Rich Davidson Memorial Climb, Uncompahgre Peak
September 18, 1999
Leader and Author:
Gary Clark
Trip
Participants: Gary Clark, Lynn Clark, Mark & Kristie
Schraad, Mark & Lynn Jones, and Didier Jamet
We went, we saw, we conquered.
The approach road, that is. The climb was nearly trivial in
comparison. This was the 4th annual
Rich Davidson Memorial Climb,
organized to keep the memory alive of this former LAM member who
died in Nepal in 1996 in a freak accident. We chose
Uncompahgre Peak this year and timed it to hopefully catch the
aspens at peak Fall colors. Due to the unusually wet summer
we've had, the colors are delayed, but there were enough to make for
some very fine scenery.
The other nice thing about Fall is
that "Gina Pasquale-style" alpine starts aren't so critical.
Thunderstorm activity has fizzled out a bit, to be replaced with
crisp mornings and bracing breezes on the ridges and summits.
So it was that we got a leisurely 7:00am start from Lake City in the
two most serious 4WD vehicles. The latest Borneman & Lampert
guidebook to the 14ers indicates that the approach road up Nellie
Creek has improved in recent years, and may now be reasonable in a
high-clearance 2WD. Wrong. One of our vehicles took 5
tries to get past the worst spot - a steep area of deeply rutted
muck that would have given pause to a Hum-Vee.
As we pulled into the parking lot
at 11,400', Mark S. noted that we would be failing to accomplish the
minimum 3000' ft of gain that goes along with the 14ers game. No
problem - we all walked downhill for 90 vertical feet, then hiked
back up past the cars to start up the trail. The trail was a
delight - lots of greenery and stimulating scenery, especially once
we reached the shoulder where views to the South and East unfolded
and improved with every additional step. The crowds were
minimal for an easy 14er. We saw perhaps 30 other people all
day, and some of them actually seemed to have a clue, which also is
unusual.
We spent the better part of an hour
on the summit, told Rich Davidson stories and toasted his memory
with whatever we had in our Nalgene bottles, and still had plenty of
time for a leisurely lunch in Lake City before driving home to Los
Alamos.
This is one of the more pleasant
14ers in my experience. Rather than a disfiguring mining road
that characterizes so many Colorado mountains, there is a
well-constructed but not over trodden trail that keeps your interest
with the scenic values. The fauna was plentiful and friendly
as well. We saw numerous marmots and pikas preparing for the
winter, and one of the early risers we met coming back down said he
had shared the summit with two red foxes! This is the perfect
beginner's and/or family 14er; one I'll recommend to anyone with
minimal experience who asks.
