Mt. Solitude
Skier's Point, Climber's Point, Solitude & Vista
Date: 7/12/2020
Partner: Kristi Henes
Trailhead: Pitkin TH
Summits: Skier's PT, Climber's PT, Mt. Solitude, Vista Peak
Distance: 13m
Elevation Gain: 5300ft
Difficlutly: Class 2+ (with some easy 3 if you want it)
Duration: 8.5hrs
GPX
Mount Solitude 14ers.com Page
Climber's Point 14ers.com Page
From the TH we cruised in 3.6 miles before leaving the trail and crossing the creek. We chose to climb on loose rock beside a steep creek instead of the thick bushwhack up the first pitch. After that, the hike up the basin was enjoyable with grassy sections and stable talus.
Although it is not a 13er, we summitted Skier's Point first. How do you not summit a peak named Skier's Point!
From Skier's we traversed the ridge north to Climber's Point, then Mt. Solitude, then Vista Peak. The ridge goes at 2+ unless you want some easy class 3 scrambling (which we did).
From Vista we descended south and found a grassy gully that took us to the lower basin.
This was a great route with interesting terrain and amazing views. Go get it!
13m - 5300ft - 8.5hrs
East Partner lights up above the waterfall. We hiked 3.6 miles on the trail before turning off and crossing the creek.
We chose the steep and loose climb on the right side of this creek instead of a thick bushwhack
Alex in the basin below Skier's & Climber's Point
We hiked soft grass and stable talus to Skier's Point
Kristi in the basin. Outpost, East Partner and West Partner behind
Kristi hiking up Skier's Point west ridge
Kristi summits Skier's Point
Skiers Point on Skier's Point
Grays and Torreys.... the Forks are in!
Heading toward Climber's Point
Kristi on Climber's Point with Skier's Point behind
There is scrambling if you want it!
Climbers Point on Climber's Point
Holy Cross
Heading to Solitude (the one with all of the snow)
This guy startled us
Admiring Solitude
Scrambling off of Climber's Point
Ascending Solitude with Climber's Point behind
Kristi on Solitude's summit. East Thorn way off in the distance
Descending Solitude and heading to Vista
Vista's impressive south face
Alex on the Solitude - Vista saddle
Looking East to Keller Mountain and... Boulder Lake?
Alex on the final approach to Vista
Looking back across our ridge run... Skier's Point, Climber's Point and Solitude
East Partner (front & center) - West Partner to it's left
Peak X & Peak Z from Vista
After descending from Vista, we hiked south on talus until we found a grassy gully to descend. Don't settle for anything worse than this.
An amazing family of 8 bighorns
We thought they were friends...
Until they started knocking microwaves down on Kristi. If you look closely you can see them laughing above.
Let'er rip!
Glissading fun and incoming weather. We caught a few sprinkles but nothing more
Snow is fun
We chose the bushwhack route at the bottom of the basin
This creeky section was steep and slick
Cruisin back to the truck through aspens and wildflowers