the road I intersected a side road that headed up the hillside and led to what appeared to be a logging area. From here I bushwhacked the remainder of the hillside and intersected the road again, saving some distance. Climbing up the road I passed over several rocky sections that would be challenging for a jeep to navigate. At the saddle I climbed steeply up the summit pitch and enjoyed the summit views. I was most impressed by the views across the Poudre Canyon and to the lower flatland areas of Larimer County and beyond. Many peaks can be seen from the vantage. I saw a few familiar names in the register buried within the 4WD road traffic.
As I dropped off the summit I heard ATVs approaching and was reminded that I was lucky to enjoy the summit alone on a Saturday. Back at the saddle I made a sidetrip to a large white quartz outcropping where a mine had once tunneled into. The area is littered in large white quartz matrix, and while investigating the filled-in shafts I found a nice chunk of rose quartz. From here I heard more motors roaring up the hill, and decided to bushwhack down to Sheep Creek below as a less dusty and more scenic route. I dropped through several meadow following short sections of wildlife trails and long forgotten roads. At the creek I passed by another group of ATVers as it began to rain.
Boiler Hill
At the intersection with the road that ascends the side of Boiler Hill, signage began to pop up on the trees that the land was owned by the state(DOW I believe) and that the public wasn't granted access. I disregarded the warning and continued climbing with the rain turning to small hail to the top of the hill, where the Plains View Mine sits to the east. This large outcrop and lower mine cuts hold good pieces of Black Tourmaline in the walls but also scattered on the ground for easy collecting. Exploring a tailings mound I found a heavy, metallic rock with classic pyramidal crystal profiles on one side...I don't know what it is but it seems very unusual.
Backtracking a short way down the road there is an obvious side road that heads northeast. I took this road to the summit of the Boiler Hill sub-summit, where I found a small cabin and the cut for the Crystal Snow mine, which was quite deep. Finding nothing of interest I bushwhacked to the saddle and up to the cliffy false summit of the hill, where I had great views north. The true summit has a small cairn, and is completely forested.
In addition, I visited Parks Hill and Mica Mine Ridge before looping back to the car to complete the surprisingly long day.
The eastern arms of the Storm Mountain-10720-Lookout Mountain ridge is home to several low elevation, unranked peaks. For most people these would be an unappealing summits outside of Crystal Mountain, which has both excellent views and jeep road access. Boiler Hill is a substantial peak that dominates a lot of lower views, while Parks Hill and Mica Mine Ridge are quite obscure and somewhat remote bumps. To add some interest the area is encompassed in the Crystal Mountain Pegmatite District, which is a regional mining area that primarily produced Beryl and Mica along with some Tourmaline and even Uranium supposedly. There are several mines in the area well worth exploring.
Crystal Mountain
I reached the start of the Crystal Mountain 4WD road at 9:30 and parked in a small pullout at the 4-way junction. The road looks pretty manageable along the beginning stretches, and about a half mile in I noticed a small cut in the hillside and some boards which turned out to be a small undocumented mine. The area was a pegmatite outcrop, a type of rock formation which can hold valuable green Crysoberyl and large books of Mica. Continuing along the road I intersected a side road that headed up the hillside and led to what appeared to be a logging area. From here I bushwhacked the remainder of the hillside and intersected the road again, saving some distance. Climbing up the road I passed over several rocky sections that would be challenging for a jeep to navigate. At the saddle I climbed steeply up the summit pitch and enjoyed the summit views. I was most impressed by the views across the Poudre Canyon and to the lower flatland areas of Larimer County and beyond. Many peaks can be seen from the vantage. I saw a few familiar names in the register buried within the 4WD road traffic.
As I dropped off the summit I heard ATVs approaching and was reminded that I was lucky to enjoy the summit alone on a Saturday. Back at the saddle I made a sidetrip to a large white quartz outcropping where a mine had once tunneled into. The area is littered in large white quartz matrix, and while investigating the filled-in shafts I found a nice chunk of rose quartz. From here I heard more motors roaring up the hill, and decided to bushwhack down to Sheep Creek below as a less dusty and more scenic route. I dropped through several meadow following short sections of wildlife trails and long forgotten roads. At the creek I passed by another group of ATVers as it began to rain.
Boiler Hill
At the intersection with the road that ascends the side of Boiler Hill, signage began to pop up on the trees that the land was owned by the state(DOW I believe) and that the public wasn't granted access. I disregarded the warning and continued climbing with the rain turning to small hail to the top of the hill, where the Plains View Mine sits to the east. This large outcrop and lower mine cuts hold good pieces of Black Tourmaline in the walls but also scattered on the ground for easy collecting. Exploring a tailings mound I found a heavy, metallic rock with classic pyramidal crystal profiles on one side...I don't know what it is but it seems very unusual.
Backtracking a short way down the road there is an obvious side road that heads northeast. I took this road to the summit of the Boiler Hill sub-summit, where I found a small cabin and the cut for the Crystal Snow mine, which was quite deep. Finding nothing of interest I bushwhacked to the saddle and up to the cliffy false summit of the hill, where I had great views north. The true summit has a small cairn, and is completely forested.
In addition, I visited Parks Hill and Mica Mine Ridge before looping back to the car to complete the surprisingly long day.
