MT. RHODA
(13,402’)MOUNTAINEER PEAK
(13,434’)August 23, 2018
By Tim Briese
7.5 miles, 3200’ elevation gain, 7:20 roundtrip time
Brian and I left Ridgway at dawn and drove to Silverton and proceeded up the Cunningham Gulch Road to the Highland Mary Lakes Trailhead, which lies at about 10,800’. 4WD is advisable for the last half mile or so of this drive. At 730 we embarked up the Highland Mary Lakes Trail. Shortly after leaving we reached an impressive granite gorge with Cunningham Creek roaring through it. The trail up to the lakes is rocky but quite scenic, with numerous waterfalls, cliffs, and other alpine splendor.
cunningham gulch
looking back down the valley
We left the trail at about 12,100 feet shortly before reaching the first lake and headed steeply uphill to the right to gain a broad grassy and somewhat rocky ridge to the west.
looking back down at some of the highland mary lakes shortly after we left the trail
more and more lakes appeared as we climbed higher
We might have been better off to stay closer to a drainage south of the ridge because we ended up easing down into it anyway after going over some ridge bumps for a ways. At any rate, Mt. Rhoda was up in the clouds at this point which made routefinding a little interesting but the clouds lifted as we approached the peak, which was very timely.
mostly easy terrain up to mt. rhoda, at the upper right center
We picked a line up the peak's southeast slopes and marched up steep grass all the way to the top.
the slope up to the summit
We arrived on top at 1040. A cliff band guards the west and north sides of the summit, not an issue for climbing but just more of a scenic curiosity. It was good to be on a San Juan peak again, and to enjoy the wonderful views.
mountaineer peak, at the upper right
highland mary lakes
a view to the south. there was a low cloud ceiling this morning.
After 20 minutes we left the top and headed down an easy slope to the northwest to the 13,100’ Rhoda/Mountaineer saddle and hiked up a grassy slope to the summit of Mountaineer.
the saddle and mountaineer peak above
We arrived on top at 1130, thirty minutes after we left Rhoda. We rested on this nice peak for half an hour enjoying the surrounding views once again.
me on the summit of mountaineer peak
looking back at rhoda, with its interesting summit cliff band
the needle mountains looming in the distance to the south
We saw a group of hikers over on the ridge toward Kendall Peak and thought they might be coming over to our peak but they did not. We studied our planned descent route through Spencer Basin that would reduce our return mileage and eliminate the need to go back over Rhoda.
spencer basin. we contoured around the right side of the basin, aiming for the saddle in the center of the photo.
At noon we left the top and hiked back down to the Rhoda/Mountaineer saddle.
approaching the saddle, with rhoda above
there's no mistaking the dramatic profile of pigeon peak, at the right
From the saddle we headed east down into Spencer Basin, contouring around the south side of the basin staying as high as we could to avoid having to regain much elevation, on a sketchy trail at times, aiming for a saddle to the west of Sugarloaf.
we contoured across this terrain at the right, and then the center
looking back up at mountaineer peak
Once we crossed the saddle we made a steep descent on rough and loose terrain for a ways and descended into the basin on the other side, aiming to rejoin this morning’s trail below.
from the saddle looking down into the basin where we would catch the trail, at left center
who would know that we were about to be pounded by a thunderstorm?
While thrashing through some willows shortly before we got back to the trail a surprise thunderstorm came out of nowhere and pounded us with graupel and wind for a little while. Soon the sun came back out though and we hiked back down the scenic trail, arriving at the trailhead at 250. I thought the scenery was outstanding on this climb and thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.
