My Colorado Travelings

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2019

Part Twelve [The Wetterhorn]
The next day was the climb of Wetterhorn Peak. We started early once again. We drove along the rather gnarly 4WD road to the trailhead in the dark.
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We enjoyed the dawn light as we broke out of treeline.



Wetterhorn is the high point on the left side.






Crossing a snow field with Uncompahgre Peak in the background.






Looking down at a steep, loose section we had just ascended.



This was where I stopped. My two friends are on top of the summit. Two other climbers are coming down. This was the hardest section and I did not want to have to downclimb it.



My friends starting back down the rough stretch.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2019

Part Thirteen [The Wetterhorn]
They made it down back to me. We continued our way down the mountain trail.






A Colorado trip report is not complete without the obligatory marmot photo.






Looking at tomorrow's target: Uncompaghre.






A look back up the trail at Wetterhorn.





We made it back to camp. Cooking dinner on the trailer again. Brats and dehydrated delights.

 

[shade]

Is Wetterhorn Class 3+? That last section looks pretty exposed.

 

[TripLeader]

Is Wetterhorn Class 3+? That last section looks pretty exposed.

Gerry Roach rates it as Class 3.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2019

Part 14 [Uncompahgre Peak]

The next day was reserved to hike Uncompahgre. It's one of my favorite mountains and the reason I made my first trip to the San Juan Range about a decade earlier. We made another early start.



Getting closer.



Hiking up the harder sections of the route.



On the summit.



Standing on some of the dramatic edges Uncompahgre offers.






The San Juans. Redcloud & Sunshine are the tallest peaks on the left side, distinguishable by the saddle connecting them. Handies is just right of center.

 

[shade]

It's good to see you and the G3 still get on so well. Did you stitch the last pano?

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2019

Part Fifteen [Descent of Uncompahgre]

Heading down from the top.






Back down to this section. It was just steep and loose. Slow going for sure.



Looking over at Wetterhorn.



Inspecting the scenery on the descent.









Redcloud & Sunshine in the distance (just right of center).



Uncompahgre Peak. 14,309 feet above sea level.



We continued on down the trail and back to camp.

 

[TripLeader]

It's good to see you and the G3 still get on so well. Did you stitch the last pano?

Yeah, the camera has been a good fit for me. Not a pano, just cropped to focus on the mountains.

 

[TripLeader]

Aug. 2019

Part Sixteen [Conclusion]

We headed into Lake City after our hike. We bought ourselves a shower at the same RV park we had visited earlier in the week. We had dinner at a restaurant. The next morning we broke camp and drove the 13 or so hours home.

We had a very big sense of accomplishment. We had managed to visit 1 national park, drive the Alpine Loop, and summit 5 14ers during our trip. That had been the plan all along, and we were able to carry it out. We had good weather and had prepared our bodies and accumulated all the gear necessary. And then we were able to load it all in the Jeep and trailer.





We'll be heading back next summer.

 

[FinsUp]

Great write up my friend.

 

[TripLeader]

Great write up my friend.

Thanks.

 

[shade]

You guys packed a lot into your time there. ?

How noticeable was the suspension upgrade? Did you feel much of a difference with the lift when towing?

 

[TripLeader]

You guys packed a lot into your time there. ?

How noticeable was the suspension upgrade? Did you feel much of a difference with the lift when towing?

There's a loss of acceleration from the bigger tires. Towing the trailer doesn't help. But the trailer is unnoticeable while on level straightaways.

The new suspension holds the trailer tongue without any sag.

So, not too much difference overall in towing.

 

[masjayhawk]

Great write up and amazing photos as always!

 

[PaulBlair]

Great photo. Thanks for sharing. And where did you get things for travel? I watched various reviews on sites, for example, on the site https://wildproofgear.com/. Maybe you still know some?