Grenadier Range, San Juan Mtns. Weminuche Wilderness, CO June 27-30, 2007 Retro

John Morrow

Member
Joined
May 22, 2015
Messages
1,060
Stuck home, thought I'd toss up something from the past. Hiking forums in the time of Covid. Couple years back these photos were stuck in an inaccessible computer hard drive. Finally ordered an enclosure to put it into to pull out these pics. Artemus had asked me to post this then when I couldn't reach 'em.

These mountains were awesome and this trip complimented a great Bluegrass Festival perfectly.

On the 27th we descended the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass on US 550 down to the Animas River. Met the famous Durango and Silverton steam train by chance. Cool experience.
There must have been a trail bridge over the river but I don't remember. Couple more miles and a side trail (not official) went off to the right (south) crossing Elk Creek and rising into an amazing high basin, perhaps called "Vestal Basin" (no map name).


Dropping to Animas River
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Passing train in the river corridor
by John Morrow, on Flickr


First look at Grenadiers!
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Entering the meadow country
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Vestal and Arrow from camp
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Sunset on the Trinities
by John Morrow, on Flickr

June 28: If my friend Justin doesn't look right, it is because he is incredibly sick with a fever. Had to have been the first known case of Covid 19. Our plan was a couple of climbs on the two well known north faces: Wham Ridge of Vestal and north ridge of Arrow. However, Justin opted to remain in the tent to try to get well. Carried the climbing gear a long way for nothing! I opted to do the scramble routes on those mountains instead.

First up was the giant ramp of Arrow Peak 13,803'. Wonderful Class 3 scramble on solid quartzite.


Up the ramp of Arrow Peak
by John Morrow, on Flickr


The famous ramp
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Arrow scramble
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Then down, up through Vestal/Arrow saddle, and around to the south slope of Vestal Peak 13,864':


Final Vestal scramble
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Altitude tired! on Vestal
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Trinities for tomorrow
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Outside of times on Mt Rainier, this was the highest I'd ever been, so I was feeling it!

June 29th: I felt horrible for Justin, and if we weren't in a position to do the climb(s), then a great scramble traverse of the 3 Trinity Peaks would at least get him a chance to get up high in this beautiful place.

1st up was the West Ridge of West Trinity Peak 13,765 and down its East Ridge.


Vestal and Arrow morning
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Scramble on West Trinity
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Towards Middle Trinity
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Vestal and Arrow behind
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Then we traversed all the way around the south side of Middle Trinity 13,805' on ledges and up to the Middle/East Trinity saddle for the final scramble from the saddle.


Up to East Ridge of Middle Trinity
by John Morrow, on Flickr


West Ridge of East trinity across
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Returning to the saddle we then scrambled up the West Ridge of East Trinity 13,745'. Descending its east ridge/slope back into the head of Vestal Basin completed the traverse!


Onto East Trinity from Middle saddle
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Almost done climbing
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Lake
by John Morrow, on Flickr


View toward Chicago Basin far
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Across at East Ridge Mid Trinity
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Only bad section on final descent
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Tarn
by John Morrow, on Flickr

June 30th:

It was time to hike back to Molas Pass. What an awesome trip in a great mountain range! Thirteen years older now, ten pounds heavier, and hair cut high and tight (not always, jsut when I finally get around to cutting it). Justin hasn't aged a day.


Last look back
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Back to the river
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Full set of pics (grand country views) here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/albums/72157713691270722

Anyone else have some archival trip reports to share for our virtual hiking pleasure?????
 
Amazing report, John. Loved all the shots of the steep faces of the mountains. This gave me a nice escape from being relatively shut in right now.
 
Wonderful!

Love the photo of the train coming through.
 
Fun trip! Sadly, I've never gotten around to doing Wham Ridge.

From what I saw (remember) looking from above and below, @fossana, you would likely be fine leaving the gear home and doing it solo. Not me, though!

From the top looking down on the steep top part of Wham Ridge:

IMG_3078.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ben
Nice . I haven't been to the Grenadiers since 1981. Lots of good stuff there. Here is a moldy oldie from back then.PICT0002 (2).JPG
 
Spectacular, thanks for posting. This is one of the areas I was (am) hoping to visit this summer if the coronavirus lets me. My tentative trip plan has us following your route into Vestal Basin and then heading either south over the pass between Vestal and Trinity (preferred) or east over the pass toward Trinity Lake (option B) and then south toward Leviathan Lake and Sunlight Lake before dropping down to hook up with the Vallecito trail and looping back on the CDT.

Based upon imagery and other trip reports I have read, both pass options look doable, if a bit sketchy. Does anyone have any guidance on which is the better option, and whether this route is advisable for a small group of middle-aged, reasonably fit backpackers who are comfortable and experienced with off-trail travel?
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Miya SOLD: For Sale: Katabatic Grenadier 5° Gear Market: Buy, Sell, Trade 14
Outdoor_Fool Brooks Range trek - Anaktuvuk Pass to the Haul Road - Cancelled Flight - last minute change-up Backpacking 21
scatman The Wyoming Range (Scatman version) - June 26, 2023 Backpacking 21
Bob Wyoming Range Backpacking 14
Dreamer Wyoming Range conditions 2023 Trip Planning 62
W Greetings from the West Side of the Winds (Wind River range) Noobs: Introduce yourself! 5
marquiri Wind River Range - Angel Pass Trip Planning 24
Writhdar Day hikes in the White Clouds and Lost River Range Hiking & Camping 1
Mikjik86 Backpacking The Wind River Range - Wyoming, September 2022 Trip Reports 3
R Wind River Range: Green River Lakes/Clarks Trail/Porcupine Creek Trail Trip Planning 3
wsp_scott Wind River Range Sept 2021 (part 2) Backpacking 4
wsp_scott Wind River Range Sept 2021 (part 1) Backpacking 16
B Wind river range mid sept. Trip Planning 8
andyjaggy Wind River Range Roberts Mountain Trip Planning 4
marquiri Wind River Range - September 2022 Trip Planning 31
J Pahranagat, Desert NWR, and Arrow Canyon Range to start Nov. 2021 Desert time Hiking & Camping 6
seekinglost 1000 Mile Nevada Thru Hike on the Basin and Range Trail Trip Reports 14
regehr Fox Creek, Teton Range Hiking & Camping 19
RyanP Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations? Trip Planning 4
westy Wind River Range Backpacking 4
wsp_scott Wind River Range (beginning of Sept 2021) Meet Up (Members Only) 11
TheMountainRabbit NW Wind River Range (Bridger Wilderness) - August 2020 Backpacking 3
travel2walk trip report: Wind River Range – Ross Lakes, Bear Basin, Grasshopper Glacier, & Dinwoody Creek loop, Aug-Sep 2020 Trip Reports 41
marquiri Wind River Range - Green River Lakes Trailhead Trip Planning 9
Outdoor_Fool Snowshoeing to Castner Glacier Ice Cave, Alaska Range Winter Sports 5
NorthwestWanderer The Bailey Range Traverse | An 8 Day Olympic National Park Epic Backpacking 15
Gunnahafta Green River <> Big Sandy WIND RIVER RANGE Trip Planning 1
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking the Lost River Range in Idaho : Bear Creek Lake & Upper Basin Backpacking 7
TheMountainRabbit Invite Never Summer Range, June 27th-29th Meet Up (Members Only) 0
Matt Van Natta HELP: Wind River Range, Baker Lake to Green River Lakes Trip Planning 7
regehr bears in Jarbidge Range? Trip Planning 2
Ugly Front Range Friday Fun Winter Sports 5
NorthwestWanderer Chelan-Sawtooth Range : Sunrise to Cooney Lake Loop Backpacking 3
NorthwestWanderer Haunted by Washington's Tiffany Range Hiking & Camping 11
TrektheWorld Wind River Range 5 Day Loop Backpacking 16
WasatchWill Wyoming Grizzly Range Tracker and DMA General Discussion 11
H Wind River Range route planning Trip Planning 6
10KFly Wind River Range in Late September Trip Planning 6
Stephanie B Suggestions for Maze Hikes and Range Canyon Intel? Trip Planning 2
westy McCullough Range Hiking & Camping 7
b.stark Wind River Range 2009 "From The Vault" Backpacking 9
blueeyes Wind River Range August 2018 Backpacking 11
Lowro East Temple Peak - Wind River Range Backpacking 13
DuneElliot Backpacking Wyoming's Wind River Range, August 2018 Backpacking 4
Born to Hike Backpacking Northern Windriver Range, solo 60+ miles, 5 days, mid September 2018 Backpacking 17
b.stark Wind River Range 2007 "From The Vault" Backpacking 4
Wolverine1875 Wind River Range: Llama Trekking from Dickinson Park to The Cirque of The Towers Trip Planning 19
TrektheWorld Booth Lake Basin - Gore Range, Colorado Backpacking 7
Curt Wind River Range - July 2018 Backpacking 26
DaveNC Wind River Range August-September - with time to roam Trip Planning 8

Similar threads

Back
Top