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In the last few years, many have challenged the map's indication that Hesperus Mountain is the highest point in Montezuma County. Hand-leveling has in more cases than not confirmed that Lavender Peak appears higher than Hesperus. To be sure, it is advisable to do both peaks, which was the objective of a two-day stay in Durango after Vermilion Peak two days prior (weather patterns and other concerns had convinced me to avoid a long day's traverse). Arriving about a mile before the Sharkstooth TH, I was dismayed to see someone had brought their goat herd and unfriendly dog pack with them. The dogs had no qualms about using their teeth on the 4Runner and hastily follwed me for about ½ a mile ~ strange. I started at 6:30 and made quick work of the trail before starting the bushwhack in once again wet vegetation. At one point, I found myself in drenched and up to my shoulders in willows just before the scree slopes leading to the ridge (I was a little to far west). I had the forethought to bring extra socks since I was no going to be in boots.
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The Mitchler/Covill guide suggests ascending a "black shale gully", and there appear to be two possibilities from the talus below treeline. The center of the photo on the left shows my recommended route, which is a gully to the climber's right of the black shale "gully". I followed the talus up the incrementally steep and loose left side of the black shale. Nearing the final 150' to the rdige, navigating talus was not possible since I didn't want to surf down the slope or be covered by a rockslide. I was eventually on the worst scree I have ever found myself (perhaps precipitation had made this so terrible?). It was a crawling pace for about 10 minutes to make the last 40'. About 100 yards from the ridge crest, I was relieved to be on stable talus again. I left trekking poles at the base of the ridge.
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The climb started out much like Ellingwood Point's SW Ridge, with solid sharp talus (photo on right). Soon, the ridge gave way to trail to traverse the south side of cliff bands about halfway up the ridge. The route is well cairned and visible. There are only a few spots of easy scrambling to get back on the ridge periodically. I arrived at the summit at 8:40 am, and took in views of tomorrow's objective (Lavender Peak is shown in the photo below from the summit). Someone put a long poem about the "Wreck of the Hesperus" in the register. There was a long list of recent entries - definitely a popular peak. I wonder how many would be disturbed to discover that Hesperus is lower than its close neighbor to the east. The descent of the correct gully was really more of a standing glissade on scree than anything else. I lost more than 1000' in less than 10 minutes. There was someone on horseback wanting to "climb" Hesperus back at the TH at 10:10 am. I was content with my decision to avoid the traverse when dark clouds unloaded on the range before I even made it back to Durango.
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I tried to get started as early as possible, beginning the drive at 5:00 am so we could get checked out of the hotel on time. I drove past the Tomahawk Mine 4wd road about a mile before realizing it. I wasn't sure about how rough the road would be and wasn't in an adventurous driving mood, so I parked at 6:10 on CR 124 at 9,900' rather than chance it. The road looked very drivable in retrospect for the first mile or so actually, with the only impediment being overgrown trees. The clouds were out today, and it was considerably cooler than the last few days. I watched thin whispy clouds lick the upper flanks of nearby peaks as I progressed up the road. I found the shortcut to cut off the road switchback before a steep dirt slope. The hike up the grass to the right of the waterfall was quite steep and slippery in running shoes. The vegetation was much drier today at least. For a while it appeared that the sun would come out, but it never did. Atop the difficulties of the waterfall slope, a short hike toward the creek leads to an old trail leading up the basin along side it.
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 | Soon Babcock dominates the scenery to the southwest, looking quite difficult to ascend from this side with its rectangular summit protrusions. There was a decent snowfield still remaining before the assault up the ridge on its steep grassy slopes. This steep haul eventually gains to the Babcock-Moss saddle which took a while and many short rests to acquire the ridge proper. I took the grass up at its northern extremity, heading generally parallel with the talus north of the grass. At first the ridge seemed improbable as I looked for a way to pass around a large pinnacle, but soon found foot and hand placements around it on the east side. A talus pile on the west side conveniently avoids the otherwise spire-studded ridge. The ridge became easier as I continued to approach Mount Moss. I went ahead all the way to Lavender's summit as traversing around it wasn't the most stable of prospects.
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From here, Lavender looks indeed high enough to challenge Hesperus for the county's title. The descent to the saddle was a little loose, so I took time picking my way down. I stayed on the crest until I came upon the notch just east of the summit blocks, then backtracked to find an easier passage below. The gully splitting the summits is a short and steep scramble on good rock. The summit looks to present a real challenge until actually arriving at the top of the gully and circling around the west summit's west side. This was a fun place to stand, arriving shortly after 9:00. There weren't any signing visitors here since Layne back in the middle of July. The decent and ridge-romping seemed time consuming and the grass slopes taxing on the thigh muscles. I was glad to be down on the road where moving fast didn't require as much care. I made it to the vehicle at 10:50 - not quite soon enough to make it back for check-out, so ended up paying an extra $6.00. I was happy the plan panned out to finish off these pesky counties.
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