Peak Climbed: UN 13,034

Peak Height: 13,034'

Route: South Ridge

Difficulty: Class 2

Location: San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Trailhead: 504/503 Junction

Mileage & Gain: 10.6 mi & 3,600 ft RT

Date Climbed: February 2, 2019

This peak was an unexpectedly sweet little winter romp. The somewhat unconventional route I conjured up takes advantage of the high winter trailhead in West Willow Creek and requires losing only 450 feet in accessing the Rat Creek drainage. We took a fairly safe (though laborious) route through tree covered terrain up and over the ridge between the two, but it might not be a great option in sketchy conditions as there were a couple of short, steep sections.

The south ridge of UN 13,034 is expansive and mostly very gentle, though there is one problematic area around 12,400 feet. We traversed to the far west side of the ridge here to avoid steep, wind loaded slopes on its nose and found an easy, dry, break through the cliffs, a passage heavily used by local game.