Coon Hill (12,757), UN 12346, UN 12429, & UN 10260 by Brian Schultz Saturday July 23, 2022

Coon Hill, UN 12346, UN 12429:
Roundtrip mileage: 6.15 miles
Elevation gain: 2,800'
Start to finish: 6 hours 5 minutes

I parked on the west side of the I-70 Eisenhower Tunnel and at 6:00 AM began on a road that leads up the valley to the north. I'd be using Alyson Kirk's efficient route for these peaks, and though the weather called for a high chance of showers/storms after 12:00 noon, I expected to be off the last peak well before then. Another hiker was minutes behind me, whom I lost sight of as I departed (photo 1, photo 2) the road/trail near the water tank marked on the map. It was a bit of a grunt to get up to the south ridge of Coon Hill but the terrain was grassy for the most part and the ridge was easy hiking to the summit. I stepped on top (photo 1, photo 2) at 7:40.

After ten minutes, I dropped down the moderately steep talus ridge to the Point northwest of Coon Hill. It took 25 minutes to get to the Point (photo 1, photo 2) and I only stayed five minutes. The ridge to the saddle connecting 12346 was also a steep descent but the slopes up to 12346 from the saddle were easy and I summited UN 12346 at 8:55, one hour after leaving Coon Hill. After another ten minute break I headed to 12429.

Interesting how the descent off 12346 was also steep but the ascent to 12429 was on easy slopes. I summited at 9:40, 35 minutes after leaving 12346. There are two registers (photo 1, photo 2) on the summit, one of the registers names the peak "Hamilton Peak". The weather was holding nicely and after a 30 minute break (photo 1) on 12429, I backtracked to the 12429/12346 saddle and descended the slopes to I-70, not wanting to regain the elevation of the other two peaks by climbing back over them. Wildflowers (photo 1, photo 2) carpeted the basin and I was able to find hit and miss trails before reaching the interstate. Then it was just a slog along the shoulder back to the tunnel where I parked. I reached my truck at 12:05. Rain looked imminent as I stopped in Frisco for lunch while deciding whether to attempt UN 10260.

UN 10260:
Roundtrip mileage: 1.75 miles
Elevation gain: ~700'
Start to finish: 1 hour 40 minutes

A storm rolled into Frisco and after it passed through, I drove I-70 west to the rest area after the Officers Gulch exit. Skies cleared at 2:40 PM as I began by hiking around the west side of the pond. I'd be using Paul Stratmoen's route for this peak. After rounding the pond I headed up the slopes, which were somewhat steep and entailed a fair amount of bushwhacking. There were many ups and downs on the ridge (no trail, total bushwhack) and it was good to reach the summit finally. After a short break I retraced my route back (photo 1) and arrived at my truck at 4:20.