Camping Trip North of Red Feather Lakes
After a good experience with a friend a few weeks ago overnighting near Prohibition Mountain and hitting 4 little peaks on the way back, we decided to do another quick trip before the fall semester started. This time our hopeful camping spot would be in the valley between UN 8555 and Many Thunders Mountain somewhere along the 4WD road that winds back in there. I had checked out the area via satellite images, and several possibilities had emerged.
On the drive up, I'd hoped to hit a few small peaks along with a few more while camping.
Mount Moriah:
This small outcropping lies in the Glacier View Subdivision entirely on private land, however the parcel containing the summit and route from W Quandary Drive(many of the roads back in there are named after 14ers) is communal land owned by the subdivision. From a semi-pullout along the road, we worked through scrubby vegetation up the steep hillside before intersecting a well worn trail traversing the side of the peak. Following the trail wrapped us around the east side, making us wonder if it really was a summit trail, so we cut off and headed back up the hillside to the summit. Eventually we regained the trail which did indeed lead to the rocky top of Mount Moriah.
Manhead Mountain:
Definitely the highlight of the first day, Manhead sits in a convenient alcove of US Forest Service land. Driving through the maze of roads farther northwest in the subdivision eventually led us to a gate and tiny grass pullout at the base of the mountain. A small climbers trail leads along the fence to the more gradual east face, where we headed up. Eventually hitting the granite dome forming the summit, we enjoyed some simple climbing that didn't exceed class 3+ to the rocky summit. I'd recommend this peak to someone looking for something quick and fun.
UN 8340(S):
I was hoping to save this one for later in the trip, but Lady Moon TH was closed due to tree removal thus shutting down my plans for UN 8820, so 8340 became the new destination. After stopping in Red Feather Lakes village for some drinks, we parked near the bottom of Lone Pine Creek Valley at some wide pullouts and headed up unsure of the exact location of the summit. Cresting a small ridge, we picked out two possibilities for summits, the main ridge crest ahead or a small tower to the north. Bushwhacking through the downed trees and boulders was slow and miserable(plenty more of that experience for 8555 and 8435 ahead) but after a while we hit the summit and ate lunch. Before heading back we climbed the tower and got views into the valley below and at 8555 and Many Thunders above.
UN 8555:
Awake after a pleasant nights rest in our little meadow campsite, we walked down the 4WD road until it became neccesary to head right up the broad west side. The route was straightforward enough, but the difficult terrain made things much harder. Circling around a little point and into the saddle between the points, we tried to pick a route through the boulders leading to the summit to avoid the downed trees. The summit had a few candidates for a highpoint, but we settled for a knoll that overlooked the adjacent valleys for a break. Dropping down the east gully was horrendous, but after reaching the trees things went smoothly. Walking back to the site we saw a massive coyote near the car.
UN 8435(S):
Driving up the forest road to the west of the peak and parking at the gate, we walked down the road and through a small drainage filled with aspen groves to the base of the point. The climbing was uneventful until reaching the summit rocks, where we had to find a viable route up the monoliths. On the north side there is a nice crack with well placed footholds making the final push easier than expected. Views of the valleys and peaks below were cut short by a mob of flying ants that were hanging around the summit pissed us off enough to leave.
I had hoped to hit a few other peaks on the drive out, but neither my partner or I had really felt like doing more than packing up and leaving. I'd return to the site again, not only was it nice and quiet along the deserted road, but the location made it a good basecamp for the area mountains.
On the drive up, I'd hoped to hit a few small peaks along with a few more while camping.
Mount Moriah:
This small outcropping lies in the Glacier View Subdivision entirely on private land, however the parcel containing the summit and route from W Quandary Drive(many of the roads back in there are named after 14ers) is communal land owned by the subdivision. From a semi-pullout along the road, we worked through scrubby vegetation up the steep hillside before intersecting a well worn trail traversing the side of the peak. Following the trail wrapped us around the east side, making us wonder if it really was a summit trail, so we cut off and headed back up the hillside to the summit. Eventually we regained the trail which did indeed lead to the rocky top of Mount Moriah.
Manhead Mountain:
Definitely the highlight of the first day, Manhead sits in a convenient alcove of US Forest Service land. Driving through the maze of roads farther northwest in the subdivision eventually led us to a gate and tiny grass pullout at the base of the mountain. A small climbers trail leads along the fence to the more gradual east face, where we headed up. Eventually hitting the granite dome forming the summit, we enjoyed some simple climbing that didn't exceed class 3+ to the rocky summit. I'd recommend this peak to someone looking for something quick and fun.
UN 8340(S):
I was hoping to save this one for later in the trip, but Lady Moon TH was closed due to tree removal thus shutting down my plans for UN 8820, so 8340 became the new destination. After stopping in Red Feather Lakes village for some drinks, we parked near the bottom of Lone Pine Creek Valley at some wide pullouts and headed up unsure of the exact location of the summit. Cresting a small ridge, we picked out two possibilities for summits, the main ridge crest ahead or a small tower to the north. Bushwhacking through the downed trees and boulders was slow and miserable(plenty more of that experience for 8555 and 8435 ahead) but after a while we hit the summit and ate lunch. Before heading back we climbed the tower and got views into the valley below and at 8555 and Many Thunders above.
UN 8555:
Awake after a pleasant nights rest in our little meadow campsite, we walked down the 4WD road until it became neccesary to head right up the broad west side. The route was straightforward enough, but the difficult terrain made things much harder. Circling around a little point and into the saddle between the points, we tried to pick a route through the boulders leading to the summit to avoid the downed trees. The summit had a few candidates for a highpoint, but we settled for a knoll that overlooked the adjacent valleys for a break. Dropping down the east gully was horrendous, but after reaching the trees things went smoothly. Walking back to the site we saw a massive coyote near the car.
UN 8435(S):
Driving up the forest road to the west of the peak and parking at the gate, we walked down the road and through a small drainage filled with aspen groves to the base of the point. The climbing was uneventful until reaching the summit rocks, where we had to find a viable route up the monoliths. On the north side there is a nice crack with well placed footholds making the final push easier than expected. Views of the valleys and peaks below were cut short by a mob of flying ants that were hanging around the summit pissed us off enough to leave.
I had hoped to hit a few other peaks on the drive out, but neither my partner or I had really felt like doing more than packing up and leaving. I'd return to the site again, not only was it nice and quiet along the deserted road, but the location made it a good basecamp for the area mountains.
