LoJ: #151 (Pre-LiDAR #153) / 13,697' Rolling Mountain

From wherever you may park up the South Fork of Mineral Creek, (hopefully in the open meadow that we use for the trailhead at about 10,680 ft.), hike south on the Rico-Silverton trail #507 . Be aware that the 1955 USGS map and the Trails Illustrated #141 do not show an adjustment that has been made to this trail. The trail now crosses to the west side of the unnamed creek at a lower elevation that previously shown., perhaps a third of a mile earlier.

Initially the trail crosses the creek on what use to be a a well-worn log, which may or may not be there any longer. For the next 400 vertical feet in elevation, the trail heads up among the evergreens. In 1994, what we found was the trail veered down to the right after that initial elevation gain, crosses the creek, at about 10,880 ft., then immediately climbs again on a set of switchbacks, breaking out into the edge of a meadow called "South Park" on the USGS map. For a while, the trail moderated as it cut through the meadow on the west side. After the meadow the trail climbs taking a higher path than originally shown as it pushes through willows. From this section, you can look directly up the ENE bowl of Rolling Mtn. and find going up that way an enticing possibility. We chose to continue south some more. It would be steeper than our route here, would have some bushwhacking through willows and difficult rock toward the summit.

We continued on until we came to a crossing of the main west fork of the unnamed creek. There are some nice falls and pools here with the rocks lined with a whitish substance. After enjoying the waterfall and pools, head west up the valley toward the saddle south o the Rolling summit. This large, east-facing basin is filled with willows. From the creek crossing we found something of a trail that led up through the willows. Some times it would seem to play out only for us to find it again. As per G&M. we stayed o the south side of the creek to find easier going. After a few hundred feet of gain in a SW direction, we came to a small bench area that was out of the willows and well above the creek. We then began to work back toward the creek in a contouring fashion crossing tundra sections followed by areas of loose talus. We often found a trail crossing the talus. There's another nice waterfall up this west fork where the channel narrows. The creek eventually leaves its narrow channel to flow out from a bowl like area. Cross the creek here, then follow in the drainage before climbing out onto a steeper slope of loose, small rock at about 12,500 ft. Above this loose section, the angle of ascent lessens some and you'll be able to ascend on a more tundra-covered slope. The final section to the saddle had a path leading through some cliffs. Looking north, you'll be able to see a formidable deep cleft in the south face of the mountain.

We came out on the south ridge a little above the saddle at about 12,260 ft. To the west lies a pleasant, isolated and inviting looking valley of tundra and farther below, clumps of trees and a small pond along Cascade Creek. From this location, you'll enjoy a nice view of Grizzly Peak B across the way and also be able to see a lot of the road that accesses Grizzly from out of the Durango Mountain Resort. From this point on, there will be no more tundra, but there should be a clear trail through all the talus which will makes things considerably easier. Instead of gong directly north up the ridge, we contoured over to the saddle between the two summits of Rolling, then finished the walk to the eastern and higher summit. From this summit view, you'll be able to see V.10 to the west and it may leave you scratching your head trying to figure out a route on it. This is not the best angle to view it from. It took our family about 2.5 hours to hike all the way to this summit from the trailhead. The summit offers an excellent view of the many peaks in this area.

For the descent, basically return as you came, but some sections of scree can expedite your progress if you're not intimidated by sections of small, loose scree on a steeper slope. Plunge-stepping can get you down quickly. If there is snow in the eastern basin, that too can expedite your progress down. An ice axe would be handy then.