Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
Anderson Peak (Elevation 13,631 feet)
Petroleum Peak (Elevation 13,505 feet)
Larson Peak (Elevation 12,908)
Sawatch Mountain Range
Anderson Peak CO Peak Rank: 179 (Bi-Centennial)
39.0122°N, 106.6299°W
Petroleum Peak CO Peak Rank: 252
39.0244°N, 106.6489°W
Larson Peak CO Peak Rank: 708
39.0328°N, 106.6350°W
Mileage: 7.5 miles
Trailhead at gate 10 miles (1hr 20min) from Highway 82 along Lincoln Creek Road (west side of Independence Pass)
Vertical: 3500 feet.
Roundtrip Time: approximately 5 hour's roundtrip
Directions: from Aspen go east on Highway 82 to the right turn onto Lincoln Creek Road, from Independence Pass go west past Lost Man trailhead parking area to the left turn.
"I got rippling waters to wake me
To the morning, my woman and love
Our tall pine trees are pointing us easily to heaven above
Blue spruce flaming on the grate in the evening
Takes the chill away fine
Cut the telephone line and the story's the same."
"And you make me feel fine
Warm as the mountain sunshine
On the edge of the snowline
In a meadow of columbine..."
The wife wanted to go to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert in Montrose on Friday night so we headed down for an enjoyable evening remembering a number of their old tunes and realizing I had purchased their 1971 "Will the Circle be Unbroken" album just a few years after its release.
We toured the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and made the trek from there along the West Elk Loop through Aspen and then Lincoln Creek Road. The road isn't so much rocky as it is strewn with potholes so it is a slow drive. There is designated camping for the first 6 plus miles to the lake (actually no camping from mile 3 to the lake, which I had not known). We grabbed the last camp spot (#12) as it getting later and set up camp. There is camping anywhere you might want after the lake (which I had not known).
I got up early on Sunday morning and made the 45 minute drive to the gate. There is a sign for Anderson and Petroleum at the right turn.
After hiking up to the lakes here is the first view of Anderson Peak.
I turned right at the lake and headed to Larson Peak first.
Larson Peak.
Petroleum Peak.
Passing through the many wildflowers I headed for this saddle.
Wildflowers.
Short rocky ridge to Larson Peak.
Truro Peak and West Truro.
Petroleum Peak.
Anderson Peak.
Petroleum Lake.
I dropped off of Larson Peak and headed towards Petroleum Peak.
Larson Peak to the left and the slightly lower tower to the right.
Petroleum Peak and the ridge I took to the summit.
Once again looking back at Larson Peak and Truro Peak.
Summit.
The ridge to Anderson Peak.
A good ridge run to the summit of Anderson Peak. I then backtracked a ways to a nice gully to down climb (see gpx).
A look up the moderate gully.
This is a picture of the steep gully that Furthermore (see his report) used to exit the ridge. I opted to take the easier one farther back even though it added an extra 15-20 minutes to the route in order to avoid the ice/snow on the gully closer to Anderson Peak.
A final look at the many wildflowers up in the basin, worth a look.
After making it back to the basin I headed straight and crossed over my track going up.
I definitely plan to return soon for the Truro, Tellurium, et. al. peaks.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
and I thought I'd add some more info. I did this a few weeks ago (August, 2018) using this TR and the day I was leaving they had started on grading the lower section of the road -below the campground and lake. So, it should be in better shape now. I drove past the open gate at the campground / lake and to the end of the road and slept there. After the gate the last section of road is easy 4WD but overgrown- the willows will drag on your vehicle a lot. If you're particular about your vehicle's paint, park at the campground / lake because it'll probably get scratched up. IIRC, it took me ~80 minutes to drive from the end of the road out to the highway so this one takes a while to get to. I think I used the same gully as you did to descend; it had tan colored dirt at the top.
this was back aways, glad the report may have been still useful
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
