Читать книгу Best Summit Hikes Denver to Vail - James Dziezynski - Страница 21

• Parry Peak: 13,391’

• Mount Bancroft: 13,250’

• Mount Eva: 13,130’

• James Peak: 13,294’

• Witter Peak: 12,884’

• Breckenridge Peak: 12,889’

• Mount Flora: 13,132’

Wilderness Area and Range

James Peak Wilderness, Front Range

Trailhead Distance from I-70

9.6 miles

Driving Directions

From either eastbound or westbound I-70, take Exit 238 toward Fall River Road and reset your trip odometer. Head north on the paved Fall River Road. There are two wicked sharp switchbacks on this road; the first is at 4.5 miles. At the second switchback in 6.6 miles, turn left off the road, then take a quick right onto Rainbow Road (dirt). From here, it is 3.0 miles to Fall River Reservoir parking.

The dirt road is rocky but is fine for SUVs with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Sport utility cars (SUCs) with high clearance (Honda CR-V/Toyota RAV4) can make the trailhead if carefully driven. The first 2 miles are relatively easy four-wheel-drive terrain. Be sure to stay on the wide, well-traveled main road—there are dozens of side roads that branch off along the way. At mile 6.7, you’ll arrive at a fork in the road. Stay right for Fall River Reservoir. The left branch goes to Chinns Lake parking. The last 0.8 mile is the roughest, so if you have a marginal off-road vehicle, consider parking here. It’s 0.9 mile to Chinns Lake from this junction (worth knowing if you have to park here and want to loop Mount Eva and Witter Peak). However, if you made it this far, the last section to the trailhead is just a touch steeper and rockier than what you’ve already driven. Park on the right, flatter side or unleash your inner four-wheel-drive beast and hammer up the steep, short hill on the left to the jeep parking (about 100 feet farther than the flat parking).

Vehicle Recommendations

SUVs and tough SUCs will be able to make it to Fall River Reservoir, though all-wheel drive and lower-clearance vehicles should take it easy on the bouncy rocks.

Fees/Camping

There are no fees to park, hike, or camp. Camping is allowed in Arapaho National Forest, and there are a few primitive sites at the trailhead, but no restrooms. Please use leave-no-trace guidelines when camping.

Dog Regulations

Dogs are allowed on leash in the James Peak Wilderness.

Summary

Peak baggers rejoice; there’s a lot to get done out of this trailhead. Even in the height of summer, foot traffic to these mountains is very low (though there’s likely to be a lot of people fishing or just hanging out at the reservoir). From the trailhead, the direct northeast ridge of Mount Eva (Class 3–4) makes quite an impression. This guide uses the traditional hiking route that skirts to the north and avoids this ridge. There aren’t any formal trails, but getting around the reservoir and into the basin above requires easy, off-trail navigation—just follow the waterfalls.

A recurring theme in this guide is the sheer number of combinations and route options available from each trailhead, and this one is no exception. Snag several peaks, or just go out and back. A tour north gains the mountain ridges via Parry’s surprisingly fun southeast rib. From there, Mount Bancroft and James Peak are a fun northern loop, while Parry–Eva to the south is just as good. For a direct line up Eva, stay in the basin and hit a steep but sturdy grass slope to Eva’s southeast ridge saddle. From there, a fun Class 2+ scramble tops out on an extremely scenic summit. An easy 1.2-mile jaunt from Eva goes to the flat summit of Witter Peak, an unassuming summit with dramatic cliffs off its south face. A fun Class 2 scramble down Witter’s East Ridge closes a high-quality loop to Chinns Lake. A brief flood-ravaged but passable drainage connects Chinns Lake with Fall River Reservoir.

Parry Peak, the high point in the James Peak Wilderness, is named for Dr. Charles Parry, a botanist and surveyor who was the first white man to climb and chart nearby Grays Peak in 1861. Mount Eva is named after his wife, though since she shared his last name, perhaps she could claim to have both peaks named in her honor?