Anthracite Range High Point in Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Hike Anthracite Range High Point Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Class 2 8.8 miles 4400 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Sep 14, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The high-prominence Colorado 12er Anthracite Range High Point was my first objective in Crested Butte, mostly because it was also high on Whiley's to-do list and I was excited to play in the mountains together. It ended up being a really nice ridgeline hike with a long, easy bushwhack to get back. We parked at a trailhead just south of Kebler Pass, accessible by any vehicle. Though it may seem there are roads that can get you closer, there's lots of private property that we did our best to avoid.

We walked south along the dirt road and left it when we located a spot that seemed mostly clear of brush and trees. Giggling about how dumb we are for bushwhacking in Colorado when there's a million other cool peaks to hike, we made quick progress along the progressively steepening slope, hoping to get above treeline quickly. Really there's no one "best" way up to gain the ridge above, but we liked what we did. It had minimal brush and was just a forested slog with occasional steep terrain. The steepest spot was probably Class 2 due to having to use our hands to stabilize on the steep slope.

Once on the ridgeline, we proceeded up to Peak 11555, just a hump along the way. The traverse continued quite pleasantly with good views until we reached Ohio Peak, an unranked little bump. The section between Ohio Peak and Peak 12290 was the crux of the route. We stuck to the steep tundra ridge crest until we reached a cliff. We headed right along the rim until a Class 2/2+ ramp brought us down to below the cliff. We stuck to the base of a gendarme-of-sorts and then split up to try to find the best way back up to the ridgeline. Whiley ascended a Class 3 loose gully on the opposite side of the gendarme, while I wrapped around to the north face and scrambled up a few hundred feet of Class 2/2+. It's not hard, but it does feel pretty exposed since the slope drops away below. It was hand-over-foot ascending, quite fun. We agreed my route was less sketchy. Now on the summit of Peak 12290, we scoped the remainder of the ridgeline to the high point. Some light Class 2, but mostly just tundra or easy talus led to the summit of the Anthracite Range High Point.

Initially we were tempted before doing the route to just backtrack along the ridgeline rather than do our return route on the north side of the range, but now that we were on the summit, Whiley and I both decided we would prefer to attempt the bushwhack instead of redo all that work in reverse. So, we decended the eastern tundra slope from Anthracite's summit and entered treeline. I recommend just sticking to grasses the whole time. We passed over a couple of gullies requiring Class 2 to get in and out of them, and wrapped around the north ridge of Peak 12290. Animal trails and easy woods walking with super minor 'shwacking led us below the peaks and then down back to the road. There's a ton of options and I can't possibly describe our route through the forest, but my advice would be to try staying as high as you can while keeping to the woods. We constantly found ourselves descending only to have to re-ascend since there is a section on the north side of Peak 11555 that requires ascending to reach. From this point, it was all downhill on easy forest terrain, back to the road we left earlier. We both enjoyed the hike, though the bushwhacking did get a bit old toward the end.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 11555
11555 ft
315 rise
2
Ohio Peak
12271 ft
271 rise
3
Peak 12290
12290 ft
450 rise
4
Anthracite Range High Point
12385 ft
2105 rise

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After a short walk along a dirt road, we decided to start the bushwhack here. It seemed mostly clear and we could see the ridgeline above.
After a short walk along a dirt road, we decided to start the bushwhack here. It seemed mostly clear and we could see the ridgeline above.
Mostly easy forest walking.
Mostly easy forest walking.
View back down one of the steeper sections along our ascent through the forest.
View back down one of the steeper sections along our ascent through the forest.
We made it to the ridge crest. View back down. We came up from the left in this photo.
We made it to the ridge crest. View back down. We came up from the left in this photo.
The route to come! Peak 11555 visible on the right, just a little hump.
The route to come! Peak 11555 visible on the right, just a little hump.
Peak 11555, view back.
Peak 11555, view back.
A very well-worn animal trail leads along the ridge.
A very well-worn animal trail leads along the ridge.
View back.
View back.
Ascending to Ohio Peak.
Ascending to Ohio Peak.
View back again.
View back again.
Ohio Peak obscured by trees, but you can see Peak 12290 on the right.
Ohio Peak obscured by trees, but you can see Peak 12290 on the right.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Approaching Ohio Peak.
Approaching Ohio Peak.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Ohio Peak ahead. Peak 12290 visible on the right.
Ohio Peak ahead. Peak 12290 visible on the right.
Ohio Peak, view along the ridge to Peak 12290. We headed down the crest.
Ohio Peak, view along the ridge to Peak 12290. We headed down the crest.
Close-up toward West Elk Peak and "The Castles".
Close-up toward West Elk Peak and "The Castles".
View back up toward our descent from Ohio Peak, some light Class 2.
View back up toward our descent from Ohio Peak, some light Class 2.
The crux of the hike. The ridge led to a cliff. To get down the cliff, we descended slowly along the rim and located a ramp. Note the gendarme. Our route would lead around the right side of it. Whiley went up a slope in the center of this photo (Class 3), but I wrapped all the way to the right in this photo and ascended the steep (Class 2/2+) slope on the right in this photo.
The crux of the hike. The ridge led to a cliff. To get down the cliff, we descended slowly along the rim and located a ramp. Note the gendarme. Our route would lead around the right side of it. Whiley went up a slope in the center of this photo (Class 3), but I wrapped all the way to the right in this photo and ascended the steep (Class 2/2+) slope on the right in this photo.
Our descent along the rim. the descent ramp visible center. Whiley on the left after getting down.
Our descent along the rim. the descent ramp visible center. Whiley on the left after getting down.
Traversing the base of the gendarme.
Traversing the base of the gendarme.
View back. You can see the ramp we came down in the center, and of course the gendarme we avoided. Whiley is currently ascending somewhere out of frame on the right in this photo. I wrapped around to the north side.
View back. You can see the ramp we came down in the center, and of course the gendarme we avoided. Whiley is currently ascending somewhere out of frame on the right in this photo. I wrapped around to the north side.
View down my ascent choice. It was definitely steep, and felt scary because the slope drops off below. However, the scrambling was Class 2/2+. Quite fun.
View down my ascent choice. It was definitely steep, and felt scary because the slope drops off below. However, the scrambling was Class 2/2+. Quite fun.
We made it to the ridge. This is a view back toward Ohio Peak.
We made it to the ridge. This is a view back toward Ohio Peak.
Continuing to Peak 12290's summit.
Continuing to Peak 12290's summit.
Whiley on the similar-height second summit of Peak 12290. And yay, Anthracite Range High Point is visible in the center.
Whiley on the similar-height second summit of Peak 12290. And yay, Anthracite Range High Point is visible in the center.
Descending from Peak 12290. The ridgeline was tundra and easy talus with a couple of short Class 2 sections. Anthracite Range HP visible top right.
Descending from Peak 12290. The ridgeline was tundra and easy talus with a couple of short Class 2 sections. Anthracite Range HP visible top right.
View back toward Peak 12290.
View back toward Peak 12290.
Ascending light Class 2 to the summit.
Ascending light Class 2 to the summit.
Higher up on the way to Anthracite Range HP, view back toward Peak 12290.
Higher up on the way to Anthracite Range HP, view back toward Peak 12290.
View back at our progress.
View back at our progress.
Anthracite Range HP ahead.
Anthracite Range HP ahead.
Summit, view toward the Beckwith peaks and Mount Gunnison.
Summit, view toward the Beckwith peaks and Mount Gunnison.
We backtracked a bit along the ridgeline. View toward Peak 12290 (top right). We descended the talus ahead down to the forest below. Rather than go back along the ridge crest, we decided to wrap around the north side of the range through the forest.
We backtracked a bit along the ridgeline. View toward Peak 12290 (top right). We descended the talus ahead down to the forest below. Rather than go back along the ridge crest, we decided to wrap around the north side of the range through the forest.
Heading down the tundra and into the trees.
Heading down the tundra and into the trees.
Entering treeline.
Entering treeline.
View back toward Anthracite Range High Point.
View back toward Anthracite Range High Point.
Animal trails helped occasionally, but for the most part it was forest walking or easy bushwhacking.
Animal trails helped occasionally, but for the most part it was forest walking or easy bushwhacking.
Most of the remainder of the hike looked a lot like this.
Most of the remainder of the hike looked a lot like this.
And like this. It was a few miles of forest walking, but photos aren't particularly interesting.
And like this. It was a few miles of forest walking, but photos aren't particularly interesting.
At a point during our way back, we reached a high point where this old road was hiding. We didn't stay on the road because it would enter private property. This is a view toward the Anthracite Range.
At a point during our way back, we reached a high point where this old road was hiding. We didn't stay on the road because it would enter private property. This is a view toward the Anthracite Range.
Easy descent back down to the trailhead.
Easy descent back down to the trailhead.

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