06/02/14 Mineral Peak 7447' #36

It seems fitting that as I've set out to climb 100 different ranked summits in my year of being 35 (from November 16, 2013 to November 16, 2014), or my 36th rotation around the sun, that my first post is about the 36th peak I've climbed.  I will go back and try to capture all of the climbs, but this is where I officially start.  Each post will have the date climbed, the peak name, and the elevation.

First view of Mineral Peak

So Mineral Peak is number 36.  If you're doing the math like I am, you can tell I'm behind schedule.  I hit it hard, in a continuation of hard peak bagging in October and early November, in the late fall and early winter in Colorado.  In early February, my knee started bothering me and I ended up taking about two months off from climbing peaks as I rested and started doing small hikes to test and strengthen my knee.  Now it is feeling pretty good.

I started for Mineral Peak at the main Rattlesnake Trailhead at about 9:45 a.m.  This was to be another bike-and-hike and I was looking forward to it.  This would also be the furthest up Rattlesnake Creek I had been.  I started biking under clear, sunny skies and warm air.  The ride up the old road was easy; so easy that I was concerned that I would have to work more than I would want to on the bike out.  My map showed that I would be gaining nearly 700 feet in the 8+ miles, but it didn't feel like it.

It took me a little under 1 1/2 hours to get eight miles in and to the Franklin Bridge.  Rattlesnake Creek was raging under the bridge, frothing white water.  Just a short distance later I came to the trail heading up the East Fork Rattlesnake Creek, where I walked my bike up the trail a couple hundred yards and stashed it behind a large, woodpecker-scarred larch trunk.  Unlike some of the past bike-and-hikes I had no desire to push my bike too far up the trail.  It was a rocky trail as well and I questioned my ability to safely ride down it.

Falls on the East Fork Rattlesnake Creek

Immediately after leaving the main corridor the trail heading up the East Fork climbs quickly.  Not far up the trail there is a social trail heading down to the creek where the water gets pinched in a rocky gorge and then falls and cascades in its rush to meet the main creek.  Not far past the falls I ran into two hikers ambling down the trail with light backpacking gear.  I asked where they had stayed and they said they had slept in the lookout.  I hadn't known that it was open and that people could stay there.  Not too long after running into them I came across the first small creek crossing the trail, where I stopped to cool off, splashing cold water on my head and face, and to fill up one of my water bottles.  I just love drinking water off the mountain I am climbing.  I feel it gives me strength.

From the first creek to the second was not a very long distance, but I had stopped at a couple large trees across the trail and used my hand saw and cut off branches to make the travel back across easier.  Beyond the second creek there were more trees down--smaller thankfully--with plenty of branches to cut.  Next thing I knew I felt like I was working and not just hiking.  At some point, I decided I would need to stop as I had barely packed enough food just to hike, much less to hike and clear branches from trees across the trail.

Snow on the road

Fortunately after I made that decision I ran into the first snow patches and didn't come across more trees that needed branches removed.  The snow section lasted a much shorter distance than I thought it would until at around the 6300 foot mark the angle of the slope steepened and turned more toward the south and was completely dry until about 6600 feet.  From there on the trail and then the road the trail meets were completely under snow. Once I hit the road I left a small snow cairn (snowman) so I could find the spot where I needed to leave the road.

Once on the road I had only to gain about 700 feet to the summit.  As it was a road the grade was much easier to follow than the steep trail.  This was a relief as I was exhausted by this point.  After 10-15 minutes the lookout came into view and I could see the final slope where I could cut off the road and climb snow easily to the top.

Mineral Peak Lookout

I topped out and visited the true summit first and took in the views.  Then I turned to the lookout.  For whatever reason I get more nervous to climb to the top of a lookout than I do the top of a mountain.  It's probably the steep, creaky wood steps and floors with gaps allowing you to look forty feet down to the snow.  The wind never helps my nerves in these situations either, but I knew I could not climb to the top of a peak with a lookout and not ascend the lookout too.  So up I went.  The views were marvelous and well work the ascent of the four flights of steps.  The lookout afforded views toward Stuart Peak in the Rattlesnake Wilderness that could not be seen from the true summit due to trees near the lookout.  High, snowy peaks could be seen in every direction.

I went into the lookout and signed the record book.  There was really nothing inside except the book and a couple places to lay down a sleeping pad.  If you ever go, bring everything you might need on a regular camping trip--minus the tent of course.  I walked around the outer edge and took in the views in every direction and then descended to go back to the true summit to enjoy the views as I ate my meager lunch among the ladybugs.

Ladybugs on the summit

After enjoying my lunch and the company of the ladybugs I decided to head back.  The descent on the snow was quick and fun.  The descent on the trail was quick and before I knew it I was back to my bike.  At this point I was 2/3 of the way through the 24-mile day.  All I had remaining was the 8-mile bike ride out.  It turns out it was much easier than I had anticipated.  I had to pedal more than I would have liked, but it was a lot more of a descent than I thought it was going to be and I was able to coast a fair amount.  I made it back to the car at about 6:30 p.m.  It would have all gone faster if I hadn't cut out so many branches, but I'm glad I did.

In all, Mineral Peak was a great adventure.

Elevation gain:  3850'     Total gain:  58,015'