16 degrees, blowing snow at Chapman Hill

Bakers bridge with Christine

Phil’s is drying fast!

Staying dry in the Gulch

Morning miles

My total lack of snow gear is inhibiting my ability to get up high into the San Juans for the one peak a week challenge. I just chatted with a guy who had to turn around on a route in the La Platas because his partner didn’t pack crampons. I’ve never owned crampons, so I’m giving it time to melt a bit more. The San Juans probably did the best in Colorado for snow this year but even still, the Monarch Crest is nowhere close to opening for a typical July 4th ride. Hell, feels like in recent years, the first Crest ride has been in June very often. 

So anyhow, long story short, I decided to tackle one of Durango’s in town mountains for today’s peak of the week: Smelter Mountain, which looms above town to the southeast. Despite being small, it’s steep out of the gate, with a few scrambly sections. It mellows out into a beautiful ridgeline dirt road hike up top to reach the high point, with stunning views of Durango below and the La Platas in the distance!

At this rate, I might run out of dry peaks to hike before the snow melts! We shall see…　👏 0.9 new miles

-- From Wandrer.earth

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Greg Heil

Smelter Mountain - Peak 2, Durango, CO

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16 degrees, blowing snow at Chapman Hill

Bakers bridge with Christine

Phil’s is drying fast!

Staying dry in the Gulch

Morning miles

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