Grizzly C - McCauley - Aztec
Date: 07/9/2021
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: Chicago Basin Camp
Summits: Grizzly Peak C, McCauley Peak, Aztec Mountain
Distance: 17.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 5800ft
Duration: 10 hours 35 Minutes
GPX
Grizzly Peak C 14ers.com Page
McCauley Peak 14ers.com Page
Aztec Mountain 14ers.com Page
Although Grizzly and McCauley are not Chicago Basin peaks, they are easily accessed over Columbine Pass. So while in the area I figured I would knock out Grizzly, one of my remaining Bi-Cents, and bag a couple of 13ers along the way.
A few items of note on this route...
- Climbing Grizzly's south face requires a handful of exposed low class 5 moves and some route finding trail & error. If this is not your thing, consider Grizzly's class 3 northeast ridge as an alternative. Both routes are accessable from Hazel Lake. See Furthermore's 14ers.com TR for a climbing map.
- From Grizzly's summit, I partially descended the northeast ridge and then wrapped around to the base of the south face. I wasn't excited to downclimb the low 5.
- McCauley was pleasant and straight forward
- I thought Aztec would be a gimme... it's not. Gaining and descending from the east ridge requires travel on a good amount of loose and tedious scree. The east ridge itself also has loose and side hilly sections. It may have been the stress of the incoming storm or that it was late in the day... but I can't say Aztec was the most enjoyable peak.
17.2 miles - 5800ft - 10.5hrs
Aztec in the morning light
Looking back to Eolus on the way to Columbine Pass
The trail from camp to Columbine Pass was so nice
Columbine Lake from Columbine Pass. From the top of the pass go left(northeast) and stay high along the trail
Looking back - Columbine Lake reflections from the pass just north of Hope Mountain
Lookup up to Grizzly from Hazel Lake.
Southerly views from the south end of Hazel Lake
Grizzly's south face from the McCauley saddle
I gingerly traversed on steep grass and blocky terrain towards Grizzly's south face. After ascending the gully in the next image, I found a low 5 route (right of center) to Grizzly's summit ridge (see Furthermore's 14ers.com TR for a climber's map)
Ascended this gully to access Grizzly's south face
Grizzly's summit ridge
Looking northwest to Jupiter
Windom Peak
L2R: Arrow, Vestal and Jagged
Jagged
Arrow and Vestal
Looking south to McCaully. After partially descending Grizzly's northwest ridge, I wrapped around to the base of the south face and retraced my steps back to the McCaully saddle.
Thunder Mountain from the Grizzly-McCaully saddle
Follow the ridge to McCaully's summit
A northerly view towards Grizzly from McCaully's summit. Hazel Lake below
Grizzly(L) and Jagged(R)
Windom(L) and Grizzly(R)
McCauley summit selfie
From the Grizzly-McCaully saddle and descended to Hazel Lake
From Hazel Lake I retraced my steps back to Columbine Pass
Columbine Lake from Columbine Pass
After partially descending Columbine Pass, I contoured south and gained Aztec's east ridge.... all of which was tedious and not the most fun.
Aztec's ridge was also tedious. With thunder in the distance and weather building I was feeling stress and Aztec was not going as quickly as I had hoped.
I climbed this steep gully to just below Aztec's summit. The route I descended is a ascent better option.
Looking east along Aztec's east ridge
Gizzley from Aztec's east ridge
Chicago Basin views served as a distraction while descending the tedious scree