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, PT13552A, PT13214, Triangle, PT13173, PT13559
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
PT13552A 14ers.com Page
PT13214 14ers.com Page
Triangle 14ers.com Page
PT13173 14ers.com Page
PT13559 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
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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
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Alex and I skied the Landry Line in April of this year. So a summit selfie with Pyramid was definitely in order
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Getting started on what would be a long day on the ridge
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There was plenty of scrambling on loose and exposed terrain
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![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
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Easterly views of Pyramid
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Looking back at a section of ridge we bypassed
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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
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Alex.N close to Keefe's summit
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Next stop Hilliard (top right)
![Conundrum creek 21]()
![Conundrum creek 22]()
Alex.N takes the opportunity to fill up below Hilliard
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These views did not get old
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Topping out on Hilliard
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The Castle Group looming large
![Conundrum creek 26]()
Looking NW across the valley to what would be our last peak of the day PT13559 (center)
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Next stop PT13552A
![Conundrum creek 28]()
The sections to the north and south of PT 13552A proved to be the toughest of the day
![Conundrum creek 29]()
Looking back to a down climb
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This section was especially loose and exposed
![Conundrum creek 31]()
Looking for routes on the north side of PT13552A
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Alex.N explores route options on loose and exposed terrain
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Down climbing the north side of PT13552A
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Looking east to the Castle Group
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En-route from PT13552A to PT13214
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A view across the valley to what would be our final two peaks of the day. PT13559(L) and PT13173(R)
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Looking back to PT13552A and our ridge
![Conundrum creek 38]()
Alex.H down climbs PT13214
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A view ahead to Triangle Peak. We stayed the ridge
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This cool slabby rock was fun to climb
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Alex.N ascends Triangle
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Northwest views from Triangle
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Descending Triangle our last two peaks looked big. PT13173 bottom right in the shade.. PT13559 steep and center. Castle and it's south ridge looking rather badass
![Conundrum creek 44]()
We contoured around to the SW side of PT13173 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 PT13173's summit
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Descending PT13173's east ridge - The views of Castle and company were off the hook. Our last peak PT13559 towers on the right
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Southerly views of Teocalli
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This little problem between us and PT13559 looked stiffer than it climbed
![Conundrum creek 49]()
Castle and it's amazing south ridge
![Conundrum creek 50]()
Teocalli views
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Looking east to Pearl, Star and Italian
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PT13559 summit selfie with Castle behind.
![Conundrum creek 53]()
Descending PT13559's north ridge was loose and route findy followed by a tedious descent to the willows
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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]()
PT13559 burns orange as we make our way to the hot springs
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After a nice long soak we dried off and hiked the remaining 3+ miles back to camp
