September 9th 2012

Square Top Mountain - Clear Creek County, CO - 13,794 ft (4,204 m)

Argentine Peak - Clear Creek and Summit Counties, CO - 13,743 ft (4,189 m)

Mount Wilcox - Clear Creek County, CO - 13,408 ft (4,087 m)

Twisted Pine Hoppy Boy - IPA - 6.2% ABV

GPS Track

Another weekend that I had to go hiking without the wife. Oh well - that means I can pick more off trail stuff and not worry about getting lost or stuck. *NOTE: This is foreshadowing*

I thought I would try to make a nice ridge loop and hit these three peaks. Starting off dark and early I was surprised when I got to the spot in the trail that I thought I was supposed to cut up the ridge and it was still pitch black out. My head lamp showed the way… for the next 100 feet or so. Everytime I thought I was getting to the top of the ridge, it just kept going. After a little bit of bush whacking around willows I made the ridge.

Well up the way to Square Top I was able to sit and watch the sun rise over Evans and Bierstadt. One of the better sunrises I have got to see in my life. Afterwards I continued up to the first summit, Square Top. It was, and you might imagine, very flat. Still early morning I didn’t stop too long because it was a little chilly still.

Over the pass to Argentine Peak. This was interested because at one point you pass by active power lines. It’s hard to imagine how they were able to build such a large structure up so high. Anyway, I stopped here at this peak for a quick beer and headed to Wilcox.

Another short pass and stop later I was on my way down Wilcox. Now - I knew the big lake in the middle was private property and I did not want to trespass. And I knew there would be about a half to full mile of making my way through some trees. No big deal.

WRONG! Turns out that there was a storm at some point recently in that area that blew over TONS of the trees. Everywhere you turned any kind of path was blocked. I tried SO many different ways to get through. At one point I just even gave up and was walking down a stream. Like, IN the stream. I knew I was close and didn’t care about wet feet at that point. But even that lead to more trees. 

Finally I had to say screw it and just climb over/under all sorts of nasty trees. Ripped my clothes and skin up pretty good. And my poor dog got stuck a few times and I had to throw her over my shoulder to help out. I only had to do this for maybe 150 feet, but easily too 15 minutes or so. Awful.

But, in the end, I made it back to the car, didn’t see a soul on the hike, got three peaks in, and was happy.

The beer: Hoppy Boy. I have never been big on Twisted Pine, and remembered not enjoying Hoppy Boy too much. But, it being in a tall boy and all I thought I would give it another shot. I remembered correctly. It’s just an average to just below average IPA. And living in Colorado with SO many amazing breweries, an average beer in a over used style just isn’t going to cut it. But hey, it still hit the spot up there! I just wouldn’t buy it again to drink in town.