Unnamed 11,328'
Point 11,371'
Trailhead: Twin Eagles Trailhead
Stats: 14 Miles, 3,800' Elevation, 8 Hours 50 Minutes
Trailhead Directions
From the town of Jefferson on highway 285, head south on Park County Road 77 for 25.6 miles to the trailhead/campground on the left. (This is 5.4 miles past the Ute Creek Trailhead commonly used for Bison Peak.) When the campground is closed in the off season, you can park along County Road 77.
Trip Overview
As I am slowly working my way through the peaks of the Lost Creek Wilderness, I am finding some interesting peaks...however they keep getting harder and harder logistically to get to. I decided to join a group headed for nearby McCurdy Mountain, with the plan to split from the group after about 5 miles and make my way to UN11328. Turns out, everyone in the group (4 of us) ended up skipping McCurdy in favor of this little peak! Started from the trailhead to a brisk 4 degrees, quickly headed up the trail to warm up. After 4-5 miles, we hit the intersection with the Lake Park Trail. (Near 10,700') We took a right here, then followed the Lake Park Trail .5 miles until we were due south of Pt. 11371. We took a left and headed straight up to the west summit and found some fun scrambling. This point is not ranked, but was still enjoyable.
From 11371, we headed the 1 mile or so to UN11328. Quite a bit of up and down between the two with some interesting rock features. Made it to the base of the summit right around noon. The final ascent was tricky, but fun. We climbed a short move (class 4/5) on the south side of the summit to gain access to a middle platform. I found this to be the toughest move. From here, I continued up through the small tunnel (class 3) that popped me out under the final summit block. The summit block was dry, and it was a easy class 3/4 slab climb to the true summit. I descended the same way except the the tunnel move (this can be avoided via a class 4 downclimb just to the left of the tunnel) while the other guys descended a short step on the opposite side of the summit block, skipping the slab move on the way down. Lots of options to play on up there.
We stayed for a short while, then headed back. By the time we reached the Lake Park Trail again, the cold and falling snow sapped the urge to head on to Tarryall Peak. We decided to head back down the same way we ascended.
Although cold, it was a nice day out.
From 11371, we headed the 1 mile or so to UN11328. Quite a bit of up and down between the two with some interesting rock features. Made it to the base of the summit right around noon. The final ascent was tricky, but fun. We climbed a short move (class 4/5) on the south side of the summit to gain access to a middle platform. I found this to be the toughest move. From here, I continued up through the small tunnel (class 3) that popped me out under the final summit block. The summit block was dry, and it was a easy class 3/4 slab climb to the true summit. I descended the same way except the the tunnel move (this can be avoided via a class 4 downclimb just to the left of the tunnel) while the other guys descended a short step on the opposite side of the summit block, skipping the slab move on the way down. Lots of options to play on up there.
We stayed for a short while, then headed back. By the time we reached the Lake Park Trail again, the cold and falling snow sapped the urge to head on to Tarryall Peak. We decided to head back down the same way we ascended.
Although cold, it was a nice day out.