Difficult route finding. No permanent anchors. No whining.
Drive or ski to any number of uncrowded climbs around Lake City for a true mountaineering experience.
Climb Location/notes Rating Length *1. Hurricane Basin Early Season Only WI5 120' *2. Hurricane Basin South face of Seigel Mt. WI5 240' *3. Hurricane Basin Gully climbs WI5 100-200' *4. Hurricane Basin Gully climbs WI5 100-200' ^5. Capitol City Just west of El Paso Creek, up in gully WI4 to 5 280' ^6. Capitol City 1/4 mile past El Paso Creek, gully on north WI4 to 5 150' ^7. El Paso Creek area Pillar. 2 mile ski-in WI5 120' ^8. Jedi Mind Tricks Mixed, tough route, well protected. 2 mile ski in. WI5, Mixed roof, M12+? 120' 9. Henson Creek Just before Modoc Creek, south of road. WI4 100' 10. Henson Creek Just before Modoc Creek, south of road. WI5 110' 11. Henson Creek Just before Modoc Creek, south of road WI5 100' 12. Henson Creek Pillar, at ATV staging area WI5 50' 13. Lake San Cristobal Just up hill from lake. WI3 100' 14. Talus Hill Climb Just past lake, east side, hidden by rock. WI5 120' 15. Sunshine Falls 2 pitches of WI4, several short pitches to summit. WI4 200'+ 16. Cataract Gulch 1 mile hike. Multi-pitch. WI3 to 6 17. Cottonwood Creek 1.5 mile ski-in. Multi-pitch. WI5 280' 18. Cottonwood Creek 2.5 mile ski-in. Multi-pitch. WI5 550' 19. Half Peak or IXel Peak Three pitch. WI4 & 5 300' 20. North Clear Creek Falls 25 miles south of Lake City on Hwy 149 WI4 150'
*Climbs 1 through 4 can be driven to during early season only; high avalanche danger when road is closed. ^Capitol City and El Paso Creek climbs are accessible by approximately 3 to 4 miles of ski-in from the winter road closure gate. These climbs usually form up in January. There is high avalanche danger at times; use extreme caution skiing to these climbs.
