Clinton Loop
Date: 9/23/2023
Partner: Solo, Kristi Henes
Trailhead: Montgomery Reservoir
Summits:
* Clinton
* McNamee
* Traver
Difficulty: Class 2
Distance: 10.5m
Elevation Gain: 4600ft
Duration: 5hrs
Includes 5 mile (RT) bike ride on the road
GPX
I have hiked Clinton from Montgomery twice now. Once with Kristi and a second time solo with a bike.
Kristi and I walked from the res and the 2.5 miles of road walking from the trailhead to Wheeler Lake. I did not have high expectations. However I will have to say that the trip exceeded expectations. The views from the road, the high alpine meadows, the fun climbing and glissading on snow made for a great day. In addition the views from the summit were fantastic. We could see most of the Centennials in the Mosquito/Tenmile, Mount Massive and a behind the scenes view of the Climax Mine.
However when I returned years later to loop Clinton with McNamee and Traver I brought my bike. This make the road miles so much faster and more enjoyable.
![Clinton loop 01]()
10.5m - 4600ft - 5hrs
![Clinton loop 02]()
Right from the get do there are plenty of mining ruins along the way
![Clinton loop 03]()
Consider riding a gravel or mountain bike up the road
![Clinton loop 04]()
Who likes to walk roads? This steed made the trip fast and more enjoyable. Democrat's north face.
![Clinton loop 05]()
After ditching the bike I followed the more rugged section of road to the lake
![Clinton loop 06]()
Bypassing some road flooding
![Clinton loop 07]()
Democrat's north face... a great spring ski line
![Clinton loop 08]()
At Wheeler Lake
![Clinton loop 09]()
![Clinton loop 10]()
Northstar and Wheeler Lake
![Clinton loop 11]()
Kristi making her way into the upper basin
![Clinton loop 12]()
![Clinton loop 13]()
Clinton comes into view
![Clinton loop 14]()
Traver off in the distance
![Clinton loop 15]()
Looking back to Lincoln
![Clinton loop 16]()
Clinton's southern slopes
![Clinton loop 17]()
![Clinton loop 18]()
![Clinton loop 19]()
Democrat
![Clinton loop 20]()
Looking back towards Quandary (R) - Wheeler in the foreground
![Clinton loop 21]()
Kinda windy up here... per usual. Democrat(L) and Traver(R)
![Clinton loop 22]()
Awww
![Clinton loop 23]()
From the summit of Clinton I headed south to McNamee and then on to Traver
![Clinton loop 24]()
Molybdenum anyone? Climax Mine
![Clinton loop 25]()
Arkansas off to the south. Moonshine Cooly in view
![Clinton loop 26]()
Buckskin to the south. Would love to ski that face if it ever holds snow
![Clinton loop 27]()
Democrat
![Clinton loop 28]()
An old DJ turntable on McNamee's summit. Next stop Traver
![Clinton loop 29]()
Democrat from Traver' summit
![Clinton loop 30]()
Looking back to Clinton from Traver
![Clinton loop 31]()
Quandary to the north
![Clinton loop 32]()
Traver summit selfie with Democrat's north face
![Clinton loop 33]()
Lincoln
![Clinton loop 34]()
I decended Traver's east ridge to the basin
![Clinton loop 35]()
![Clinton loop 36]()
![Clinton loop 37]()
Back at Wheeler Lake
