July 25, 2023

By Tim Briese

Unnamed 10108: 0.4 miles, 100’ elevation gain, 0:25 roundtrip time

From Kremmling Brian and I drove north on US 40 and then west on CO 134. Just before reaching Gore Pass we headed north on excellent FR 185 and FR 243 and parked a short distance from the peak. It was nice that the jaunt to the summit was only about 300 yards because there was a lot of deadfall.

me on the summit of un 10108, photo by brian schultz

Unnamed 9420: 1.4 miles, 300’ elevation gain, 1:00 roundtrip time

We continued west on CO 134 a few miles and turned north and drove FR 275 about a mile to a point where a powerline crossed the road. We parked here and looked for an old overgrown road to the north of FR 275 that would take us up toward UN 9420. The correct track is behind a green gate which we did not find at first.

the old road is behind this gate

After a short bushwhack we got on the old road and followed it up toward the summit. When the road turned away we made a short bushwhack climb through some deadfall up to the top.

me on the summit of un 9420, photo by brian schultz

Lone Spring Butte: 0.9 miles, 300’ elevation gain, 0:55 roundtrip time

We continued west to the town of Toponas and turned north onto FR 285. We weren’t sure what to make of a closed gate blocking the road and a private property sign so I called a forest ranger in Yampa and was assured it was okay to travel on the road but to just be sure to close the gate for livestock. The nice road climbed for several miles into the national forest and we turned left onto FR 284 and parked after a short distance below the northeast slopes of Lone Spring Butte. Some fellows camping at a scenic spot nearby told us that there was a trail to the top but that it was steep. We found the trail and soon discovered that their description proved to be true.

hiking up the steep trail, photo by brian schultz

In short order we reached the top and thrashed about in the deadfall for a while searching for the highest point.

the highest point is somewhere in there

a scenic view on the way down

We returned to our vehicles and I decided to call it a day and head for home while Brian continued on to more peaks that afternoon. I was tired out but pleased that things had gone well climbing several peaks over the past couple of days following my open heart surgery in early May.