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TriP Reports

Signal Mt and Stormy Peak from Dunraven (Commanche Peaks Wilderness/Northern RMNP, CO)

5/10/2021

1 Comment

 
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Trip date: July 18, 2020
Caltopo map here: caltopo.com/m/DL9Q
This was a fairly straightforward but long hike in northern RMNP and the Comanche Peaks Wilderness.  I'd start at the Dunraven Trailhead which I've used in a previous winter overnight trip to Lake Husted and Lost Lake in RMNP.  
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I'd start up Bulwark Ridge towards Signal Mt.  There was a nice views early on.  
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Nice view of Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak on the climb up to Bulwark Ridge.
Bulwark Ridge itself was very pleasant and shaded.  There weren't too many views so I didn't take any pictures but I enjoyed my time in the forest.  Looking back now, after the Cameron Peak Fire burned this area later that fall, I'm sad that I didn't take at least a few pictures.  
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Bulwark Ridge was burned in the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire (red). I was glad I got to see it before it changed.
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First views of Signal Mt.
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Summit of SIgnal Mt in Comanche Peaks Wilderness. There was a guy with a giant HAM radio antenna up there listening to signals from Wyoming. You can see the thin black antenna in this photo If you look closely. (It looks like a long bent over fishing pole).
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Looking towards Fort Collins from Signal Mt.
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People clearly feed marmots up here.
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Another view of Signal Mt.
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Signal Mt. from South Signal Mt.
The forests on thee other side of Signal Mt. were unaffected by the fire and are still as magnificent as I found them.  The trail does mostly vanish as far as I could tell.  Every once and a while I'd pick it up again but this part doesn't seem to really be maintained (or I suppose I just missed it descending from summit of S. Signal Mt.).​
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The magnificent forests west of Signal Mt. were unaffected by the Cameron Peak Fire.
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Did a double-take on this one.
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The trail is off and on. Expect to jump over a lot of downed trees and some bushwacking.
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The trail is off and on between South Signal Mt and the saddle to the west. RMNP maintains the other two trails entering the junction at the saddle.
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Pretty Boulders on the way to Stormy Peak
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Shoulder of Stormy Peak on the right.
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Gibraltar Mt, UN 12,780' and Little No Name
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I apparently really liked looking at these mountains.
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Like, really liked it.
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Storms were building pretty fast and I was ready to head down.
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I was surprised that I was able to see the little dry patch of land that I'd found on my Lake Husted trip.  
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This tree-less patch was snow free on a previous trip which is a real treat on a winter trip. Unfortunately, I had chosen to camp literally 800 feet beefore seeing this.
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This is a good depiction of how much easier trails are to travel on vs bushwacking.
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The valley floor of the North Fork of the Big Thompson River is really rough with tons of blowdown.  I hadn't appreciated this in the winter when everything was covered with snow.   It reminded me of Forest Canyon.
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If this looks like fun to you, you would love Forest Canyon.
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1 Comment
David E.
9/10/2021 01:51:54 pm

On top of the world. Rocks and sky. Some well traveled trails making it look like a magic very private world.

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    Travis Briles

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  • Home
  • Climate Change and Colorado Wildfires
  • Trip Reports
  • Skills/Gear
    • Intro, External Sources and Misc.
    • Food and Water
    • Shelters
    • Backpacks
    • Sleeping
    • Clothing
    • Winter Camping
    • A Shoe Odyssey
    • Foot Care
    • Maps, Navigation and Weather
    • Off-Trail Route Planning
    • The Perfect Headlight/Flashlights?
    • Misc Small Stuff
    • Photography/Camera
    • Gear Repair and MYOG
  • Places
    • Flatirons
    • Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Indian Peaks Wilderness
    • Lost Creek Wilderness
    • Gore Range
    • Glacier National Park
    • Wind River Range
    • Utah
  • Plants and Wildlife
  • Contact
  • To Do
  • About