UN 13577 & UN 13660A by Brian Schultz Monday July 14, 2008
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation gain: ~3650 feet
Tim and I met up in the early morning in Walsenburg. We drove both vehicles past Red Wing, dropped my car off at a picnic area just before the Singing River Ranch, and continued on in Tim's truck to the Lily Lake trailhead. The trailhead goes by other names but it's the same one used for popular fourteener Mt Lindsey. We quietly readied our packs, not sure if anyone was sleeping in the only other truck parked there, and headed out at 7:05 AM.
At the trail junction by the Huerfano River we followed the Lily Lake trail on the river's west side. Tim had used the Lily Lake trail previously to climb California Peak, so for him this would be a repeat all the way to the ranked thirteener (UN 13577) before continuing over to UN 13660. The trail was in good shape and we reached Lily Lake (photo 1, photo 2) at 8:55, enjoying terrific views of Blanca Peak along the way. Two fellows were fishing at the lake (it was their truck at the trailhead) and were quite curious as to what we were climbing so we pointed up to our peaks. We kept the visit brief and set off on the right side of the lake.
I'd read several trip reports describing the talus to UN 13577 as miserable. Of course, Tim already knew this from his prior trip but it was no exaggeration. We briefly split up on the ascent, each finding a line to our own liking, and reached UN 13577 at 10:15. After a short ten minute break we hiked down to the saddle and enjoyed a fun scramble up to UN 13660. We arrived on top at 11:15 with the weather holding nicely and stayed 35 minutes. The views of the fourteeners from the summit were outstanding.
On the return we intended to contour around the other side of UN 13577 and do a bushwhack back to the truck, but not knowing how feasible that would be, we just reclimbed 13577 and descended the wretched talus again. The skies were darkening rapidly by the time we reached the lake at 1:45. We stopped for a break to put on raincoats and pack covers after hearing the first rumble of thunder. Thankful to be on safer terrain as a storm blew through an hour later and that it wasn't accompanied by lightning, we made it back to the truck at 3:40.
Trailhead to UN 13577- 3 hours 10 minutes
UN 13577 to UN 13660- 50 minutes
UN 13660 to trailhead- 3 hours 50 minutes
Start to finish- 8 hours 35 minutes