Mt Oklahoma (13,845 feet) by Brian Schultz Monday August 15, 2005
After flying in to Denver on Sunday I drove to Leadville expecting the usual commute. A flashing sign on the outskirts of Denver warned of a landslide blocking the freeway near Idaho Springs and to take a detour on US 285, but having encountered slides in the past and getting through them relatively quickly I didn't pay much attention to it. When a second warning flashed, I thought I might as well take the scenic drive via Fairplay and it's a good thing I did because the news later reported motorists being stuck for hours. Traffic also ended up being disrupted for days afterward as crews inspected the slopes for further landslide potential.
Anyway, for Mt Oklahoma I'd be using the same rough road to Halfmoon Creek that I drove for the French and Casco climbs in June. I left Leadville in the early morning and arrived at the two wheel drive trailhead at 5:15 AM, parked the car and then hiked a half mile to the 4x4 trailhead. That only took 12 minutes and after signing in and readjusting my pack, I began by headlamp at 5:35.
The very good trail was much as I remembered from four years ago when Tim and I climbed the Massive ridge but somehow in the dark I ended up descending to the creek sooner than I should've. Rather than backtrack, I headed across the creek to a marshy area and began a bushwhack through the trees, hoping to connect up later with the route while keeping a similar bearing to its description. As the morning dawned, fine views opened up to the west and Oklahoma's south ridge beckoned, but I stayed my course and pressed up a talus slope to just above timberline. In short order and much to my relief, I arrived at the described flat area at 12,700 feet and stopped for a break, the time 7:55 and skies clear in all directions. Oklahoma's east ridge loomed straight ahead.
Fifteen minutes later I started across the flat area and picked my way up the slopes of the east ridge and once on the ridge, a long talus slope was all that remained to the summit. The talus became somewhat rougher near the summit but not difficult and I arrived on top at 9:05. Greeted by chilly weather and building clouds, I was nonetheless excited to achieve my 99th centennial peak and 17th in a row this year, finally catching up to Tim after starting 11 behind him. Now we'd be able to finish together on Jagged Mountain if all went well in the next two days. I signed the register, noting 40 others had also signed in for the year, and sat back to enjoy the views. Most of my thoughts, however, were on the upcoming Jagged backpack before I began my descent at 9:40.
The steep cliffy area below the east ridge had me thinking my ascent route might've been a better descent but I found a manageable way down and spotted the Halfmoon Creek trail in the distance. I'd have to ascend to it after crossing the creek, which didn't appeal to me, so I began another bushwhack through the trees and used my GPS to follow a waypoint set earlier in the morning. I met the trail lower down without incident and ran into five young people taking a break at a large flat rock at 11:10. This was the same place where Tim and I ate breakfast four years ago and I stopped to visit. These youngsters were supposed to be doing trail work for CFI on Mt Elbert but when the CFI people didn't show up they decided to do a hike to North Halfmoon Lakes. Not surprising, they knew of the Sawatch fourteeners but never heard of Mt Oklahoma. After parting company I hiked the rest of the way out nonstop and returned to my car at 12:15, a nice early finish and leaving all afternoon to drive to Creede to meet Tim by 6:00.
Trailhead to summit- 3 hours 50 minutes
Summit to trailhead- 2 hours 35 minutes
Start to finish- 7 hours including all breaks