02/07/14 Unnamed 7814 and Unnamed 8660 #18 and #19

Centennial Cone from the ridge going up Unnamed 7814

I set out early in the morning on the 7th of February to try to climb three peaks.  I had been looking at a map I had at the Centennial Cone Park up Clear Creek Canyon.  I figured I could climb three peaks in a day and make it to Denver to hang with some friends in the evening.  I drove to Golden and then up Clear Creek Canyon and parked at the trailhead for the Mayhem Gulch Trail.

I followed the Mayhem Gulch Trail up to the junction with the Juniper Trail and took the right, staying on the Mayhem Gulch Trail.  I took that to the first ridge I made it to and decided to follow that ridge up to the top of the first summit for the day.  It was an easy walk through snow and over some rocks to the top of Unnamed 7814.

Unnamed 8660 from Unnamed 7814, Douglas Mountain in back

Along the way, I enjoyed the views as I climbed, but the views really were better from the top.  From there I had a good look into the Clear Creek Canyon and at all the hills around it.  The view over to Unnamed 8660 was good, but I was very impressed with how Centennial Cone looked, as I was all day.  Centennial Cone was to be the big peak of the three to end the day.  I couldn't stop taking photos of it.  I couldn't wait to climb it, but I had chosen to climb the two lower peaks first and to end with Centennial Cone.

I moved off Unnamed 7814 on a different ridge headed for the other junction of the Mayhem and Juniper Trails.  This I found and walked the trail to the upper parking lot and the beginning of the Elk Range Trail.  I could have started at the upper lot, but I don't feel right climbing a peak with very minimal elevation gain when I can feel like I actually climbed it by starting at a lower point, especially if that lower point is a trailhead as well.  By starting lower I felt like I actually climbed Unnamed 7814.

Centennial Cone from Elk Range Trail

I took the Elk Range Trail to a spot where I could see up the next summit.  I went directly for it crossing a dirt road several times as I went straight up the open slopes.  As the boundary of the park came near the summit, but the summit was not technically in the park I hit the high point and did not linger as I was probably not supposed to be up there.  I stayed only a short time, left nothing, and took only photographs.

On the way down my knee started to bother me.  It had bothered me in years past, but this was the first time this year it had hurt.  It was also getting later than I had planned and with the knee and the time, I knew I probably shouldn't do Centennial Cone.  I felt okay with this as I can always come back and climb it.  Also, if I'm not alone, climbing Centennial Cone is a much easier sell than two unnamed peaks.  I snapped photos to help to remind me to come back and headed back on the Elk Range Trail to the two other trails.

Centennial Cone from Unnamed 8660

At the junction, I decided to take the Juniper trail down as it wrapped around the west side of Unnamed 7814.  This would give me even more exposure to the trail system in the park and give me a few different views on my way back to the car.  I was pleased with my decision and eventually came back to the Mayhem Gulch Trail and took that back down to the car.

Elevation gain:  2200'     Total gain:  26,335'