Phoenix Peak Trip Report 10/02/2015

Peak(s):	"Phoenix Peak" - 13,904 feet
Date Posted:	10/02/2015
Date Climbed:	10/01/2015
Author:	Bill Stafford

Phoenix Peak (13895)
After having completed a couple peaks in the last couple days, I decided to take a day's break and rented a room ($75/night) at the Snowshoe Lodge in Creede for a couple nights. I had never been to Creede and the town's beautiful rocky backdrop is breathtaking as one enters town on the drive from Lake City. I spent all of Wednesday lounging about, exploring the Main St shops (many closed for the winter) and bored-stiff by days end. I awoke at 5am on Thursday. The initial 4-mile drive to the East Willow Creek Trailhead takes about 20 minutes on a relatively smooth gravel road. But I wanted to go to the upper 10,320-foot "Phoenix Park" trailhead and the next 1.6 miles required 45 minutes more. I don't think my speedometer left "0" - it was simply a terribly rough road for a 4Runner. But if one goes slow, one can (largely) avoid scraping bottom. I started at 6:45am up the clearly marked trail and the intial 2-1/4 mile hike to treeline is easy enough to follow, with cairns for the spots where the trail may not be entirely distinct. Even the creek crossings are marked with cairns. I spotted the "west-facing cliff band" described by Roach, and the grass slopes to the ridge above this cliff band was obvious. Even if one does not spot the cairns, one can see the destination, and it's all just easy, grassy hiking. You'll get to a false summit, but the real one is not far beyond. I arrived there at 10:15am, signed the summit register, feeling good to have had another fantastic fall-weather day on my 95th peak in my march to Centennial-ness. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Phoenix Peak (13895)

After having completed a couple peaks in the last couple days, I decided to take a day's break and rented a room ($75/night) at the Snowshoe Lodge in Creede for a couple nights. I had never been to Creede and the town's beautiful rocky backdrop is breathtaking as one enters town on the drive from Lake City. I spent all of Wednesday lounging about, exploring the Main St shops (many closed for the winter) and bored-stiff by days end.

I awoke at 5am on Thursday. The initial 4-mile drive to the East Willow Creek Trailhead takes about 20 minutes on a relatively smooth gravel road. But I wanted to go to the upper 10,320-foot "Phoenix Park" trailhead and the next 1.6 miles required 45 minutes more. I don't think my speedometer left "0" - it was simply a terribly rough road for a 4Runner. But if one goes slow, one can (largely) avoid scraping bottom.

I started at 6:45am up the clearly marked trail and the intial 2-1/4 mile hike to treeline is easy enough to follow, with cairns for the spots where the trail may not be entirely distinct. Even the creek crossings are marked with cairns. I spotted the "west-facing cliff band" described by Roach, and the grass slopes to the ridge above this cliff band was obvious. Even if one does not spot the cairns, one can see the destination, and it's all just easy, grassy hiking. You'll get to a false summit, but the real one is not far beyond. I arrived there at 10:15am, signed the summit register, feeling good to have had another fantastic fall-weather day on my 95th peak in my march to Centennial-ness.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

boudreaux	Great peak! 10/5/2015 8:41pm I remember the old stock trail had a sign that was autographed by a cowboy from the 40’s or 50’s. Best looking summit cairn in Colorado! And the mine ruins in the gulch were very cool too! Hitting 3 13ers in a row.....priceless!
JChitwood	Tough Road 10/19/2015 11:17pm I was there two days after you. Same awesome weather and same terrible road. The aspens in the first few miles by the beaver ponds were spectacular and the route was easier to follow than I anticipated. I am chasing the Cents too but 20 peaks behind you. Let me know if you need partners for Thunder, Gladstone, Vermillion, and RGP.
dillonsarnelli	thanks 10/21/2015 8:15am Going to head up this way over the weekend. The pictures are helpful. Looks like a fine few days for you! well done.
pmccumber	Great TR 6/30/2019 10:23pm Thanks
jsf80238	Thanks for posting 7/2/2020 4:27pm Thank you

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