GB4 Mountaineering - Horseshoe Mountain

Horseshoe Mountain - 13,898 ft

Peerless Mountain - 13,348 ft

Mount Sheridan - 13,748 ft

Date: 6-7-08

Climbers: George, Nate, Crystal, Molly

Route: Boudoir Couloir

RT distance: 7 miles

Elevation gain: 3,150 feet

USGS Quadrangle: Mount Sherman

Trip Report:

Nate, Crystal, Molly and I got to enjoy some great weather in the Ten Mile-Mosquito range on Saturday. The FS road driving up to the Horseshoe cirque was blocked by a large snow drift, but the approach from the Fourmile Creek Road went quickly. We had the place to ourselves, except for a few elk.

At the turn off to the NE ridge, Crystal and Nate decided to take Molly up the ridge, while I would continue to the couloir alone. Thanks to Nate for taking a few pictures of me in the couloir from the ridge.

The couloir was in pretty good shape, though I did punch some good postholes in the bottom apron where the snow was thinner (but never wished for slowshoes). After mantling over the crux cornice, I arrived at the summit with just enough to time to knock out a couple dozen pushups just before Nate arrived.

We signed the summit register (stored in an "On the Border" salsa jar) at 9:30AM. Nate offered that if I wanted to run over to nearby thirteeners Peerless and Sheridan he would pick me up at the Sherman TH (he had already climbed Mt Sheridan, one of CO's bicentennials).

The trail over Peerless went quickly, even though I was now feeling the full force of the wind that I'd been sheltered from in the couloir. I caught a good glissade down Sheridan, and met Nate, Crystal, and Molly at the Sherman TH where they'd been waiting for less than 10 minutes.

I think I counted no less than 6 other cars parked for Mount Sherman (a 14er), apparently marking the start of the season for summer peak baggers.