by lukePlumley » Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:39 pm
Thank you everyone for the congratulations. Larimer is a very fine list to work on. I had planned to finish it off this spring, but the mosquitos up in the Laramie River Road areas were just incredible this year! Therefore I decided to stall a little bit and finish on my birthday instead.
Coming up with a list of least favorites is pretty easy. My very least favorite peak is 8037 on the Buckhorn Mountain Quad. That summit is covered in rusty old junk. While admiring the junk on the summit, some old guy snuck up behind me. He scared the hell out of me, and Buster and I took off running full speed down the snowy slope to the north. He never did catch me, but I was just waiting to hear gunshots or a chainsaw coming after me! The Rist Canyon area in general is pretty difficult. Those are definitely the worst access peaks in the county, and the local residents are definitely the nastiest. I had to run from several of them, but I have not been caught yet!
I always enjoy a good bushwhack, and the toughest of this is found near the Long Draw Road. I did a group of 6 9ers and 10ers with Buster in a single loop hike there, and that one was brutal and wet. Probably the toughest day I had in the county.
As far as favorites go, there are many. One of the best is McHenry's Peak. I think the neatest place around is the area between Spearhead and McHenrysPeak, and the standard Stone Man Pass route to McHenrys is fantastic. The day I spent up there with Pete and Dave is still one of my all-time favorites.
A second favorite is the great Turkey Roost Traverse. This 7 peak Loop is everything a peak bagger could ever ask for! You simply climb peaks from your truck to the northern horizon and back. There is good bushwhacking, big wild country, fantastic scrambling, interesting route finding, and of course the threat of angry ranchers with german shepherds. We also had a few angry bulls to deal with!. Many thanks to Mike for re-doing this one with Dave and I.
As mentioned, there are many access issues in Larimer. Most of them however are way out in open country, and houses are few and far between. I love to do these under a full moon, and the peaks east of 287 are perfect for this! The greatest night hike of all though was to Specimen, N Specimen, and "Poudre Peak" in the middle of the elk rut. Those horny elk were everywhere, and I was sure I would eventually be gored or trampled in the dark. Fantastic!
Last but not least is a group of peaks that don't get mentioned much, but if you have not yet climbed E and W Desolation Peaks, do it ASAP (Joe this means you). The hike from Chapin Pass is very easy, and the little scramble up the East summit is unforgettable!
Pete, you asked what is next, and I really have no idea right now. I plan to play around for the rest of the year, then begin something seriously next spring. Summit County is a likely goal, or maybe a pioneering first in Jackson County if Brian or Steve doesn't get there first..... Time will tell. I will definitely have to continue to feed the LIST ADDICTION. As always, thanks for that John!
Best wishes to Tim and John in getting this completion in the near future. After that though it could be awhile?
Mike, no cake on 10833, but Corrinne surprised me by packing in some delicious Yuenglings to celebrate instead!
Thanks again to all of you and please feel free to ask anytime for route details or poaching help!
lp