The day after J & I climbed up Asgard Ridge to the summit of Mt. Valhalla and descended to East Vail, Kristine, Rainie, Kona, & I headed over to the Fremont Pass area between Copper Mtn and Leadville in Summit County to check out a hike up the 12,017′ Chalk Mountain.
Chalk Mountain below as seen from the summit ridge of Mt. Arkansas (13,795′) on May 10, 2013
We had been wanting to scope this little mountain out solely because of its name, but it actually turned out to be a nice 4-5 mile hike roundtrip and really good for a 32 week pregnant Kristine. Rainie & Kona had a great time as well. Despite being surrounded by the lands of the notorious Climax Mine on all north, east, & west sides, the south side has a nice forest service road open to the public directly up to the summit plateau of Chalk Mountain. We parked just a few hundred yards off Highway 91 and began the nice stroll up Forest Service Road 134. We actually didn’t get going until maybe after 10am, but the weather was partly cloudy, nice, and cool. Kristine did wonderful and soon we were above treeline staring at the Jackal Hut in the distance.
Can you spot the Jackal Hut?
Chalk Mountain’s summit plateau was quite large extending for probably a half mile east to west. The views south to the Sawatch, west to Mt. of the Holy Cross, north to the Gores, and east to Mt. Arkansas were pretty spectacular.
Rainie taking a stroll across the Chalk Mountain summit plateau with Mt. Arkansas towering above
Rainie & Kona heading to the nondistinct summit of Chalk Mountain. I had to use the GPS to find its exact summit of 12,017′
It was very enjoyable being up on the summit of Chalk Mountain with just the Chalks.
Chalk Mountain summit (12,017′)
Kristine, the dogs, & our upcoming new addition
I like this one
Rainie & I on the summit of Chalk Mountain with Jacque Peak behind
We ate a sandwich, spent 30 minutes on top,and then strolled down the road back to the car getting a little rain/hail on the way down. We then headed to Silverthorne, did a few errands, and picked up J’s truck at the North Rock Creek TH, which we had left in order to climb Asgard Ridge and do our traverse over the Gores. A great day with all my ladies!
A rainbow cloud as seen walking down the forest service road on Chalk Mountain
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