

Hike T8 and Hayden Mountain South via Richmond Pass Trail Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Starting up the Richmond Trail.

The trail is really well-maintained and quite steep.

View back shortly after starting, already I had some nice views.

Another shot back as I gain significant elevation.

The Richmond Trail leaves the trees and enters pretty meadows along the slopes.

Continuing up the slopes.

One of a few signs pointing the way.

More switchbacks up the beautiful grassy slope.


A trail junction. Left leads up to Richmond Pass.

View back to the trail junction. You can see the sign on the bottom right.

Just past the trail junction, a short and steep section leads to the grassy tundra on the right. T8 is visible top left. Richmond Pass top right.

Last view back before the lovely views down toward the Million Dollar Highway fade away.

Close-up toward Hayden Mountain South.

The Richmond Trail becomes a bit grassy and is easy to follow mostly due to ample cairns.

View back along the tundra slope just before reaching Richmond Pass.

Richmond Pass, view northeast. T8 is first on my list. It will be tempting to ascend the slope on the left, but that will ultimately lead to some scary ridge scrambling to reach T8. Instead follow the much more obvious trail ahead that will soon be guided by cairns.

Continuing along a cairned route, and T8 comes into view (top center). The route is mostly grassy with some light talus-hopping. I'm headed for the old mining road in the center of this photo.

View back toward Richmond Pass (far right). Hayden Mountain South visible top left.

The social trail leads to an old mining road, visible on the left.

On the old mining road, view toward Hayden Mountain South (top left). Richmond Pass is on the right obscured by a ridge. I came to this road via the lighter-colored terrain on the right in this photo.

The road curved away, so I started up this grassy slope toward the rock outcrop ahead.

View back as I ascend. Richmond Pass right of center.

Approaching the rock outcrop. Class 2 talus. Keep left of the outcrop and wrap around it on Class 2.

View back down the talus toward the road I came up from. You can see Teakettle Mountain in the distance in the Sneffels peak group.

Just past the rock outcrop, mostly tundra walking leads to T8. I took the slope on the left, then wandered along the ridge to the high point, which is on the top right.

Approaching some minor Class 2.

Close-up back at the route. The rock outcrop I avoided is left of center. The scary ridgeline that I first attempted and don't recommend is on the far right. Richmond Pass is visible center. Hayden Mountain South top left.

Wide shot looking back as I ascend to T8.

Easy hiking to T8 once past the short Class 2 section.

T8 summit, view southwest along the ridge.

T8 summit view north.

Back at Richmond Pass, now heading north to Hayden Mountain South.

View back toward Richmond Pass (left) and T8 (top right). You can trace the entire route I took to T8 from here, including the little itty rock outcrop visible just left of the peak.

Social trail up to Hayden Mountain South.

The trail is mostly on the left side of the ridge crest.

Hayden Mountain South ahead, lots of hoodoos avoided by following the trail, which keeps left for the most part.

Avoiding hoodoos. There are a couple of steep sections along the trail that might require a deep breath.

View back from amongst the hoodoos.

Last bit along the grassy ridgeline before reaching the scree.

View back, T8 top right.

The trail continues through the scree.

View back as I ascend the steep scree trail.

It's a straightforward hike to the summit from here.

Another shot back just below the summit.

Hayden Mountain South summit, view northwest toward the Sneffels group.

Hayden Mountain South summit, view northeast toward Hayden Mountain North. I contemplated heading to that peak, but realized the ridge looked pretty intense and decided to call it a day.

On the way back, I got a shot of T8 (far top left) and Hayden Mountain South (top right). Richmond Pass center.
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