UN 12505 & UN 12580 by Brian Schultz Saturday July 18, 2020

UN 12505:

Roundtrip mileage: 8.0 miles from Avalanche Gulch trailhead
Elevation gain: 3,255'
Start to finish: 5 hours 20 minutes

I took advantage of a later start despite the 50% chance of storms predicted at noon. I began at 7:25 AM on the excellent trail, the same trail I used almost exactly five years ago when I climbed Mascot Peak. The trail gains elevation in earnest after the initial flat start so I took a comfortable, steady pace. As I got higher, I was meeting climbers descending who'd already climbed fourteener Mt Yale.

When I reached the pass around 11,900', I turned toward 12505 and started up the first hill. Easy enough but the next one was a big talus heap. I climbed mostly straight up the various sized rocks but it was steep and slow and definitely not a cakewalk. Once down the other side, the ridge was smooth sailing to the summit and I arrived on top at 10:10. The weather was holding nicely and I stayed for twenty minutes.

There wasn't an easy way around the talus hill on the return so I went up and over it again. Back on the trail, I was seeing more people on their way up and visited briefly with some of them. Others were descending from Yale and passed by me quickly while I kept a pace I could manage. The switchbacks on the lower part of the trail were seemingly getting longer on my tired legs but I finally made it back to my truck at 12:45.

I talked to yet another fellow in the parking lot who was gearing up for a climb of Yale. It seemed like a late start but he was young and determined to give it a go, despite the threatening clouds.

UN 12580:

Roundtrip mileage: 1.5 miles from Cottonwood Pass
Elevation gain: 475'
Start to finish: 50 minutes

As I drove by the Denny Creek trailhead on the way up to the Cottonwood Pass, the parking area and overflow area were jam packed with vehicles and people. Covid-19 has prompted many people to hit the trails, especially to climb the fourteeners and Mt Yale was no exception. The Ptarmigan Lake trailhead parking was full as well with vehicles scattered along the road.

When I reached Cottonwood Pass there were throngs of people there too and I had a bite to eat while watching the weather and debating whether I should go for another peak. It would be a repeat for me. I had plenty of time before meeting Tim in the evening and decided to go for it despite the ominous clouds.

I began at 2:05 PM and set a moderately fast pace (for me) up the trail. There were several groups on their way down and only a young woman and her dog behind me on the way up. It didn't take long to reach the summit where the temperature dropped quickly. The young woman had no pack, clad in just shorts and a sleeveless top, and immediately departed the summit after arriving. She ran down the trail. I didn't stay long on the summit either and stopped shortly below it to put on my rain gear as the weather threatened.

It started raining but not heavily. I made it back to my truck at 2:55, and by now only a few tourists were stopping because of the rain. This is a nice short easy hike and filled some time before driving down the other side of Cottonwood Pass to the Taylor Reservoir.