Engelmann Peak (13,362) & Robeson Peak (13,140) by Brian Schultz Saturday July 19, 2014

Mileage: 5.7 miles from Woods Creek road (CR 203)

Elevation gain: ~3,350'

Start to finish: 4 hours 50 minutes

I drove up US Highway 40 from I-70 and turned left at the first big switchback, where a sign marked the turn to the Henderson Mine and a picnic area. Past the picnic area I turned left at the sign for the Urad Mine and continued on the Woods Creek road. I was worried because a warning sign said no parking was allowed along this road and it was just a short distance to the trailhead, a gated road with a sign saying "Extreme Avalanche Danger".

There is a large pullout just before reaching the trailhead, where I initially parked, but I was so nervous parking there that I drove back to the office building and knocked to see if permission was needed. Nobody answered so I just drove up to the first switchback, 0.4 miles past the trailhead, and took a chance parking there. It turned out okay but I had an uneasy feeling the whole time climbing that my truck would be towed.

I began at 8:20, a late start, but the forecast was very good, skies were sunny, and I expected the day to be a short one. I followed the gated road to about 10,900', departed it and began a bushwhack up to Engelmann. I followed a creek until it became too difficult to continue along before turning up steep slopes to the left. This was an extremely steep bushwhack through woods to Engelmann's north ridge but the trees weren't very dense, which made it easier. There was some deadfall as well, but once I cleared the trees it was just a matter of following the ridge to the summit. I arrived on top at 10:45 feeling like I just had a full workout. Elevation gain from the gate to the summit is 3,000' in 2.3 miles.

From Engelmann, it's a mile to unranked Robeson Peak and I headed over there after a fifteen minute break. It only took 30 minutes to reach the summit and that included stopping to talk with a climber from a group of three who'd just come over from Mt Parnassus. He said the ridge between Parnassus and Robeson was challenging.

I headed back down to the Robeson/Engelmann saddle after a short stay on top and began my descent toward the road below. Easy scree turned into manageable talus, and then a faint trail paralleled a creek back to the road. I was surprised to see two cabins in an open area along the creek and I went over to check them out. A sign on the front door requested that the private property be respected and if shelter was needed, one could use the other cabin behind the main one. There was a small cemetery with seven gravestones nearby and the wording on one was particularly touching.

I soon reached the road and got back to the gate at 1:10. I was happy to see my truck still parked when I reached the switchback.

-Back-