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MOUNTAIN(S): Sunlight Peak, Windom Peak, Mt. Eolus, N. Eolus DATES CLIMBED: 9/2-4/11 TIME FROM TRAIN TO BASIN: 2.5 hours DAY 1 TIME (SUNLIGHT/WINDOM): 8 hours DAY 2 TIME (EOLUS/N. EOLUS): 5.5 hours TIME FROM BASIN TO TRAIN: 2 hours CLIMBERS: Jeff (SurfNTurf), Steve L., Andrew (awknox), Joe B., Leah (MtnGoats)
The pack for my first trip to Chicago Basin on Aug. 30, 2009 included an actual gallon jug of water, five pounds worth of ingredients for one chili dinner, and a heavy three-person tent I had no idea how to set up.
Two years have changed a lot.
Having finally accrued a bit of vacation time at my still relatively new job, I decided to schedule off Friday, Sept. 2 to make a four-day Labor Day weekend. I initially tried to make more ambitious plans - the Wind Rivers or the Tetons, for instance - but couldn't find any takers. I "settled" for the Chicago Basin.
Steve, who was my only partner on that initial foray into Chicago Basin, was the first to sign up. We'd managed only to summit Windom on our first attempt (my first 14er), as we were on an abbreviated two-day itinerary. He was as eager as I was to go back for the other three. Andrew agreed to the trip shortly thereafter, and Leah and her dog Rope joined near the last minute. With a full car, we set off for Durango after work on Sept. 1 and camped at Junction Creek.
Equipped this time with a lighter pack and two years (and 30 peaks) of experience, Andrew and I managed to get first pick of campsites in the basin, arriving from the train in 2.5 hours. We chose an awesome spot near a flat, treeless area we called our beach, on which we'd spend much of our downtime lounging and reading. Camped on the right side of Needle Creek (when you're facing toward Windom/Jupiter), we had absolutely zero issues with goats or other critters. We saw them routinely in campsites on the other side of the creek, though.
A solo hiker kept pace with us most of the approach, making us the first three into the basin from that day's train - and he was wearing SANDALS! He was on exactly the same itinerary as us, so we invited him to join our party. Joe became our fifth member. Leah, Steve and Rope arrived a short time later.
Knowing how volatile the weather in Chicago Basin can be, we hit the trail at 4:30 a.m. on Day 1. The goals were Sunlight and Windom. I was surprised to see how many other people chose such an early start, including a nine-person Colorado Mountain Club group. As crowded as the trails were, Leah said she didn't mind if we went ahead. Steve and Andrew tackled Sunlight's West Ridge, while Joe and I slogged up the standard scree gully. I regret that looking back - do the West Ridge!
We timed our hike to hit Twin Lakes at about first light, which in my opinion was ideal. Once out of Sunlight's gully, the Class 3 scrambling is really fun. We didn't make much of an effort to stay on route, instead choosing fun variations that eventually got us to the summit block.
Sunlight's summit block was one of those things where I told myself, "Just get there, see how it is, and make a decision." Before I'd even taken off my pack Steve had practically skipped up the damn thing. Andrew went next with similar nonchalance, and then it was my turn. The move up is a piece of cake. I admired the exposure to my right and posed for a few pictures, then scrambled down to "the leap." I just went for it before the move got into my head, and it was as simple as others have claimed. Joe went last, but made it perhaps look the smoothest out of all of us. I'm not even sure he used his hands.
As always, downclimbing a scree gully was miserable. A couple hundred curses later, we were back in the upper basin and starting up Windom. What minimal solitude we'd had in the early morning was gone, and now we shared the route with dozens of other people. There were about 10 other folks on the summit. Some of them thought it was fine to use my head as a handhold (without asking) before wondering if I'd like to join the CMC. I bit my tongue.
Joe and I headed straight down while Andrew went after some extra extra credit on Peak 18. Steve had summitted Windom previously, with me in 2009, and had opted to skip repeating the mountain. Joe and I got back to camp at about 12:30, making our round-trip time for the day approximately eight hours. We spent at least 45 minutes (likely longer) on each summit.
We napped through afternoon showers then went to lounge on the beach. Leah, who had been successful on Sunlight and Windom, informed us she was sitting the next day out. A few pints of whiskey (Andrew contributed some infernal concoction called Black Velvet) were passed around and we went to bed early at about 9 p.m.
We got a bit of a later start on Sunday, leaving at 5 a.m. Speaking for myself, my legs were about shot at this point (2800 feet with a two-night pack on Day 1 and 4500 feet and two summits on Day 2 with a minimal calorie intake will take it out of you!). We still managed good time up to Twin Lakes and found the steep, scree-laden trail toward Eolus. There was one large group of four ahead of us, and we caught up to them at about the Eolus/N. Eolus saddle. We all scampered up N. Eolus (literally 5-10 minutes from the saddle) as a big group. It's an easy, thin Class 3 scramble.
Next up, The Catwalk (aka the Sidewalk in the Sky). We were all four full of confidence at this point and made short, easy work of this obstacle. It's really no big deal. There is one especially narrow section, but we still all felt comfortable walking right across it.
There are cairns marking the trail up Eolus' face, but we each kind of chose our own adventure. It was one of the most enjoyable climbs I've had up a 14er, including Crestone Needle and Wetterhorn. The rock was (mostly) solid, there was plenty of exposure beneath my boots and it was fairly sustained Class 3 and 4 (again, we chose our own routes). We swarmed to the summit from all angles, sparking some laughs out of the group already up there. They left shortly after, and as we were good on time, we spent quite a while on top goofing off. We even planked The Catwalk on the way down.
The views from all of these mountains are incredible, but Eolus really took the cake. Crestone Needle's short-lived stint as my favorite 14er immediately came to an end.
On our way down, we passed a whole gaggle of people. Not surprising given it was Labor Day. I worried a bit about these folks shortly after, as no sooner did we get back to camp (at 10:30 a.m.) then hail storms slammed into the area. I wouldn't want to be on some of those Eolus slabs if they were slick. I was glad to hear of no accidents.
We had to be back at Needleton for pick-up at 4 p.m., but we knew it would only take us about two hours to cover that ground. We made lunch, lounged, and took our time packing up camp. We left at about 12:30 and, as predicted, arrived at Needleton at 2:30.
We then proceeded to drink the train out of beers. This is not hyperbole. We also ran into Katie and Bobby Finn, who after Chicago Basin were only two mountains away from finishing the 14ers. I believe they were trying for both Little Bear and Capitol this week, so if you two see this, GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
After checking into our hotel and taking much-needed showers, we feasted at Steamworks and enjoyed a night out on the town in Durango. Of course, after three days of hiking, we didn't make it much past midnight.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Sounds like the exact same trip I did a couple of years ago - maybe even same campsite. Eolus is awesome, isn't it? It's a favorite. (But I think I still like the Needle better.)
What a great place. Nice work on the Summit Block, too - although I see you went ”jort-less”. Not sure what that's all about. Good to see you went with the Durango Dark Lager on the way out.
Jeff, it was good to see you guys on the train. Nice job on the Summit Block! I am sure your head was a solid handhold. At least nobody wanted to use it as a foothold Separately, we did manage to get Little Bear, and South Little Bear as an extra credit...Capitol next, hopefully soon, weather permitting.
Weird to see all the snow gone... 9/8/2011 12:54am
Glad you had a great time in Chicago Basin (again)! And yeah, those ledges on Eolus are ”interesting” when wet and graupel-covered. Downclimbing them is doable, but not fun
Sounds like you guys had a grand time. I loved Eolus. You are ready to tackle Pyramid next - it is as much fun as Eolus, only a bit longer route.
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