Conundrum Creek Peaks
Partner: Alex Neal
Trailhead: Conundrum Creek
Date: 09/18/2022
Approach to Camp: 5.5m - 1500ft - 2hrs
Date: 09/19/2022
Summits: Hunter, Keefe, Hilliard, PT13537, PT13216, Triangle, PT13162, PT13550
15.9m - 8000ft - 15hrs (includes summit time and a soak in the pyoool)
Date: 09/20/2022
Exit: 5.5m - 175ft - 1hr 40min
An amazing day filled with incredible views, class 3 - 4 scrambling, loose route findy terrain, a relaxing soak and an exhausting hike back to camp.
Thanks to Ben Conners for the beta on this route
Hunter 14ers.com Page
Keefe 14ers.com Page
Hilliard 14ers.com Page
PT13537 14ers.com Page
PT13216 14ers.com Page
Triangle 14ers.com Page
PT13162 14ers.com Page
PT13550 14ers.com Page
![Conundrum creek 01]()
15.9m - 8000ft - 15hrs
![Conundrum creek 02]()
The 5.5m 1500ft approach to camp at the base of Hunter Peak's east ridge was gentle
![Conundrum creek 02c]()
![Conundrum creek 03]()
Alex.N on Hunter's east ridge
![Conundrum creek 05]()
From camp the hike to Hunter's summit was over 3000ft
![Conundrum creek 06]()
A great view of Pyramid and the Landry Line from Hunter's summit. Capitol off in the distance
![Conundrum creek 07]()
A NW view to Precarious and Golden Tops
![Conundrum creek 08]()
Alex and I skied the Landry Line in April of this year. So a summit selfie with Pyramid was definitely in order
![Conundrum creek 09]()
Getting started on what would be a long day on the ridge
![Conundrum creek 10]()
There was plenty of scrambling on loose and exposed terrain
![Conundrum creek 11]()
![Conundrum creek 12]()
![Conundrum creek 13]()
We did our best to stay on the ridge however we needed to drop around towers and ridge obstacles now and again
![Conundrum creek 14]()
Easterly views of Pyramid
![Conundrum creek 15]()
Looking back at a section of ridge we bypassed
![Conundrum creek 16]()
Keefe... the second peak of the day... is close to two miles from Hunter
![Conundrum creek 17]()
![Conundrum creek 18]()
Almost to Keefe - A view back to Hunter
![Conundrum creek 19]()
Alex.N close to Keefe's summit
![Conundrum creek 20]()
Next stop Hilliard (top right)
![Conundrum creek 21]()
![Conundrum creek 22]()
Alex.N takes the opportunity to fill up below Hilliard
![Conundrum creek 23]()
These views did not get old
![Conundrum creek 24]()
Topping out on Hilliard
![Conundrum creek 25]()
The Castle Group looming large
![Conundrum creek 26]()
Looking NW across the valley to what would be our last peak of the day PT13550 (center)
![Conundrum creek 27]()
Next stop PT13537
![Conundrum creek 28]()
The sections to the north and south of PT 13537 proved to be the toughest of the day
![Conundrum creek 29]()
Looking back to a down climb
![Conundrum creek 30]()
This section was especially loose and exposed
![Conundrum creek 31]()
Looking for routes on the north side of PT13537
![Conundrum creek 32]()
Alex.N explores route options on loose and exposed terrain
![Conundrum creek 33]()
Down climbing the north side of PT13537
![Conundrum creek 34]()
Looking east to the Castle Group
![Conundrum creek 35]()
En-route from PT13537 to PT13216
![Conundrum creek 36]()
A view across the valley to what would be our final two peaks of the day. PT13550(L) and PT13162(R)
![Conundrum creek 37]()
Looking back to PT13537 and our ridge
![Conundrum creek 38]()
Alex.H down climbs PT13216
![Conundrum creek 39]()
A view ahead to Triangle Peak. We stayed the ridge
![Conundrum creek 40]()
This cool slabby rock was fun to climb
![Conundrum creek 41]()
Alex.N ascends Triangle
![Conundrum creek 42]()
Northwest views from Triangle
![Conundrum creek 43]()
Descending Triangle our last two peaks looked big. PT13162 bottom right in the shade.. PT13550 steep and center. Castle and it's south ridge looking rather badass
![Conundrum creek 44]()
We contoured around to the SW side of PT13162 and climbed this gully (better than it looks) to some class 4 which lead to the summit
![Conundrum creek 45]()
Looking west to Triangle from PT13162's summit
![Conundrum creek 46]()
Descending PT13162's east ridge - The views of Castle and company were off the hook. Our last peak PT13550 towers on the right
![Conundrum creek 47]()
Southerly views of Teocalli
![Conundrum creek 48]()
This little problem between us and PT13550 looked stiffer than it climbed
![Conundrum creek 49]()
Castle and it's amazing south ridge
![Conundrum creek 50]()
Teocalli views
![Conundrum creek 51]()
Looking east to Pearl, Star and Italian
![Conundrum creek 52]()
PT13550 summit selfie with Castle behind.
![Conundrum creek 53]()
Descending PT13550's north ridge was loose and route findy followed by a tedious descent to the willows
![Conundrum creek 54]()
We were able to navigate around most of the willows to the hot springs. The sun has set behind our ridge to the west.
![Conundrum creek 55]()
PT13550 burns orange as we make our way to the hot springs
![Conundrum creek 56]()
After a nice long soak we dried off and hiked the remaining 3+ miles back to camp
