Mt Silverheels (13,822 ft) by Brian Schultz Friday July 1, 2005
I had time to climb one more centennial peak before heading to the airport. I left the Beaver Creek trailhead at 6:15 AM, crossed Beaver Creek, and hiked up the four wheel drive road. The route description says to leave the road at 11,160 feet but all I found at that elevation were tracks to a campsite. I followed the road 100 feet higher to 11,260 feet before finding the old road as described.
I set a waypoint on the GPS, hiked to treeline, and continued up and over the two identified Points. Another cold windy day was upon me but blue and sunny skies also accompanied me as I moved steadily toward Silverheels and easily gained the summit at 9:18. I'll take the cold any time as long as the weather is stable. Panoramic views of the fourteeners and thirteeners across Hwy 9 kept my attention as I snacked and reflected on a decision made months ago to climb Silverheels now instead of saving it for my last high hundred peak. I changed it so Tim Briese and I could finish on Jagged together, but Silverheels would've been unique in that no climbers registered with the Colorado Mountain Club have finished on it, at least those who've listed a final peak.
A memorial stone propped in the rocks on the summit caught my eye and I wondered what significance Silverheels held for the couple, if any. I asked Tim later if he knew about this and he remembered hearing their names on the news and believed they were murdered in their home. How sad. *See postscript.
Mindful of my flight to catch, I left at 9:45. The descent went fast but upon entering timberline I couldn't remember the spot I emerged from earlier. I walked all around but found nothing that looked familiar, and for a few anxious moments I thought I might miss my flight. But the waypoint I set came in handy and I just bushwhacked through the trees using the GPS until reaching the old road below.
I made it back to my car at 11:45, stopped in Fairplay to shower at the Motel/RV park, and drove on in to Denver. I had to trash the trekking pole I bent on Huerfano because it wouldn't compress for packing, and my flight ended up being delayed for six hours because of mechanical problems, but no complaints. I sailed through seven new peaks without any eye problems and I'd be back in three short weeks to continue the high 100 quest.
*PS: I was e-mailed by Steve Weeks in April 2006, informing me that he and his group placed the memorial on the summit. Gary and Stacy were indeed murdered in their home in Woodland Park. The couple loved Mt Silverheels and spent lots of time in the area hiking, mountain biking, back-country skiing, and fly-fishing. Steve's group organizes a trip every year during the Alma Festival to hike up Silverheels, pay tribute to their friends, and check on the stone.
Trailhead to summit- 3 hours 3 minutes
Summit to trailhead- 2 hours
Start to finish- 5 hours 30 minutes