Pyramid Peak is my final 14er in the Elk Range, and it’s soooo nice to have all of this loose crappy rock in the rearview mirror.
I thought this would be a fun climb, but from the moment you leave the Maroon Lake area, the climb is steep and unrelenting in the pitch dark.
The switchbacks through the forest are short and sharp, gaining elevation quickly.
As you break treeline, the views open up and the terrain shifts—what was once a trail becomes a loose, rocky slope leading into the amphitheater basin.
Pyramid Sunrise
The sunrise begins to light up Pyramid Peak as we ascend through the amphitheater.
Even with a map on my watch, the trail is often more of a fuzzy guideline than an actual trail.
Ankle-twister softball to bowling ball-size rocks underfoot.
Cairns mark the general direction, but they’re not always easy to spot, and the terrain is complex enough that it’s easy to drift off course leading you into looser softballs and bowling balls.
The climb to the saddle is a mix of scree and dirt, but you can stay to climber’s left and have some rock to grab with one hand to help make progress.
Red and White
The red rock of the Maroon Bells and Sleeping Sexton contrasts with the white snow on Snowmass Mountain and Capitol Peak.
Let’s Do It
Our climb for today
Once you reach the saddle, the hike turns to a Class 4 climb and things get more fun. The route along the northeast ridge is a puzzle of ledges, chimneys, and exposed traverses.
There’s no single trail, just a series of decisions, each one requiring attention and judgment. The infamous Leap of Faith is more mental than physical, but it’s a good reminder that one misstep sends you to the hospital or the morgue.
Tiny Tower
There are a lot of crazy little formations like this in the Elk Range.
Seems Solid
Rock like this is why you can’t trust anything in these mountains.
And then the stupid goats.
They appear like ghosts – perched on ledges, silhouetted against the sky, or quietly watching from above.
They have learned that hikers and climbers pee, pee contains salt, and they like salt.
So they follow you, moving across the mountain so fast that they often knock rocks down below them. You definitely do not want to get caught beneath them – hurry up and pee and move out of the way. One big guy didn’t even wait until I was done before charging me to get to the goodies…
Here Come The Goats
Knocking down rocks
The High Ground
These mountain goats like to have the high ground to look down on you.
The final push to the summit is a mix of scrambling and careful routefinding. The rock quality improves slightly, but the exposure increases.
With ropes and proper climbing gear, you can tackle some solid Class 5 terrain and skip the loose rock and rockfall hazards of the White Wall.
The White Wall
A vein of white in a sea of red rock.
Lead The Way
Britt climbs up to set a belay
Solid Walls
There are some solid walls among all this loose rock
Every move demands focus. When you finally reach the summit, the view is an instant reminder of why we do this.
The brilliant orange of the Maroon Bells punch you right in the eyeballs, Snowmass Mountain with its massive snowfield and majestic Capitol Peak contrasting in the background.
But what goes up, must come down. The loose rocky descent might just be worse than the ascent. 7:41 Jeep-to-Jeep pleases me, although the knees will certainly pay for it tomorrow.
From here we head to Telluride, back to the gorgeous San Juan mountains for more mountain playtime.
Photographic Proof
The geodetic marker at the top of Pyramid Peak.
Peaks And Piles
The last vestiges of snow slowly melting away.
Laughing Goat
Sure looks like this fat guy is laughing at us.
Mmmmm Pee
Now that I’ve peed, maybe this mountain goat will stop following me.
Scroungy Fox
This scroungy little fox crossed in front of us and trotted along next to us for a little while.
Mountain Goats
Here come the mountain goats
Coming Closer
Starting to get a little close for comfort
Pyramid Peak Flyover
Turn your sound down – there is some colorful commentary that may offend
