16 replies to this topic

[ScottO]

Hello Everyone,

The recent posts wishing for summer have motivated me to finally finish the rest of my trip reports from our 2010 visit. On this outing, we hiked Estes Cone. This was a new summit for Kristin; Sandy and I had climbed it 3 times before. We chose a point-to-point route since we had 2 cars. I parked my car at the East Portal just down the road from our cabin, and then Kristin drove us all over to the Lily Lake TH. The planned route was Lily Lake to Storm Pass, up to the summit and back, down towards the Storm Pass TH, and finally to turn off on the Wind River Trail finishing at the East Portal.

Along the trail from Lily Lake to Storm Pass.



There are occasional views of Longs-Meeker between Lily Lake and Storm Pass.



Distance and elevation gain vary quite a bit among the different routes to Storm Pass, but they all climb steadily and don't have any really steep or rugged sections. The spur trail to the summit starts out looking the same but soon becomes steep and rugged. It climbs 750ft in 0.7 miles snaking its way over rocks and through stunted pines up the southwest side of the mountain.



The summit has great 360 degree views and plenty of room to explore. Fairchild Mtn, Hagues Peak, and Mummy Mtn left to right.



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ScottO

Edited by ScottO, 30 April 2011 - 03:11 PM.

[ScottO]

A tree with some blocking skills.



Otis Peak to Stones Peak left to right.



The summit has two ridges separated by a narrow wooded area. This picture is from the true summit ridge and shows the other ridge. The spur trail approaches the summit on the other side of the other ridge. The last picture is from the other ridge in roughly the same direction as this one.



A solo climber took a shot of us on the summit.



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ScottO

Edited by ScottO, 30 April 2011 - 03:17 PM.

[ScottO]

You can see we had a nice morning for our climb.



Climbing around on the summit ridges is fairly easy. There's nothing too scary or exposed except for the most timid climbers. Sandy on the summit. This shot was taken from the woods between the ridges. The short scramble onto the summit is from near the base of the dead tree up to the left.



This picture looking back along the lower ridge towards where the spur trail gains the summit area. Sandy – in the last picture – would be to my right and back a little and Longs would be to my left. There is a bit of a path to follow between the ridges; you can see it in the lower right corner.



Flowers on the scramble to the summit.



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ScottO

Edited by ScottO, 30 April 2011 - 03:23 PM.

[ScottO]

Kristin exploring the lower ridge.



On the return, we headed towards the Storm Pass TH. There's a clearing along that trail with excellent views Otis, Hallett, and Flattop.



A broader view across Bierstadt Moraine to Stones Peak. The weather was still nice, but the clouds were building.



Prior to reaching the Storm Pass TH, we turned off on the Wind River Trail. The nice thing about the Wind River Trail is it's fairly shady. However, it's a horse trail that gets a lot of use. With all the rain we'd been getting, it was very muddy and, well, smelly in places. The trail ends at the East Portal next to Emerald Mtn. Like all our other hikes, this one finished just as the weather turned. Ypsilon and Fairchild Mtns lit up through a break in the storm clouds. Taken from near the East Portal TH. The wooded ridge in the foreground is part of Emerald Mtn.



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ScottO

[Lynette]

These are wonderful! Another one I would like to try... at least part of it.

[John]

Me loves the cone. Great report!

[Allie]

Putting that one on my list. The views are so pretty.

[Rhonda]

What a beautiful day it was until the end. I love the flower with the bee on it.

[HighPlainsMedic]

nice summer views.. who know if it will be summer this year lol... gives one something to look forward to

[jflo]

Superb report! Makes me long even more for the views and air of Rocky.

[iceberg]

That last push to the top was hard, but exciting. I really liked the rock scramble at the very end. Fun place.

Get ready Scott, we're gonna spend a lot of time off trail this summer!

[Aaron]

Thanks for the trip report and photos

--Aaron

[foxfire]

"CIC" >> The Cone Is Cool!

Foxter

Great Views!

Edited by foxfire, 01 May 2011 - 01:43 PM.

[mathguy]

Scott: Nice pictures and report (as usual!). Keep'em coming.

[Monica]

What a great trip report. I want to hike Estes Cone!