Records are not kept for Slowest Known Times so 14 hours for the approximately 11 mile round trip of Mt. Ouray and Chipeta Mtn via Mt Ouray's West Ridge may not be the SKT but it certainly ranks up there and is thus well deserving of a Hall of Shame award.

I drove up the Marshall Pass road from the west and parked at the large parking area with a restroom a short distance down on the east side of the pass and started hiking at 0700. Within a few minutes I came to the Hutchison-Burnett cabin which had a vehicle parked in front and smoke pouring from the chimney. I briefly considered knocking on the door and requesting an order of coffee, bacon and eggs but decided against it as it was hunting season and the occupants were probably well armed who would not appreciate a free-loading moocher.

One heads almost straight north from the cabin heading for point 12,685. The first < 1 mile is through forest but the trees are widely dispersed and it is easy to make progress through the trees. There was a small amount of snow on some of the route but neither snowshoes or microspikes were necessary.

Nearing the end of the forest with Mt Ouray on the right.

Point 12,685 up ahead on the left.

Upon reaching point 12,685 head east up the ridge coming down from Mt.Ouray.

About halfway up the ridge there is an outcropping of a lighter color rock which can be bypassed on either the north or south side.

A more noble way is to climb the solid, clean outcropping for a short class 3 scramble.

After the outcropping it is not far to the summit which I reached at 1045 and left at 1100.

Looking over at South Chipeta and Chipeta Mtn.

Looking down at the ascent route.

On the way down I bypassed the rock outcropping on the south side and saw a climber wearing a light colored jacket ascending rapidly on the north side of the outcropping and was never in speaking range.

After descending to point 12,685 I decided to go on to Mt. Chipeta both as the weather was clear, and after reaching a certain age I have realized that if a peak is not done when available then it may not be done in the future. Seize the day, no?

So from point 12,685 I headed north on the ridge leading to 12,850 South Chipeta and Chipeta Mtn.

Near the 12,300 saddle where the Little Cochetopa Trail tops out on the Continental Divide I met both Reg0928 and Tornadoman. They had done Chipeta Mtn first and were now heading to Mt Ouray. This was Reg0928's third or fourth climb of these two peaks. The climber I had seen ascending Mt Ouray was the wife of Tornadoman. Reg and Tornadoman were also very swift. They were out of sight within 10 minutes leaving a tornado in their wake.

Near the saddle is a large cairn which is a historic survey marker.

From the saddle with the cairn ascend South Chipeta.

There is a small cairn marking the summit of this peak.

Looking at Chipeta Mt from South Chipeta.

One then descends to another saddle and then makes a final ascent to the summit of Chipeta Mtn which I reached at 2:45 pm.

From the summit of Chipeta Mtn looking back at Mt Ouray. Antora Peak can be seen in the distance over the west ridge of Ouray.

From the Ouray summit looking back at the west ridge leading to point 12,850 and then the ridge leading to South Chipeta.

On the descent from South Chipeta showing the ridge returning to point 12,850.

The moon rose over Ouray by the time I passed the survey marker. Fortunately.

Before reaching point 12,850 it started growing late.

Upon reaching point 12,850 about 6:30 pm, Helios had the audacity to disappear into the west as I reached point 12,850 leaving me with still 3.8 miles and 2000 vertical feet to descend. In the dark. Bummer. Bigly.

But all turned out well. The bell bear tinkled merrily to keep me company and ward off the gremlins, the compass was set on a due south heading, and Selene shined so brightly I did not need to use the headlamp. Finally I returned to the car at 9pm "Place park, scene dark, silvery moon is shining through the trees. By the light of the silvery moon."