Unicorn Group
Montezuma - Unicorn - Summit
Date: 06/09/2023
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: 3 Miles east of the Summit Peak TH on FS243 at the intersection with FS380. I drove the north branch of FS250 through Jasper.
Summits:
* Montezuma Peak
* The Unicorn
* Summit Peak
Distance: 13m
Elevation Gain: 4200ft
Duration: 7hrs 30min
GPX
On the drive to the TH I encountered an impassible snowbank 3 miles from the TH. I was frustrated that my day would include 6 miles of unplanned road walking carrying ski gear.
The walk in was a good warm up but I definitely felt it on the way out.
I really liked this zone and the skiing off The Unicorn and Summit Peak was fun albeit short.
The CDT runs through this zone and I encountered a number of through hikers that were amazed I was up there with skis. I was amazed that they were hiking 3000 miles from Mexico to Canada!
Navigating patches of snow and downed logs below treeline was the crux of the day.
Montezuma Peak 14ers.com Page
The Unicorn 14ers.com Page
Summit Peak 14ers.com Page
![Unicorn 01]()
13m - 4200ft - 7hrs 30min
![Unicorn 02]()
A snow bank blocked the road 3 miles from the TH adding 6 miles of walking to my day. A view of summit peak on the walk to the TH.
![Unicorn 03]()
June in Colorado = snow melt, raging creeks and cool waterfalls
![Unicorn 04]()
Summit Peak on approach to Montezuma
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Summit Peak (L) - The Unicorn (R)
![Unicorn 06]()
Montezuma's east ridge.
![Unicorn 07]()
Summit selfie with Summit Peak
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Summit Peak (L) - The Unicorn (R) from Montezuma
![Unicorn 09]()
My thoughts on Montezuma were 'How should Summit Peak be climbed and skied?'
![Unicorn 10]()
Approaching The Unicorn. I tagged both summits but the real summit is on the left
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Montezuma from the north side of The Unicorn
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Summit Peak from The Unicorn
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My ski line off of the The Unicorn - awesome corn!
![Unicorn 14]()
The snow was getting soft so I decided to boot and ski the middle line
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Booting Summit Peak
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The Unicorn (L) and Montezuma (R) from Summit Peak
![Unicorn 17]()
More glorious corn off Summit Peak
![Unicorn 18]()
I skied as far as you can see snow
![Unicorn 19]()
When it flatted out I transitioned to skins. I followed patches of snow as far as I could and ended up on a steep bushwhack with a sub optimal creek crossing. I recommend connecting back to the ascent path sooner vs. later.
