Mt Eolus & Sunlight Pk in Chicago Basin, 9/18-20/12

Monday afternoon - driving south now from Ouray on the San Juan Skyway (Hwy 550). .. Colorado IS colorful!

Near Red Mtn Pass.

[To the right of the prior shot.]

The good news - no snow yet on the high San Juan peaks in this area. :) [Around noon, it was snowing as I crossed over Monarch Pass!]

Past Silverton, near Molas Pass. .. Can anyone name these peaks?

OK, Tuesday morning at the Durango station.

The train ride costs $88 RT, plus $10 for having to put your backpack in the storage car, plus $7/day for car parking. Here are the two rangers in our group of six that will be getting off at Needleton - the young guy with the axe being a volunteer ranger for the summer.

Our train has 15 passenger cars (coachs plus open gondolas) - mostly filled with seniors. The "narrow gauge" rails are 3 ft wide vs the standard gauge width of 4 ft - 8.5 inches.

The gondolas offer a more accessible view, but you're at some modest risk for getting covered with soot - and it's more smokey than in a coach car. ... They also have concession cars to buy food & drinks.

We'll get off at Needleton - the gateway to Chicago Basin - about 2/3 the way up the 45-mile journey to Silverton. .. [Any image can be enlarged by moving your mouse over it; from the menu that appears on right, select the size; when done, click Close at top right.]

Note: three daily trains heading to Silverton - but only the second one (9:15) will stop at Needleton going and coming. More train info here: http://www.durangotrain.com/ .. [After viewing a link, use your back arrow to return to album.]

The train pretty closely follows the Animas River. .. The rainbow is thanks to the water being ejected by the engine here. [Note: I have far fewer photos than normal, as my camera battery was reading low already.]

OK, 12:15 at the Needleton stop (about a half-hour late) - time for the backpackers to unload. .. Besides the two rangers, there are four mountaineers (including me), each solo. .. Trailhead elevation here is 8212 ft. [The ranger said he's seen as many as 85 backpackers unload, with 30-40 being typical in summer.]

The fine trail to Chicago Basin crosses the Animas River on a big bridge just below the train stop, then heads east up Needle Creek for about 6.5 miles. .. About an hour in here, as I cross the New York Creek bridge, just above Needle Crk.

Did I mention that the forecast for the whole week was 0% chance of rain!

I believe that Windom Pk is in the center of these peaks (ramp on left to rounded top). Eolus and Sunlight will not be seen until one arrives at Twin Lakes.

I made it to my camp in upper Chicago Basin (11,200'), close to the Twin Lakes junction sign, by 4:00.

Newcomers Andrew and Isaac setting up near me (with Jeff distantly behind Andrew). .. The three are Forest Service employees working in hydrology studies - and they're getting paid to climb Mt Eolus - very cool. .. They managed to backpack all the way in without benefit of the train!

Bill Middlebrook's 14ers site (map above) is a tremendous resource, including lots of route photos and trip reports: http://www.14ers.com/ ... Of course, Gerry Roach's "Colorado Fourteeners" (3rd ed) is also a big help.

Wed morning: I (and my three young neighbors) were off at 6:20 with headlamps. ... On the way to Twin Lakes, sunlight now hitting Mt Eolus (obscuring the summit).

This shot of me at the lower Twin Lakes was graciously taken and provided by Isaac with his camera. Head left for Mt Eolus; right for Sunlight and/or Windom Pks.

Heading left: well past the lake now, Andrew, Isaac and Jeff above me here enroute to Eolus.

All right, a little past 9 and just beyond the Eolus/N. Eolus saddle. .. The gnarly Catwalk beckons in foreground, followed by the ascent of the broad face to the summit. ...[This is the NE Ridge route.] Be sure to check out Bill Middlebrook's amazing site for details on the local peaks: http://www.14ers.com/routelist.php?peak=Mt.+Eolus%2C+Windom+Peak%2C+and+Sunlight+Peak .. [You need to copy/paste the entire long link.]