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Colorado 14ers: Mount Eolus, Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak
Earmark 3-5 days for this backcountry trek to a campsite in
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| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | Colorado (CO) |
| Distance: | 27.79 mi |
| Difficulty: | 8 / 10 |
| Rating: |
 1 rating(s)
|
This mini-expedition into the San Juans begins on the historic Durango & Silverton Railroad. Jump off at Needleton and hike 6.5 miles to camp in Chicago Basin under the turrets of the Needle Mountains.
Climb Sunlight first, via the scree-filled Red Couloir. Sunlight’s apex is a perched block of granite that could well serve as your headstone if you slip while attempting the exposed crux move required to reach it (picture climbing onto a fireplace mantel with a 100-foot drop to one side). There’s no dishonor in simply touching its base. Windom Peak is less than 1 mile away, but you’ll give up nearly 1,000 feet before climbing the west ridge. The next morning, head for Eolus. After a steep 3 miles, the exposure at the Catwalk may leave you knock-kneed, but careful scrambling will soon win the summit. Got another day? Soak up the softer pleasures of the Weminuche Wilderness: grassy meadows, swaying firs, and sunlight on granite spires.
-Text by Dougald MacDonald
-Mount Eolus and Sunlight Peak mapped by Lisa Ganz
TO TRAILHEAD: Take the
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Mount Eolus
| Distance: 9.42 mi | Points: 2764 |
Mount Eolus via Needleton Trailhead
Sunlight Peak
| Distance: 9.24 mi | Points: 2507 |
Sunlight Peak via Needleton Trailhead
Windom Peak
| Distance: 9.13 mi | Points: 2552 |
Windom Peak via Needleton Trailhead
Points of Interest
EOL001
Location: 37.633171, -107.692070From the Needleton trailhead, head SW along the Animas River toward Needle Creek
EOL002
Location: 37.623287, -107.694778Turn L @ T onto Needle Creek Trail; follow trail to the SE toward Chicago Basin
EOL003
Location: 37.601826, -107.624664Trail curves to the NE as it enters Chicago Basin
EOL004
Location: 37.606415, -107.619278Continue straight @ T; Columbine Pass Trail enters on the R
EOL005
Location: 37.612064, -107.609879Set up camp in Chicago Basin. To begin summit climbs, bear L, heading N on steep terrain toward Twin Lakes
EOL006
Location: 37.616581, -107.610115Continue following steep, climber's trail to the N on grassy slopes; a small creek cascades down small rocks on the R
EOL007
Location: 37.621761, -107.607903From Twin Lakes, turn L @ T to summit Mt. Eolus, then traverse W under steep, rock face
EOL008
Location: 37.621048, -107.613708Head WNW to ascend basin tucked below Mt. Eolus's E face
EOL009
Location: 37.624439, -107.620880Turn L on saddle connecting Mt. Eolus and North Eolus; head SW on narrow, exposed ridge
EOL010
Location: 37.621784, -107.622681Mt. Eolus (14,083 ft.): Look out across remote, rugged landscapes from this wind-blown peak. Retrace steps to WPT 7, then continue straight to summit Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak
EOL011
Location: 37.622814, -107.602737To climb Sunlight Peak, bear L @ Y and head NE through basin. To tackle Windom Peak, bear R @ Y
EOL012
Location: 37.624924, -107.595810Climb open, rocky slopes below Sunlight Spire to a small gully
EOL013
Location: 37.626232, -107.595032Head N; scramble up E side of summit block to reach Sunlight's small, exposed summit (some Class 4 maneuvering required)
EOL014
Location: 37.627357, -107.595787Sunlight Peak (14,059 ft.): Savor hard-won panoramas of untamed wilderness; retrace route
EOL015
Location: 37.621311, -107.591896Windom Peak (14,082 ft.)
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