MT. SILVERHEELS
13,822 ft.
September 17, 1998
By Tim Briese
Mt. Silverheels dominates the mountainous skyline north of Fairplay. Often while driving across South Park my attention has been drawn to its isolated majesty. From this southern perspective its height and breadth make it appear even more impressive than the Kite Lake 14ers a few miles away. For this reason it was a mountain I wanted to go climb.
On a fine morning in mid September I drove into the mountains with my labs Sadie and Allie. Using Garrett and Martin’s 13er book for a guide, I drove up Highway 9 north of Alma and parked along the east side of the highway near a drainage about two miles south of Hoosier Pass. From this spot at 10,920 feet I bushwhacked up a steep hill to the east through an area of talus and timber and went past an old mine. At about 11,600 feet the angle relented and the trees thinned out as I strolled up onto the gentle grassy slopes of Beaver Ridge. I followed an old road northward a short distance along the ridge to a saddle at 11,940 feet, then left the road and headed downhill to the east, walked under a powerline, and dropped 200 vertical feet into a valley to Beaver Creek. I crossed the little creek and headed uphill on Silverheels’ broad west slopes. I made good time on these slopes in spite of the fact that they were rather steep. I tried to stay on grass and avoid areas of loose dirt and scree, and soon skirted around rocky Point 12,984. Above this point the grades became easier the rest of the way to the summit. A little bit of snow lay on the upper slopes from a recent snowstorm but there was not enough to impact the climb.
I arrived on the gentle summit about 11 a.m. This was one of the easiest climbs I had done all year, for it took only two hours to reach the summit from the trailhead, and merely 70 minutes to ascend from Beaver Creek. It was sunny and calm and the temperature was a pleasant 42 degrees.
It was wonderful to sit in quiet solitude on the summit and gaze about at the views. This mountaintop experience led me into a prayerful and reflective mood. I pondered the direction of my life and how I might live it most fully. I looked across the vast expanse of terrain to the east toward Pikes Peak and home and thought about my daughter at school that morning and the concerns she faced. The cares of life are crystallized into a more clear perspective when one stands atop a mountain, close to the Creator and His creation.
As I read through the summit register I realized that others had felt moved by the experience of being here, too. One man exclaimed, “Love life, love the world!” in the log. A woman wrote that she felt inspired by this place to think about her father, who apparently walked on the earth no more.
I looked off to the west at Mt. Bross and studied a route up its east slopes that I wanted to try sometime. A sharp, pointed peak to the northwest past Quandary Peak caught my eye. My map told me that it was Pacific Peak, and I filed it away on my mental list of future challenges to look into.
After 45 minutes on the summit I began my descent. Going down was fast and easy, and I was soon back down at Beaver Creek. I stopped to sit by the stream in the pleasant sunshine for a while and listen to the water merrily gurgling through the rocks. I thoroughly enjoy the sound of mountain streams. It is such a peaceful and relaxing sound that soothes the mind and soul. I have many pleasant memories of camping or hiking by streams and listening to their watery tunes.
After recharging my spirits by the creek for a while I hiked back up over Beaver Ridge and made a rapid descent back down to my truck. The entire climb took only about four and a half hours. Sadie had trouble jumping back into my truck, since age and arthritis were beginning to slow her down. She and I had done many hikes and climbs together over the years, and as it turned out, this was the last major climb she was able to accompany me on. Every day is a gift to be appreciated. Someday I, too, will make my last climb. Each one I have made is a precious and unforgettable experience.
