LoJ: #407 (Pre-LiDAR #399) / 13,291' UN 13291 Formerly UN 13300 B
N 39°10' 01.12", 106° 32' 05.70"
(Not Field Checked)
Deer Mountain
UN 13220 [Formerly UN 13202]
Peak Summary
Note: G&M show this as UN 13300 B. Roach shows as PT 13,300 B. Lidar now shows as UN 13,291.
This unassuming little summit actually offers some nice Class 2+ and 3rd class scrambling near the summit, trail access for much of the distance and a trailhead accessible by passenger vehicle.
UN13,291 South Ridge Route
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North Fork Lake Creek TH
From Aspen, drive east on SH82 over the summit of Independence Pass and continue down the east side of the pass to the last switchback where the highway drops into the North Lake Creek valley. Just below the last switchback, there's a turnoff to the left (east) that's a short dirt road that leads to trailhead parking for several vehicles in 100 yards or so. This is just under 5 miles from the summit of the pass. The trailhead parking has a wood rail fence. The short drive in may have some potholes.
If coming from the Front Range, turn west from US24 onto SH82 and drive west past Twin Lakes, continuing up along the Lake Fork until the highway makes the first switchback to begin the climb up Independence Pass. Just before that switchback, turn right (east) onto the dirt road that leads to the trailhead parking in 100 yards or so. This measures about 18.5 miles from US24/SH82 turnoff.
Camping
Camping at the trailhead parking area is not good. If you can get your vehicle across the creek here, there's a faded track that leads up to a primitive site in some trees. Otherwise, there are designated National Forest campgrounds at Parry Peak and Twin Peaks campgrounds back towards Twin Lakes. We recommend a primitive site that has numerous camping possibilities about 2.4 miles back south on SH82 from the trailhead where a diversion tunnel empties water into the Lake Creek at these coordinates: N 39° 04' 54.99" W 106° 32' 21.86". We call this the Graham Gulch TH and it's 16.1 miles from US24/SH82. About a half mile north of there is another smaller area on the west side of the highway at these coordinates: N 39° 05' 15.72" W 106° 32' 32.28".
Measuring from the US24/SH82 intersection, the Whitaker CG is 5.3 miles; Town of Twin Lakes is 6.1; Willis Gulch TH is 8.1; Parry Peak CG is 8.7; Twin Peaks is 9.4; La Plata Peak TH is 14.0.
Campsite Locations
Graham Gulch › N 39° 04' 54.99", W 106° 32' 21.86"
Route Description
Year Climbed: 2006From the trailhead, walk north up the trail. For the first 3 miles, you'll not gain too much elevation on this trail as it passes through many willows. It is well-worn and somewhat rocky in places, but you can make good time on it. The trail begins to climb more earnestly a little past where the two main drainages in the upper basin come together. It heads straight north up the broad ridge/slope coming down from Pt. 12,990, running parallel to a group of low trees that run in a thin line up the slope. You may still find a trail junction with the left hand trail heading over a pass to the NW and dropping into the head of Marten Creek. This trail has been closed for some years now. The trail for this climb heads off tot he right and crosses a minor ridge and the group of trees and then works NE up to the unnamed lake at 12,378 ft. The USGS map doesn't show this, but Google Earth shows the trail switchbacking some just below the lake. Hike around the lake on the west side to the pass and then leave the trail for the fun part of the day.
Past the lake, veer left toward the bottom of a large couloir that runs down from the first major break you can see above in the ridge line to the west. Ascend up that couloir for 500 feet or more of elevation gain to the break in the ridge. You'll start out on open grassy slopes that will give way to more rock and gravel as you ascend. Now turn north to gain the summit and meet the main challenge of the day. Problems found directly on the ridge can be avoided by contouring on the east side below the ridge crest. At times, we found ourselves as much as 100 feet below. We crossed over some rocky ribs and gullies and then found a natural "ramp" system that eventually led to a place where we felt like we could climb back up towards the ridge crest. Most of the progress to this point was Class 2+ with a little Class 3 thrown in here and there. Climbing back up, we intersected the ridge at the second major notch north of the Continental Divide mark where it turns abruptly east. From that point on, it was just some more easy rock scrambling and elevation gain to the summit. he summit is a narrow, rocky affair with no good place to sit or stretch out and enjoy the view. Do you best to find a comfortable place to sit and enjoy this wide view of the Sawatch. We combined this peak with UN13,202, so we suggest taking a look there for information regarding the ridge traverse over to that point. It's possible according to other reports to continue north from here to other points overlooking Marten Creek (west) and the headwaters of the Frying Pan River (east).
Additional BETA
Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful. -
