Half Peak
8 July
2007
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Trip Report
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Half Peak (13,841)
Date: 8 July 2007
Climbers: Roy Donehower, Dave Gibson and 30 elk
Trailhead: Cuba Gulch
Roundtrip distance: 11 miles
Elevation gain: 3140'
Round trip time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
After a wonderful morning climbing American, Jones, and Niagara on Saturday, Roy and I checked out the beginning of the Cuba Gulch trail (trail 477) Saturday afternoon. I wanted to confirm that our only wet creek crossing was the Snare Creek right next to our camp. A little ways up the trail we found a good bridge crossing Cottonwood Creek flowing down Cuba Gulch. We also discovered one of the most scenic sections of trail I've seen in Colorado. The first mile of the Cuba Gulch trail goes past beautiful waterfalls in narrow canyons under tall pines. I counted 22 different types of blooming wild flowers along the trail. The entry fee this weekend was a knee-high wade across the cold Snare Creek. While in camp, we saw a few groups arrive at the trailhead, check out the creek, but decide not to get wet crossing it. They really missed out on waterfalls and wild flowers that are likely to be less spectacular later in the season.
Sunday morning Roy and I started hiking at 5:55 am. After wading across the Snare Creek in Tevas we were wide awake! The rest of our 11-mile hike was nearly all easy Class 1 hiking through a beautiful area. While we had lots of company along the way, we didn't see another person the entire hike.
We hiked up the Cuba Gulch trail for 50 minutes before coming to the 3rd and 4th creek crossings at about 11,400'. Following Roach's directions, we headed up to the southeast between these two creeks, but somehow missed the connecting trail (trail 916) that we found on the way back down. We bushwhacked our way up through the remaining trees to the large valley west of Half Peak and a sea of willows. With no trail in sight, we worked our way through half a mile of willows following game trails and generally staying close to the 4th creek. As we hiked up the valley toward Point 13,164, we were thrilled to see about a dozen elk above us on the eastern side of the valley. Soon we saw and heard a lot more elk below us on the western side of the valley. At about 12,200' we veered left (east) following the willow-rock boundary until we came to a steep eroded trail that led up to the bench below Point 13,164. As we approach the base of Point 13,164, we found a good cairned trail that led to the approach to Half Peak's long southern ridge. The trail also led to a large herd of elk. I counted at least 60 elk – a handful of bulls and lots of cows and calves.
Roy and I didn't want to bother the herd of elk, but they were well aware of us and were right in our intended path! We continued on cautiously and taking lots of pictures. As we approached the Half Peak-Point 13,164 saddle, the elk climbed up onto the ridge and turned toward Half Peak, a mile to the north. I tried to cut them off by short cutting our route to the ridge, but that didn't work. While some of the elk veered off down a steep section of the ridge, Roy and I followed about 30 of them heading directly toward Half Peak's summit.
Half Peak is an amazing peak. Its huge north face is a near-vertical 800' wall. Its east and west flanks are well guarded by high steep cliffs for nearly a mile to the south. However, its gentle southern ridge provides easy access which remains Class 1 except for one narrow 1000' long section of fun Class 2 and 2+ hiking that is quite exposed in places. The elk quickly crossed this narrow section and headed strait toward the highpoint of the summit (legitimately bagging the Centennial). Now the primary concern Roy and I had was that some of the elk might decide to head back down while we were on the narrow section. Fortunately none did. I thoroughly enjoyed crossing the narrow section with huge drop offs on west side. This section provides a good example that a route's class rating is independent of its exposure. Once past the narrow section, it was an easy quarter mile stroll up to Half Peak's very large summit area. We reached the summit at 9:42 am after 3 hours and 48 minutes of hiking. Initially we didn't see any elk when we reached the summit. But once on top, 5 curious calves approached to check us out.
The view down Half Peak's north face was incredible. I don't recall looking over that big and steep a precipice anywhere else in Colorado. The summit also provided a great view of our previous day's hike. However, the skies were much hazier than the day before due smoke from distant wildfires. After enjoying the summit for half an hour we headed back down. Once across the narrow section we saw another large group of elk running and kicking up dust to the east. We retraced our route toward Point 13,164, but stayed on the good trail until it faded away on the bench just north of the point. We descended to the valley of willows via a steep but grassy slope a little west of our ascent route. Going down we stayed on the west side of the valley and mid-way down found a faint but cairned trail (trail 916). Not far off this trail I spotted something unusual and walked through a marsh to check it out. It was an elk's skull with a large near perfect condition 12-point rack attached. The skull still had bits of fur attached and looked remarkably "fresh". I assume no hunter would leave such a valuable prize behind. Perhaps a mountain lion, coyotes, or a bear took this big guy down. Roy and I debated hauling it the remaining two miles to the trailhead, but not for long. We left it in the valley where it belongs.
We continued along the trail, through tall willows until we lost the trail as we entered the trees above Cuba Gulch. Aiming north back toward the creek, we descended the steep hillside until we finally linked up with the well established trail that we had missed on the way up. We got off trail once more briefly near the Cuba Gulch trail intersection. A few well-placed cairns around the trail intersection would be very useful. The hike down the Cuba Gulch trail was a beautiful way to finish off the outing. We reached the Snare Creek crossing at the trailhead at 1:24 pm after 7 hours and 30 minutes and about 11 miles of hiking. On our way back home, a late and large lunch at the Tic Toc Diner in Lake City hit the spot perfectly!