Pole Creek
Date: 8/22/2020
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: Pole Creek TH
Summits:
* Northwest Pole - Class 2 with Class 3 Summit Block
* Pole Creek Mountain - Class 2
Distance: 12.75m
Elevation Gain: 4150ft
Duration: 6hrs 55min
Date: 8/19/2024
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: Pole Creek TH
Summits:
* Pole Creek Mountain - Class 2
* East Pole Creek Mountain - Class 2
Distance: 10.9m
Elevation Gain: 3850ft
Duration: 5hrs 50min
GPX (tracks for both outtings)
Northwest Pole 14ers.com Page
Pole Creek Mountain 14ers.com Page
East Pole Creek Mountain 14ers.com Page
In 2020 I hiked this zone for the ranked peaks. In 2024 I went back for unranked East Pole. I merged the images my East Pole outting into this gallery. Enjoy!
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12.75m - 4150ft - 6hrs 55min (for the loop - does not include East Pole)
![Pole creek v2 02]()
Car camping at the TH with a great view of Ute Ridge
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Room with a view! Car camped both trips. Don't under estimate how long it takes to drive the Stony Pass road from Silverton. Over an hour to the TH
![Pole creek v2 04]()
Hiked this nice trail for a few miles before some light bushwhacking to the base of the peaks
![Pole creek v2 05]()
Morning views
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Looking south to the Eastern Grenadiers while ascending Northwest Pole's south ridge
![Pole creek v2 08]()
Initially Northwest Pole's ridge was steep grass. Then it got fun and scrambly
![Pole creek v2 09]()
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Work courtesy of Masons of the San Juans... pretty cool!
![Pole creek v2 16]()
Not too much further to the summit
![Pole creek v2 17]()
A view to the south from Northwest Pole's summit.
![Pole creek v2 18]()
I traversed north from the summit then descended to a saddle between Northwest Pole and Pole Creek
![Pole creek v2 19]()
Looking across to Pole Creek Mountain. I would ascend the easy going line on the left and descend to the saddle on the right
![Pole creek v2 20]()
Looking back at Northwest Pole
![Pole creek v2 21]()
Northern views from Pole Creek Mountain. Uncompahgre way off in the distance
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East Pole Creek Mountain from Pole Creek. Rio Grande Reservoir to left
![Pole creek v2 23]()
After dropping down Pole Creek's south slope I rapped around to the east and found a bit of a trail
![Pole creek v2 24]()
Wemi views to the south
![Pole creek v2 26]()
After summiting East Pole (and then some) I descend back down the west ridge. Pole Creek's east facing looking castle like
![Pole creek v2 27]()
I headed to the notch front and center
![Pole creek v2 28]()
![Pole creek v2 29]()
I traversed down some tedious terrain to the saddle below
![Pole creek v2 30]()
Northwest Pole in the morning light (taken on ascent 2024)
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The saddle I descended from (taken on ascent 2024)
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The descent from the saddle is soft and surfy
![Pole creek v2 33]()
After descending from the grassy basin below the saddle I bushwhacked down some steep terrain and back to the trail
![Pole creek v2 34]()
Cruiser back to the trailhead
