Webster Benchmark (10,220) by Brian Schultz Friday July 26, 2019

Roundtrip mileage: 3.15 miles from Whiteside parking lot
Elevation gain: 1,300'
Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes

I drove to the Whiteside parking lot, 2.4 miles north of Grant on the Guanella Pass road, and parked in the spacious lot. I began at 11:20 AM, quickly crossing Geneva Creek on a handy footbridge, and immediately turned left on the Geneva Creek trail. The well defined trail parallels the creek and after two minor stream crossings comes to a signed trail junction. I turned right (west) on the Whiteside trail and shortly afterward had to step aside as a group of horseback riders were descending. They were the only other people on the trail as I followed it to just north of the summit. I departed the trail around 9,560' and began a steep grunt to the summit.

It's only 0.4 miles as the crow flies to the top but the elevation gain of nearly 700' gives an idea of how steep it really is. The line I took through the trees had some deadfall but it was easy enough to get around. I stepped on top and stayed just a few minutes. The descent went quickly and I got back to the parking lot at 1:30. This was a nice little hike.