Left to Right: David, Jane, Phil, Rick (thumbs up!), Clare, Monika, and Tony (A new friend!)
On Sunday, as part of the Rocky Mountain National Park Centennial Celebration, I led a Colorado Mountain Club Trip to climb Little Matterhorn. We were six intrepid hikers looking for a good scramble. Since Little Matterhorn is featured in Dave Cooper’s Colorado Scrambles book; I was excited for the challenge!
This year, the CMC is attempting to climb the 100 highest peaks within RMNP, over the course of RMNP’s 100th Anniversary. Thus, CMC trip leaders were encouraged to pick a peak (or several!). Along with Little Matterhorn, I picked Mt. Meeker and McHenrys Peak.
The day in RMNP couldn’t have gone better. We had a fabulous hike and enjoyed some fantastic fall colors!
We took a snack break at the Odessa Lake Trail Junction.
There was fog everywhere and it was difficult to see very far…but that didn’t stop us! Here I am with co-leader, Rick Casey, making a determination about the trail. Let’s go!
We passed Lake Helene before we dropped into the gully below Little Matterhorn.
Once we dropped a few hundred feet of elevation, we traversed along a grassy shelf towards Grace Falls.
Odessa Lake Valley is obscurred by fog!
Notchtop is rising out of the clouds! We get to climb up this tallus slope, angling to the right!
Here is the steep boulderfield that we climb! About 1,000 ft up and slightly right! It took us 2 hours and 10 minutes, from the trail head to get to this spot.
Little Matterhorn is above us. To the right of frame stands The Gable, which is barely visible through the fog.
Jane Reuteler got this awesome picture of me with Little Matterhorn behind me, in the fog!
Looking back down the steep boulder field. I’m at 10,900 ft, here.
This photo courtesy of Phil Straffin. It shows the steep and rocky nature of our scramble. Not all of this rock was solid, but for the most part it was stable.
Here’s David getting psyched for the ridge. Behind him and to the left of the white, puffy cloud, one can see a rock tower. Once you are nearing the ridge, aim for this tower and you will see a rock ramp.
Jane also captured this picture of the ridge, leading to Little Matterhorn “summit”.
Thanks to Phil for this great shot of us assessing the ridge! It took us 1.5 hours to climb up the steep boulder and talus field and get to this spot.
Rick Casey getting geared up for the ridge. Courtesy Phil!
The first part of the ridge! We went right, around this gendarme, and NOT up and over it! It was easy and 2nd with a tad bit of 3rd class.
Notchtop Mountain from Little Matterhorn. It took us 4 hours to get to this spot from the trailhead at Bear Lake.
For the next gendarme, we went around to the left. Scrambling was good and the rock was really solid.
Courtesy Paul Tanger. Showing us CMC scramblers along the ridge.
Jane and Monika on the summit. Mountaineering Mavens!
For bonus points, one can downclimb a squeeze chimney and go for the very end of the ridge. Here’s Monika making the moves, I’m spotting her from above, and David and Jane are spotting her from below.
David and Jane join hands at the tip of Little Matterhorn! Yay!
A boot dangle from Little Matterhorn
David helping me with the dangle.
Me Helping David and Jane with their dangle!
Time to head back! Phil captures this great moment as Jane down climbs.
Descending the Little Matterhorn Ramp!
We are all laughing because I took a bit of a tumble…and it didn’t stop me from getting to the punchline of my story. With no injury, except my pride, we keep descending. If a little slower and more carefully now!
We’re happy because we’re almost done with the steep boulder and talus field. Whew!
Rick and a neato looking Zebra Rock
Joe Mills Mountain Panorama. It took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to get back down here, from the summit of Little Matterhorn.
Jane snapped this lovely shot of Monika and I chatting as we amble through the fall colors. RMNP in the fall is amazing!
Little Matterhorn Victors! It took us 4.5 hours to reach the summit and 3.5 hours to get back. From Left to Right: Clare, Jane, Rick, Monika, Phil, and David. I had a great time leading this group of accomplished mountaineers. Thanks to them, and to our new friends Paul and Tony, whom we met on the summit ridge, for a fantastic adventure!
Happy 100th Birthday RMNP!
Tags: CMC, Colorado Mountain Club, Fall Colors, Little Matterhorn, RMNP, RMNP Centennial Celebration, Rocky Mountain National Park, Scrambling