WEM001
Location: 37.4772605895996, -107.631538391113
Endlich Mesa Trailhead Kiosk
WEM002
Location: 37.4909553527832, -107.610694885254
Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
WEM003
Location: 37.5189819335938, -107.602226257324
Pass begins descent to Lower Park
WEM004
Location: 37.5260276794434, -107.598281860352
Trail junction; stay left
WEM005
Location: 37.5348701477051, -107.608558654785
Trail junction; turn right/NE
WEM006
Location: 37.539737701416, -107.600387573242
Lake
WEM007
Location: 37.5449333190918, -107.592422485352
Trail junction; stay left
WEM008
Location: 37.5521697998047, -107.59268951416
Good watering site. Follow developing trail N. as it curves West up onto Silver Mesa
WEM009
Location: 37.5710792541504, -107.605400085449
Pittsburgh Mine. Beware of dangerous vertical shafts.
WEM010
Location: 37.5801544189453, -107.597633361816
Trimble Pass: Excellent views northward to main Needles group
WEM011
Location: 37.5971031188965, -107.59928894043
Columbine Lake
WEM012
Location: 37.6018257141113, -107.591941833496
Unnamed pass to Hazel Lake. Descent trail East is exposed; use caution.
WEM013
Location: 37.6047592163086, -107.588371276855
Hazel Lake; scenic campsite
WEM014
Location: 37.5918846130371, -107.593269348145
We rejoined Johnson Creek Trail. More efficient route is to descend directly from Columbine Lake.
WEM015
Location: 37.5889129638672, -107.534629821777
Ford Johnson Creek. Could be tough in spring.
WEM016
Location: 37.5842819213867, -107.531150817871
Pack bridge across Vallecito Creek
WEM017
Location: 37.6298332214356, -107.538513183594
Turn Left at small cairn. Follow sketchy trails NW across meadows.
WEM018
Location: 37.6311454772949, -107.53938293457
Ford Vallecito Creek. 100 feet across. Knee deep or deeper. Probably impossible in high run-off.
WEM019
Location: 37.6336059570312, -107.540245056152
Huge avalanche debris pile. Clamber over logs as needed for 1/4- to 1/2 -mile.
WEM020
Location: 37.6358451843262, -107.55249786377
Rejoin solid trail
WEM021
Location: 37.6335639953613, -107.56494140625
Jaw-dropping views enroute to Sunlight Lake
WEM022
Location: 37.6341552734375, -107.581108093262
Sunlight Lake
WEM023
Location: 37.6386947631836, -107.578788757324
Turn North off-trail. Climb steep tundra gullies to ridgeline pass.
WEM024
Location: 37.6461639404297, -107.578636169434
Unnamed pass into broad tundra basin
WEM025
Location: 37.6509170532227, -107.579551696777
Unnamed pass; may need ice axe for descent down snowfields to north
WEM026
Location: 37.6603927612305, -107.573539733887
Best route actually climbs straight north from tarn, crosses pass, and drops to basin South of Peak Seven.
WEM027
Location: 37.6624336242676, -107.567398071289
Sketchy scrambles across steep slab band. Best route is further west
WEM028
Location: 37.6655654907227, -107.568710327148
Unnamed pass
WEM029
Location: 37.6701240539551, -107.57006072998
Unnamed pass
WEM030
Location: 37.6713981628418, -107.570236206055
Critical descent gully from pass between Peaks Seven and Eight
WEM031
Location: 37.6731796264648, -107.561828613281
Unnamed Pass. Begin boulderfield descent toward, but not down to, Lake Silex.
WEM032
Location: 37.6930809020996, -107.569671630859
Pass begins descent to Elk Creek Valley
WEM033
Location: 37.7129669189453, -107.566337585449
Strike user trail. Avoid logpile tangles visible below. Persevere until striking Elk Creek.
WEM034
Location: 37.7173271179199, -107.563484191895
More user trail leads to Colorado Trail
WEM035
Location: 37.726619720459, -107.576721191406
Small bridge across side creek. Begin looking for game trails climbing north.
WEM036
Location: 37.7408180236816, -107.579498291016
Hidden hunter's camp on small bench above and east of gully
WEM037
Location: 37.7447547912598, -107.577560424805
Strike user trail; turn ENE
WEM038
Location: 37.746166229248, -107.575538635254
Strike maintained trail; continue north
WEM039
Location: 37.7490730285644, -107.576522827148
Verde Lake: Good watering point
WEM040
Location: 37.7667541503906, -107.582481384277
Leave major track. Follow faint user trail around corner and across sidehill. Soon becomes XC travel. Follow natural "trench" traversing sidehill to NW.
WEM041
Location: 37.7702140808106, -107.593933105469
Unnamed pass reached after skittery, steep talus climb thru conglomerate cliff bands.
WEM042
Location: 37.7779083251953, -107.607849121094
Game trail
WEM043
Location: 37.7808303833008, -107.608276367188
Very high unnamed pass. Look for airy mountain goat trail traversing west across face of Point 13,409.
WEM044
Location: 37.7941856384277, -107.613861083984
Another spectacular pass
WEM045
Location: 37.7975997924805, -107.625175476074
Last pass. May involve rotten cliff scramble up and around mine tunnel entrance that blocks easy pass crossing. Watch those handholds.
WEM046
Location: 37.8053741455078, -107.627510070801
Faint trail avoids cliffband descending Blair Gulch
WEM047
Location: 37.8075370788574, -107.627876281738
Very loose, unpleasant talus descent down to valley floor
WEM048
Location: 37.8113098144531, -107.633102416992
Summer cabin under construction. Follow access roads down to road network.Turn left at first major crossroad.
WEM049
Location: 37.8077621459961, -107.642433166504
Actual road intersection. Note: Roads on this maps in this area are inaccurately shown.
WEM050
Location: 37.8115615844727, -107.663032531738
End of route
Sunlight Lake
Location: 37.6344261169434, -107.580657958984
Dawn does a doubletake on Sunlight Lake. © Steve Howe
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