UN 10018, UN 9420, Lone Spring Butte (10,262), Green Ridge (10,560), UN 7868, Bocco Mountain (7,860), & UN 9170 by Brian Schultz Tuesday July 25, 2023

UN 10018:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.43 miles from Forest Road 243
Elevation gain: 70'
Start to finish: 19 minutes
Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

Today's weather forecast called for sunny, clear skies. From Kremmling we drove north on US 40 and left (west) on Hwy 134. Before reaching Gore Pass, we turned right (north) on FR 185 and then left on FR 243. All roads were good and we parked just east of the summit. We began at 8:25 AM. It's a short easy bushwhack through trees to the summit, not much else to say about a hike that takes less than 20 minutes total.

UN 9420:
Roundtrip mileage: 1.50 miles from Forest Road 275
Elevation gain: 330'
Start to finish: 1 hour
Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

From UN 10018 we continued along Hwy 134 and turned right on FR 275. We turned left into a large clearing with an electrical tower. There are two openings in the woods that appear to be old roads. Take the first one past the tower and you should see a gate very shortly. We began at 9:30 AM but took the other one because it looked like the correct one. It ended shortly and we bushwhacked to the correct road, which goes nearly to the summit. The nondescript summit offered no views and we left in short order.

Lone Spring Butte:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.95 miles from Forest Road 285
Elevation gain: 280'
Start to finish: 55 minutes
Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

From Hwy 134 we continued west to the small township of Toponas and turned right (north) on CR 285. There is a gate indicating private property and at first we wondered if we should open it and drive thru. Tim decided to play it safe and called the nearest ranger station to inquire about public access. He was assured it was public. We drove up to the intersection of CR 285/FR 284 and turned left (west) on FR 284 and parked shortly. There is a good trail from a nice camp site that was occupied by two fellows. We talked with them for a while and were told the trail goes nearly to the top. We began at 11:30 AM.

The trail follows the fence line with one steep section (photo 1, photo 2). Once on top we continued on because the GPS showed the highest point of the summit to be a bit further. After claiming it, we descended and once again talked to the guys. Tim decided he had enough for the day and headed home. I was impressed with his stamina to climb seven peaks over the past two days, just two and a half months after open heart surgery.

Green Ridge:
Roundtrip mileage: 3 miles from Forest Road 285
Elevation gain: 600'
Start to finish: 1 hour 30 minutes

I drove back to the intersection of 285/284 and parked in the shade of a tree. I began at 12:50 PM on FR 285.2A. This handy road goes more than half way to the summit and from its end it's an easy bushwhack to the top (photo 1, photo 2). The day was still young so I drove back down CR 285 and then south on Hwy 131. Next up were two 7ers near Interstate 70.

UN 7868:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.30 miles from Road 8502
Elevation gain: 160'
Start to finish: 13 minutes

I drove Hwy 131 south to Horse Mountain road and turned right. There's a parking area right off Horse Mountain road north of UN 7868 but vehicles are allowed to continue on the narrow road (Bocco Road 8502) south to the peak. I parked straight east of the peak and headed up at 3:50 PM. There's a myriad of trails to the summit (photo 1, photo 2) and although steep, they're fast and easy.

Bocco Mountain:
Roundtrip mileage: drive up
Elevation gain: 0'
Start to finish: two minutes to walk outside the truck

The narrow road continues on a steep descent past UN 7860 toward Bocco Mountain. I don't think I'd drive it if it were muddy but conditions were dry. Lots of branches added pinstriping to my vehicle as I got closer to the turn-off road to Bocco Mountain. I drove the turnoff road to the summit, walked around briefly, and returned to Bocco Road 8502. I'm glad nobody else was on the road because it would've been extremely difficult to get around another vehicle coming the opposite way. It was a huge relief to get back to Horse Mountain road.

UN 9170:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.80 miles
Elevation gain: 400'
Start to finish: 1 hour

After a stop in Avon for a bite to eat, I drove I-70 to Hwy 24. This peak is south of the town of Red Cliff and I approached it from a road just off the highway. I started at 7:25 PM knowing I had about an hour before dark to get the peak in. The south ridge was easy at the start but cliffs soon required routefinding with some class 3 scrambling below the summit. I got back just before dark. This turned out to be the coolest peak of the day and a nice finish to a long day.