Battle Mountain (WINTER)

To Steph's Snowshoe Adventures in RMNP and Indian Peaks Page

Category: Colorado (RMNP)Longs PeakTrailhead Elev: ~9,400 ftBattle Mountain Elev: 12,044 ft
Date: March 16&17, 2024 (Sun)Trip Report #: 678Partner: solo

Route: Snow-covered Longs Peak trail to West Slope (~9.7 miles round trip, ~3000 ft gain/loss, snowy)

A two-day weekend effort creating a trench to the summit of Battle Mountain.

I recently made a map of all summits and lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and unofficially decided I need to visit all of them. One of the summits I had not yet been to is Battle Mountain, located about half a mile northeast of Granite Pass north of Longs Peak. It's an easy half-mile class 2 jaunt from Granite Pass and I have passed by numerous times on ascents or descents of Longs Peak, but I had never thought to tag the summit.

We had just had a huge snowfall (3-4 feet in Estes Park and more in the mountains), and the RMNP road to Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge parking areas was still closed as the plows worked to clear it. But Longs Peak trailhead was open. So Battle Mountain sounded like a good objective. It ended up becoming a two-day effort.

On Saturday, I was one of two people breaking trail (there was another skier ahead of me who I eventually caught up to). The snow was deep, and as we reached treeline I occasionally found myself up to my waist. It was quite a good workout. Both the skier and I decided to stop at around 11,200 feet; I'm not sure where the skier was headed, but with still a couple of miles of wallowing for me to go to get to Battle Mountain, it didn't look feasible. But I had enjoyed the trench-building process, and admired it on the hike out. On Sunday, the main RMNP roads were still closed, so I decided to return to Longs Peak and extend my trench. It was pretty smooth sailing until the previous day's endpoint (what had been 3.5 hours of wallowing on Saturday was an easy 1 hour 15 minutes on Sunday). When I got there, I was happy to discover that a trio of skiers was ahead of me and headed for the Boulderfield, so I shamelessly snowshoed up their tracks through the deep snow all the way to Granite Pass. From here I was on my own again. I wallowed my way to the summit of Battle Mountain, most of it in a whiteout. The cloud movement was spectacular, with quick transitions between whiteout and bright sunny skies, and the clouds moving in and out over Longs Peak teasing me with brief views. It was quite the spectacular day.

Below are photos from my two-day effort getting to the top of Battle Mountain. A new summit for me!

Friday, March 15

Day after two-day snowstorm where it snowed 3-4 feet in Estes Park.

During lunchhour on Friday, I helped my neighbor shovel the driveway. Afterward I carved a snowman out of one of the snow piles. Enjoy your youth now Mr. Snowman, it won't last long!

Saturday, March 16

This day was spent creating a trench up to about 11,200 feet. It took me (and a lone skier I caught up with) just over 3.5 hours to get to the turn-around spot, which normally takes just over an hour in summer conditions. But it was a great workout. 4 hours 54 minutes car-to-car (included lots of short breaks).

Cars squeezing into the small area that had been plowed at the Longs Peak trailhead.

I think the last time there was a snowed in vehicle at the trailhead, the owner was found a couple of weeks later.

Grey jay.

Just below treeline I caught up with a skier ahead of me. He had been breaking trail from Goblin Forest onward (as far as anyone got the previous day).

Around treeline, the snow became waste deep, even with snowshoes on.

A two-pack-of-M&Ms-day. Milk chocolate original are still my favorite.

This photo was taken shortly before the skier and I both decided to turn around because of deep snow. If you look closely, you can see a bit of Longs Peak through the clouds.

Longs Peak peeking through a window in the clouds.

Sunday, March 17

On this day, I extended the trench to the summit of Battle Mountain. It me 1 hour 15 minutes to get to my turn-around spot from the previous day. 6 hours 18 minutes car-to-car (included a long enjoyable break just below the summit).

Now the trail was a nice trench. I got some satisfaction knowing that another skier and I were the ones who had broke trail the previous day.

Pinecone. Maybe Lodgepole Pine?

Today, low clouds hung over Longs Peak. I wondered if I would get a view....

....and then a few minutes later the clouds lifted slightly to reveal Meeker and Longs.

Zoomed in on The Diamond on Longs Peak.

I headed rightward up the snowslope into the clouds.

Heading into the clouds.

I stopped at Granite Pass to enjoy some hot tea and M&Ms.

Or two packs. I am on an M&M kick this season. Battle Mountain turned into a 4-pack objective.

My view for awhile. This was taken on the ridge between Granite Pass and the summt of Battle Mountain.

The snow was deep at times but I chocked it up to good exercise.

Looking back at the ridge on Battle Mountain that I had traversed so far.

Just a few seconds later, the clouds magically dissipated.

The summit of Battle Mountain.

Something had beat me to the summit.

On top!

Proof.

View north from the summit of Battle Mountain. Sort of towards Estes Park.

View south from the summit of Battle Mountain. Mt. Lady Washington is the snowy peak in the foreground. Behind are Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak. Storm Peak on right.

Meeker, Lady Washington.

Lady Washington, Longs, Storm.

I found a bare spot of ground just below the summit and enjoyed a nice break. (It always amazes me how you can go from wallowing up to your waist to being on bare ground within a few seconds; I imagine this bare area was a bit wind scoured.)