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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: June 2,
2007
- Miles Hiked: 5.8
- Elevation Gain: 2,540'
- Hiking Partner(s): Kevin Baker,
Jeff Shafer
- Description:
- Dave Cooper put an article in the Denver Post a couple of weeks ago
about the Dragon's Tail Couloir on Flattop Mountain, and a couple of
trip reports were posted recently. As a result, Kevin, Jeff, and I
decided to check it out. Jeff and I left Highlands Ranch at 2:30
am and met Kevin at the Bear Lake parking lot in Rocky Mountain National
Park at 4:30 am. We were hiking shortly after on a well maintained
park trail that takes you past Nymph and Dream Lakes to Emerald Lake.
This is probably the most popular trail in the entire park because of
its ease and scenery. We skirted Emerald Lake on the right side to
reach the apron of Dragon's Tail which basically terminates in the lake.
- Once we reached the snow at the northwest corner of Emerald Lake, we
put on our crampons and harnesses. We weren't sure what the rock
step in the left branch was going to be like, so we decided to play it
safe and bring some protection. The initial part of the climb is
on the mellow apron and we worked our way around some rocks and trees to
the entrance of the couloir. The snow conditions were acceptable.
It was softer than I would have liked, but not too soft to cause
post-holing or balling in your crampons. There was a large boulder
at the base of Dragon's Tail Couloir that we took a short break on
before the snow got a bit steeper. We took turns kicking steps and
zig-zagging up the snow.
- We reached the split of the couloir where there was a nice rock
bench to take a break on at climber's left. We ate and drank
before embarking on the most difficult part of the climb. I think
the left branch is the standard finish with the right branch generally
guarded by a large cornice. We went left and continued our way up
as the snow grade increased. We all thought the rock step was
class 4, but a bit awkward in crampons. Once I climbed it, I set
up a quick anchor and threw our half rope down for Kevin and Jeff to
come up on. Since we carried the gear, we figured we might as well
use it. After the rock step, there was a small section of
scrambling before the final snow pitch which was only about 200 feet in
length.
- We topped out and made the slog across the top of Flattop Mountain
to it's true summit. At this point, peakbagger Kevin continued on
for some more peaks (ranked/unranked/13er/???) and Jeff and I returned
to Bear Lake. It was a fun climb that I had been wanting to do for
a couple of years. You can't beat the easy approach or scenery.
- Maps:
-
Click here to view a
2D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Photographs:
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www.
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