UN 9291, UN 9402, Jones Hill (10,745), & UN 11003 by Brian Schultz Wednesday September 1, 2021

UN 9291:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.9 miles
Elevation gain: 370'
Start to finish: 35 minutes
Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

We drove CR 175 (Ute Trail) north of Salida to FR 181 and turned right. There is plenty of parking on the grass off FR 181. We began at 7:45 AM under sunny skies and followed a bearing to the saddle north of the summit. The terrain was easy and it was just a short hike to the summit from the saddle. The views were excellent from the top (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3). On the descent we returned to the saddle and took the slightly longer trail/old road and were back at our trucks at 8:20. Easy peak!

UN 9402:
Roundtrip mileage: 1.75 miles
Elevation gain: ~ 470'
Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes
Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

We drove back to CR 175 and then north to the intersection with FR 182. This only took a few minutes and we began at 9:00 AM. Private property to our right was easily avoided as we followed a west bearing through a grassy field toward the peak. The ascent through the trees was easy and we arrived on the summit at 9:25.

We stayed 15 minutes enjoying the views before departing at 9:40. After getting back to our trucks at 10:10, Tim headed home while I went back to Salida for an early lunch and to ponder what else to climb since I had the better part of the day remaining.

Jones Hill:
Roundtrip mileage: 1.75 miles
Elevation gain: 310'
Start to finish: 1 hour 5 minutes

After a lengthy break in Salida, I headed up toward Fairplay. From Highway 285 I turned left on FR 431 (Buffalo Peaks Road) and followed it to FR163, turned right on FR163, and then a quick right on FR 158. I parked at a flat area before the road began descending and started at 2:20 PM on a bearing to the east before heading north to the summit.

There was considerable deadfall on the route, easy to negotiate though, and I arrived on the summit at 2:45. There are no views from this summit. After signing the register and having a quick bite to eat, I departed and was back at my truck at 3:25.

UN 11003:
Roundtrip mileage: 1.85 miles
Elevation gain: ~ 500'
Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes

I used Dan Bereck's trip report for this peak. I drove back to FR 431 and continued west toward the Lynch Creek trailhead. He suggests two places to start from, either from the trailhead or from a camp area before reaching the trailhead. I opted for the camp area and parked near where two fellows were camping. They were both hunters and eager for the official start of the hunting season to begin in the morning. That thought made me a bit nervous because if I was climbing in the morning instead of today, my movement could be mistaken for an animal. One of them had already scoped out the route up UN 11003 earlier in the afternoon and that's where they intended to hunt.

I began at 4:15 under threatening skies and headed up the wooded southeast slopes. There was significant downfall but manageable all the way to the top. The summit register was tucked under a tree and after signing it I departed. The rain finally started, lightly at first, but pouring by the time I got back at 5:25.

Today concluded a week of climbing in Colorado. The only rain I dealt with was on the first peak and last peak of the twenty peaks I climbed. The sunny weather and smoke-free skies were great, considering how many fires were burning in the country's western states.