16 replies to this topic

[soatley]

On this hike, five of us were dropped off at the Lawn Lake TH, while our driver continued up to Chapin Pass TH on Old Fall River Road. The plan was to meet on Ypsilon. Sandy had found a description of a class II route from Ypsilon Lake up onto the saddle between Chiquita and Ypsilon. This was the route we would attempt.

The first leg was on known trails. A mile or more on the Lawn Lake trail to the Ypsilon Lake trail junction, cross the Roaring River (bridge), and continue on to Ypsilon Lake. It's a fairly nice trail, not too rugged. It offers occasional glimpses of Ypsilon, and of Fairchild's southern tundra slopes. Once you reach Chipmunk Lake, there are some good photo opportunities.





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[soatley]

As you approach Ypsilon Lake, the trail gives back a bit of elevation. At the end of this decent, you emerge at the western shore of the lake. Once at Ypsilon Lake, everything beyond was unknown territory for us. From here, we found a narrow trail that starts next to a small waterfall to the immediate west of the lake. Initially, the trail was quite steep, but that didn't last long. It was a bit sketchy in spots, but we managed ok. At some point we came to a fork. We chose the left because direction and resistance both seemed best. However, we eventually reached a point along a creek where the trail seemed to end. So we back tracked to the fork, and took the other route. This eventually led to an open meadow at the bottom end of a ridge. The trail became very faint here. The trail headed up along the right side of the ridge, and all the slabs.



Or we could head around the other side of the ridge.



We decided to follow the trail...

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[soatley]

As we progressed, the trail diminished, and the class slowly increased from II to low-level III, or maybe II+. It became evident that this probably wasn't the correct route to the saddle area. However, for most of the time, we were too close the slopes to see any peaks and get a good feel for location. But when you're on a trail, or at least think you're on one, it seems to motivate you to continue. Ultimately, we were on or near a real trail, just the wrong one. The ridge, we were skirting was the base of Donner Ridge (I believe it's called), which separates Spectacle Lakes from the basin between Chiquita and Ypsilon. So we got an unexpected chance to see Spectacle Lakes.



From here, my nephew and brother-in-law split from the group, ascended a class II section of the ridge. Sandy, Ali, and I descended the slabs, and worked our way around the base of the ridge to the correct side. We didn't like the idea of not knowing what was on the other side of the ridge (although it turned out to be doable class II-III grassy ledges and slabs). I'd have taken more pictures, but I already lost my lens cap during prior scrambling, and just got it out to snap a shot of the lakes. That's 2 of my lens caps out there in RMNP!

There were a couple of exposed points on our route up. The kind that are ok in one direction, but not the other. While backtracking, I kept skirting around the base of the ridge, maintaining elevation as long as possible. This is the sort of stuff we were descending.



I found a good route that avoided all areas of concern.

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[soatley]

Once back on solid ground, I headed further around the ridge, and spotted some cairns.



The basin is located through the low point in the picture. The rocky slopes on the right, are part of the ridge our partners were crossing. The flat ridge coming from the left is part of Chiquita. Somewhere below that, off to the left (we didn't see it) is Chiquita Lake.

As we skirted around the slopes on the right, we got into a drainage area with large vegetation. It wasn't swampy, and the vegetation wasn't difficult. The problem was a multitude of deep, narrow, winding drainage channels. It was interesting to see, but a very uncomfortable place to pass through. Some of the channels were 4-5 feet deep, and water emerged out of tunnels. When I saw that, I quickly found a route to the rocks, and avoided the rest of that stuff.

A look back... I think that might be Bighorn Mtn in the distance.



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[soatley]

Continuing on towards the basin below the Chiquita-Ypsilon saddle...



Once we got on the right track, most of the hiking was typical tundra and talus, very straightforward. In the basin, we had to decide whether to look for the route Sandy had read about, or just take the sure thing up the plain tundra-talus slopes of Chiquita. Since we were behind the rest of our party by an unknown amount of time, we decided to ascend Chiquita.

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Edited by soatley, 12 August 2006 - 10:30 AM.

[soatley]

The saddle rim from part way up Chiquita. If we come out here again, hopefully we'll have more time to explore the rim for that class II route.



Looking back down to Ypsilon Lake. To the left is Mummy, slopes of Fairchild, and the lower portion of the ridge hiding Spectacle Lakes.



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Edited by soatley, 12 August 2006 - 10:33 AM.

[soatley]

We summitted Chiquita at 2:00pm, while our partners summitted Ypsilon at 1:00pm. Of course our driver had arrived a few hours earlier, and spent her time watching for us, and meeting other climbers.

On the way back.



One final look back at Chiquita. This would be your approach view of Chiquita, if starting out at the Chapin Pass TH.



Scott

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[Aaron]

Great report and pics Scott!

--Aaron

[bpv_UW]

Fantastic report, soatley. Thanks for taking us along on your adventure. It's been awesome reading all your reports and seeing your pics lately.

-Brandon

[misssilly]

Thanks for sharing. Nice pictures! Sounds like you had a good trip - despite the lens caps. I lost one several years ago somewhere in Glacier Gorge.

Jen

[soatley]

Fantastic report, soatley.  Thanks for taking us along on your adventure.  It's been awesome reading all your reports and seeing your pics lately.

-Brandon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've got several more adventures to post, so hopefully folks will enjoy them as well over the next several days.

I never did post trip reports from last year, just an overview. Maybe I'll save those for winter to help build everyone's anticipation of next summer's RMNP vacations.

Scott

[bpv_UW]

I never did post trip reports from last year, just an overview. Maybe I'll save those for winter to help build everyone's anticipation of next summer's RMNP vacations.

Scott

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like a good idea. We need something to sustain us through those long, cold winter months...

-Brandon

[Allie]

Or you could post them now This was a wonderful report and pics.

Allie

(Not a very patient person)

[mwilson]

Thanks for another great report and pictures. You had quite the adventure!

Marsha

[John]

I LOVE off trail hikes like this one! Great job!!!