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"...
8.3 miles
5+ hours
2600+ feet (not including 400-500' of up and down along ridge)
Marshall Pass Road is south of Poncha Springs 5 miles +/- and a right turn off of Highway 285 (signed). The road is marked with signs as you head west, bear right at less than two miles and then another 10-11 miles to the pass. The parking is before the pass and where the Colorado Trail crosses.
Although it is late November the road to Marshall Pass was mostly dry with just the last few miles having a few inches of packed snow. Thanks to a trailhead report by BobbyFinn I made the decision to head that way and grab Unnamed PT 13,472.
There was not much snow in this drought year and warm November.
The road is smooth (only a few small rocky stretches) and it is not steep. I parked at the Marshall Pass trailhead and headed as straight as possible towards the ridge proper. I found tracks in the light snow (probably BobbyFinn on the way to Mt. Ouray) and even a few cairns that marked the way (no trail).
This is a nice fairly mild slope up through the trees to above timberline.
The ridge heads directly north and passes the west ridge that would lead you to Mt. Ouray. I had previously summited Mt. Ouray a few years back from the north, accessing the peak from Highway 50 west of Poncha Springs. I remember it was deep snow in late spring. The west ridge looked a bit easier especially starting this high.
The rest of the ridge is straight forward but undulating. It is broad and generally grassy. There are a few ups and downs along the way. The summit seems close, then farther away as you negotiate the last false summit.
It was a nice day with only a 15 mph breeze mostly. It is a longer ridge run and might not be as pleasant with a lot of wind as is the case generally.
The ridge takes you over unranked Chipeta Mountain at 12,850. There is a cairn and wood post marker there.
Nice views of Mt. Ouray and the Marshall Pass area.
Unnamed 13,472 is a rather isolated peak with Mt. Ouray being it's closest and higher neighbor about 3 miles away as the ridge runs (1.93 miles as the crow flies).
A map of the route (also see gpx). Unnamed PT 13,472 is cut off but the blue symbol at the very top of the map marks Chipeta Mountain. The ridge drops 200 feet +/- before a rocky section that gains 800' +/- to the narrowing ridge and the summit.
The ridge north from the point where the west ridge to Mt. Ouray intersects the divide. This is at about 12,500' so another 1400 feet or so and what looks like a decent ridge to Mt. Ouray.
Unnamed PT 13,472 from Chipeta Mountain.
Mt. Ouray from the summit of Unnamed PT. 13,472.
We can backtrack to the start and add a few more pictures of the route.
Parking.
A cairn through the trees.
Treed slopes.
Mt. Ouray from treeline.
Ridge.
The Marshall Pass area as seen from above treeline next to this cairn.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
picking off some easier ones last few weeks 11/25/2012 22:28
8-11 miles, 3-4k
weather has been good and not much snow
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.
