Sunlight and Windom peaks, together with Mt. Eolus and North Eolus, are four of the most remote 14,000 ft. peaks in the San Juan Mountains. They were the excuse for a 6 day wilderness excursion during the summer of 2020.
Day 1: Monday, June 29th, 2020
Due to the pandemic, the Durango-Silverton Railroad was not running. That means the approach in to Chicago Basin would consist of a total of 18 miles and 3000' of elevation gain. Back-in-the-day, I could've done that in a one long day hike. Now, I need to break it up in to two days.
Beginning at the Purgatory Ski Resort, you first have to descend the Purgatory Flats trail down to the Animas River, below 8,000' at this point. From there it is about 7 miles up to the Needle Creek Trail, following the river more or less the whole way.
Total Mileage: 11
Bridge over the Animas at Cascade Creek
Day 2: Tuesday, June 30th, 2020
I had about a mile left up to the Needle Creek trail junction, then 6 miles and 3000" up into Chicago Basin. Today's 7 miles took the same amount of time as yesterday's 11. The wildflowers were plentiful, but the snow-pack was pretty minimal for early summer.
Total Mileage: 18
I had about a mile left up to the Needle Creek trail junction, then 6 miles and 3000" up into Chicago Basin. Today's 7 miles took the same amount of time as yesterday's 11. The wildflowers were plentiful, but the snow-pack was pretty minimal for early summer.
Total Mileage: 18
Footbridge at New York Creek with a nice little waterfall.
Day 3: Wednesday July 1st, 2020
Rest and acclimatization today. After that hike in I was in no shape to get up early for a peak ascent, so I just took it easy and got to know the locals . . .
Rest and acclimatization today. After that hike in I was in no shape to get up early for a peak ascent, so I just took it easy and got to know the locals . . .
The Mountain Goats are very tame in Chicago Basin.
Day 4: July 2nd, 2020
Started up the trail to Twin Lakes at 4:30 AM. it is about 1,300 feet in a mile from where I was camped. The trail was very well constructed.
Sunlight Peak started with a scree slog up to a point where it made sense to start traversing towards the summit. You know you're on-route when you come to this cool window you have to tunnel through right on the ridge crest. From the window you have about 150' of 4th class climbing to the summit. I made the summit of Sunlight around 8:30 AM. I made much better time than I had expected to. I descended in such a way as to set myself up for an ascent of Windom Peak. The crux at this point was the altitude. Windom Peak is about 1000' of boulder hopping. I personally find this type of climbing fun, but, like I said, the crux was the altitude at this point. I was very happy to reach the summit of Windom for my second 14er of the day. I was on my way down before noon. My goal of doing all of the 14ers in the San Juan Range is still alive! (Now, I have 7 to go)
Took my time on the descent and ran into the neighbors again, out for an afternoon stroll. I returned to camp about 10 hours after I left.
Total Mileage: 24
Started up the trail to Twin Lakes at 4:30 AM. it is about 1,300 feet in a mile from where I was camped. The trail was very well constructed.
Sunlight Peak started with a scree slog up to a point where it made sense to start traversing towards the summit. You know you're on-route when you come to this cool window you have to tunnel through right on the ridge crest. From the window you have about 150' of 4th class climbing to the summit. I made the summit of Sunlight around 8:30 AM. I made much better time than I had expected to. I descended in such a way as to set myself up for an ascent of Windom Peak. The crux at this point was the altitude. Windom Peak is about 1000' of boulder hopping. I personally find this type of climbing fun, but, like I said, the crux was the altitude at this point. I was very happy to reach the summit of Windom for my second 14er of the day. I was on my way down before noon. My goal of doing all of the 14ers in the San Juan Range is still alive! (Now, I have 7 to go)
Took my time on the descent and ran into the neighbors again, out for an afternoon stroll. I returned to camp about 10 hours after I left.
Total Mileage: 24
Sunlight Peak
The Window
The last 150' of Sunlight
Windom Peak from Sunlight's summit
Eolus with Twin Lakes below
Another look at Windom
The neighbors scrambling up the waterfall.
Day 5: Friday, July 3rd, 2020
After returning from the peaks I crawled into my tent and began brewing tea and other liquids in order to hydrate myself for the next day's hike. I was content to leave Eolus for another trip. I still had to make the 18 miles back to Purgatory. I set out at 8:30 in the morning feeling stiff already. The first 7 miles, back to where I camped on night 1, went smooth enough, took about 3 hours. The wildflowers were still going strong. After lunch my body began to protest. I staggered in to Cascade Creek crossing about 4:00 PM after a 13 mile hike. I need to lighten my pack!
Total Mileage: 37
After returning from the peaks I crawled into my tent and began brewing tea and other liquids in order to hydrate myself for the next day's hike. I was content to leave Eolus for another trip. I still had to make the 18 miles back to Purgatory. I set out at 8:30 in the morning feeling stiff already. The first 7 miles, back to where I camped on night 1, went smooth enough, took about 3 hours. The wildflowers were still going strong. After lunch my body began to protest. I staggered in to Cascade Creek crossing about 4:00 PM after a 13 mile hike. I need to lighten my pack!
Total Mileage: 37
Day 6: Saturday, July 4th, 2020
The 13 miles the day before left me with a 5 mile hike back to the trailhead. It was a big climb, though. I started at first light in order to beat the heat. The wildflowers stole the show once again.
Total Mileage: 42
The 13 miles the day before left me with a 5 mile hike back to the trailhead. It was a big climb, though. I started at first light in order to beat the heat. The wildflowers stole the show once again.
Total Mileage: 42
Hope you had a chance to get out this summer . . .
