Anderson Peak (13,631) by Brian Schultz Thursday July 17, 2008
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation gain: 3,800 feet
After four days of climbing in the Sangres it was off to the Sawatch for Anderson Peak, also known as UN 13631A. From my overnight in Poncha Springs it was about a two hour drive to the trailhead via Buena Vista and Cottonwood Pass. The Taylor River road north of the Taylor Park Reservoir is an excellent maintained road to the large campground just before Tellurium Creek; this is the trailhead and where I parked my car, 4x4 vehicles can continue through and park further along the road.
I began at 6:25 AM under sunny skies but early morning clouds in the west were hinting already of the storms predicted for later. My intentions were to finish long before any bad weather rolled in as I hiked up the road to the Enterprise Mine. I reached the mine at 8:00 and continued on to another mine at 12,600'. Once past the higher mine I cut up from the road and climbed a loose talus slope to the ridge, staying on the right side of the drainage instead of in it. It was an easy jaunt once on the ridge with a fun little finish to reach the summit. I stepped on top at 9:50.
I kept the visit short and departed at 10:10, not wanting to push my luck with the building clouds. Two hours later thunder began rumbling and a light rain started falling but by then I was well below timberline. I reached my car at 12:50 and spent the rest of the day relaxing in Buena Vista before meeting Tim for dinner. I appreciated having an easy short day before our upcoming Silver King Peak climb.
Trailhead to summit- 3 hours 25 minutes
Summit to trailhead- 2 hours 40 minutes
Start to finish- 6 hours 25 minutes