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Wildhorse Peak's remoteness and lesser-known status both appealed to me, and I wasn't disappointed.
The Bear Creek Trail is lovely and astonishing and great. After a steep initial set of switchbacks over jangling slate fragments, the trail rounds a bend and heads up canyon, clinging improbably to the wall. I had many occasions to speculate how long and lonely one's fall would be if one accidentally stepped a few feet off to the right.
After a few miles, I came to the first of the ruined mines. I had to keep moving, but got a few pictures.
After a few miles, I came to a creek crossing. Not remembering any crossings in my research of the trail, and not seeing any on my topo map, I decided to stay on my side of the water and continue up. This was a mistake -- it was a side canyon. It cost me about 30 minutes of time to figure out my mistake.
Next came the second of the ruined mines.
Above the second mine (the Yellow Jacket), the trail is very faint, but discernible, as it switchbacks up the grassy hill just above the mine, continuing after a time towards the trees to the northeast. I lost and found the trail several times. I found it best to stay within earshot of the creek if I'd lost the trail, and I picked it up again easily enough. This was the only segment of the trail that I thought could benefit from some maintenance.
Continuing for several miles above treeline, and skirting around the north side of Unnamed 13132, brought me up onto a saddle on the western edge of American Flats. It was an amazing, humbling view, even after seeing so many astonishing views along the way. Wildhorse Peak, my objective, was clearly visible to the north, looking larger than I'd expected!
As I crossed the "flats," which were only comparatively flat, I strategized. I ultimately chose to swoop to the east (right in the photos) onto a shoulder, to avoid losing elevation, then traverse back west up the moutain's south face.
A half-hour of intermittent hard climbing and resting brought me to the summit. The views from the top were unlike anything I've ever seen. I'd love to have some help picking out the peaks in my photos, if anyone has the info ready at hand. I swore I could see all the way to the Grenadiers, where I hope to climb Vestal Peak someday...
I saw my first other human of the day while I was descending, way across the flats, walking alone with two dogs. I ran into a few other people later on the trail too, but it was a thrill to have the whole ascent and summit to myself. I hope to come back, maybe climb Blackwall, Darley, etc. etc. and on and on.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
That's a long day - nice job! I can't pick out the Grenadiers in your view west, but in your thid to last picture, you start at left with Coxcomb (with Redcliff peeking from behind), then the ones you undoubtedly recognized, Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre, and that cool spire of rock in the foreground is a pretty sweet 12er, Dragon Back. A beautiful area and looks like you got there on a splendid day.
Yes, it was a long day, and the weather couldn't have been better. It would be fun to do Dragon's Back sometime.
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