Mt Sniktau (13,234) by Brian Schultz Thursday September 15, 2011
Roundtrip mileage: 3.75 miles from Loveland Pass
Elevation gain: 1280'
Start to finish: 2 hours 35 minutes
The overnight snowstorm left no accumulation in Dillon but it layered the terrain above 12,000' at Loveland Pass. I began at 7:45 AM with hopes of climbing Sniktau, Cupid, & Grizzly but gusting winds and limited visibility conditions were not looking good to get all three. I was able to follow the trail despite blowing snow covering up parts of it and reached the summit at 8:55. But I couldn't even see the other peaks and made the easy decision to skip them. After a twenty minute break on top I departed, winds easing somewhat but snow falling steadily, and arrived back at Loveland Pass at 10:20.
Wichita Mountain (10,855) Thursday September 15, 2011
Roundtrip mileage: 3.4 miles from parking area at I-70 /Frisco Main St exit
Elevation gain: 1,700'
Start to finish: 3 hours 30 minutes
After climbing Sniktau I drove back to Dillon for lunch. With most of the day remaining and eager to get another climb in, I drove up to Frisco for Wichita Mountain. This peak interested me after reading a trip report by Kevin Baker and its lower elevation would not likely have the wintry conditions I just encountered above Loveland Pass.
There were several cars in the parking area and it was lightly misting while I got ready. I started up the paved road at 12:30 PM and followed it a short distance to a signed junction on the right. The excellent trail leads to some large campsites at 9,600', where the easiest route leaves the trail and crosses North Tenmile Creek. I, however, crossed the creek too early, making the eventual bushwhack an even longer one, before heading up steep wooded slopes to the 10,550' saddle west of Wichita's summit. My GPS was handy for keeping a bearing in the dense trees and I used several hit and miss game trails to reach the saddle.
At the saddle I kept to the right side of the ridge but it led to steep exposed drop-offs. I cut back across talus to the left side and scrambled up to the summit at 2:25. The summit is quite small and exposed and requires an awkward step across to the highest point. It has cool views of Frisco, I-70, & the Dillon Reservoir.
After 15 minutes on top, I returned to the saddle and followed easier game trails to the creek. I arrived at the parking lot at 4:00 and chatted briefly with two fellows warming up for a run along the trail. This turned out to be a fun peak.