This most difficult aspect of this route description will be the drive up FR278 on the west side of Mt. Antero. From the intersection of FR277 & FR278, (Upper Baldwin Gulch TH) head SSE on 278 continuing up through forest until you reach the last trees at just above 12,000 ft. The road turns east and heads briefly up a gully before making the first of six sharp switchbacks to gain elevation on the flank of Antero. After the sixth switchback, the road heads generally south and crosses a ridge at 13,100 ft. This switchback section of the road is the roughest and most tedious part of the drive (or hike). If hiking this section, attempts to shortcut the switchbacks will lead to frustrating loose rock conditions on a very steep mountainside.
At the ridge crossing at 13,100 ft., there is a fork in the road. Going left grants access to Antero and Mount White. Stay right for Cronin and the route to Cyclone & Carbonate. The ruggedness of the road relents and cuts downhill to the SW through tundra to an intersection at 12,670 feet where you can pull off and begin a hike for Cronin, if you've managed to drive this far. Another option is to lose another 200 feet in elevation and part at a switchback at these coordinates: N 38° 39' 01.02" W 106° 16' 15.04". Elevation is 12,460 ft. This park can be used to access either Cronin or Cyclone & Carbonate.
From the vehicle park at 12,460 ft., walk west on an old roadbed that crosses a broad area of talus. Beyond the talus, leave the roadbed and head more to the SW, losing some elevation to cross one of the main forks of Browns Creek. Immediately after crossing, gain the east-west running ridge that descends from Pt. 13,591. Lower down the USGS map also marks another elevation point at 12,738 on a broader section of ridge where things level briefly. Ascending this ridge by hiking WSW is fairly easy with a mix of mostly tundra to begin with, then embedded rock and increasing rubble. Contour south as you near the summit of "Low Carb," (Pt. 13,591) if you have no desire to summit an unranked peak, then gain the south running ridge to Cyclone, dropping first to a saddle at 13,340 ft., then gaining 250 feet to the summit of Cyclone. The balance of the hike tends to be on less tundra and more gravel, scree, chiprock & rubble. There is a hikers use trail all along the ridge. It's all fairly easy hiking. In earlier season, an ice axe may prove handy while traversing the more north-facing aspects of this route. From the summit of Cyclone, continuing on to Carbonate is a quick & easy traverse.
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