{"id":9363,"date":"2024-09-01T22:59:30","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T14:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=9363"},"modified":"2025-02-11T10:07:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T02:07:45","slug":"20240901huron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901huron\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 of Summer 2024 Trip to Colorado, Huron Peak via Lulu Gulch Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The third day of my summer 2024 trip to Colorado. I wanted to include a 14er in this trip to Colorado, so I picked Huron Peak today and climbed it following the loop trail through Lulu Gulch.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121155.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121155.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints 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{\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:68,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider16 = new Splide( '#splide-major-16', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider16.sync( secondarySlider16 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Since I made this trip to Colorado primarily for outdoor adventures during the prime mountaineering season, I knew I would leave with a sense of regret if I didn&#8217;t include a 14er in my trip. Today was the last day with good weather to attempt one. There were several mountains over 14000 feet near my lodge in Leadville to choose from. Mount Elbert was probably too popular to find parking, Mount Massive was too close to the two peaks I visited the previous day, La Plata Peak with its Ellingwood Ridge was too technical, and Missouri Mountain \/ Mount Belford \/ Mount Oxford, which could potentially form a loop, would be too long. So, I decided on Huron Peak.<\/p>\n<p>The standard route to Huron Peak started from South Winfield Trailhead. After leaving US24, the village of Winfield was accessed via a 12-mile unpaved road. The first 1\/3 of that unpaved road was in reasonable condition, the remaining 2\/3 were in my opinion, bumpy and rife with potholes. Beyond the village of Winfield, the final 2 miles to the trailhead was poorer in condition that they were typically recommended for high-clearance vehicles only.<br \/>\nSince I didn&#8217;t have a high-clearance vehicle and found the idea of walking back and forth along this road unappealing, I researched alternative routes. I discovered that Huron Peak could also be accessed via Lulu Gulch. By combining the Lulu Gulch variant with the standard route, I could create a loop, allowing me to enjoy more scenery and only traverse the high-clearance road once.<br \/>\nThere didn&#8217;t seem to be any technical preference for the direction of the loop, so I chose to go clockwise, hoping that after descending from Huron Peak, I might hitch a ride along the high-clearance road. (Unfortunately, that didn&#8217;t happen.)<\/p>\n<h3>The Trip<\/h3>\n<p>On the morning of Sept 1, I left my Airbnb in Leadville and headed for the trailhead of Huron Peak. Once off US24, it&#8217;s a bumpy ride as I carefully and slowly navigated around some (but not all) potholes. It took me about an hour to reach Winfield from US24, during the process I was overtaken by a few cars that were better suited for off-road. After the village of Winfield, the road made a left turn, which was soon followed by a large parking lot on the left. However, I continued driving for about 500m past the parking lot until I felt my rental sedan could no longer handle the rough road, and found an open area along the road to pull over.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2747C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2747C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rabbit\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2748C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2748C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Rabbit\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rabbit<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In the bushes, next to where I parked.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s GPS tracking of my hike:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=201137065&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=201137065&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>After some warmup, I started the hike at 8:45am. About 500 meters in, I reached a fork where the road to Lulu Gulch branched off from the main road. The intersection was not hard to spot, as Lulu Gulch Road was otherwise fenced off.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: small;\">This intersection was 1km from the large parking lot, and I used my car to save myself half the walking, not bad.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_084638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_084638.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_085302.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_085302.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_085515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_085515.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_092617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_092617.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_092921.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_092921.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_093912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_093912.jpg\" alt=\"Binary Tree along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Binary Tree along Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_084638.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_085302.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_085515.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_092617.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_092921.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_093912.jpg\" alt=\"Binary Tree along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_084638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_084638.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Road<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_085302.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_085302.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_085515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_085515.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_092617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_092617.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_092921.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_092921.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_093912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_093912.jpg\" alt=\"Binary Tree along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Binary Tree along Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The road to Lulu Gulch went through a few switchbacks in the woods, until it narrowed to a trail and views of Lulu Gulch emerged out of the trees.<br \/>\nI found it reassuring that, once out of the woods, the mountains surrounding Lulu Gulch were the same ones I was about to pass through on my way to Huron Peak. It&#8217;s as if a clear roadmap had been presented in front of me.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_094515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_094515.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Out of the trees where mountains around Lulu Gulch came into view.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20240901_095001.jpg\" width=\"48%\" alt=\"Wet Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095147.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20240901_095147.jpg\" width=\"48%\" alt=\"Wet Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only wet part of the trail, where it crossed a creek.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_095720.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2750.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2752.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2752.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Ridge extending to the north from Virginia Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2751.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail Switchbacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_094515.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_095001.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_095720.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2750.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2752.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2751.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_094515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_094515.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Out of the trees where mountains around Lulu Gulch came into view.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095001.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20240901_095001.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Wet Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095147.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20240901_095147.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Wet Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only wet part of the trail, where it crossed a creek.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_095720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_095720.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2750.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2752.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2752.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Ridge extending to the north from Virginia Peak.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2751.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail Switchbacks<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Once in Lulu Gulch, I followed the &#8220;standard&#8221; route as described by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/explore\/trail\/us\/colorado\/huron-peak-via-lulu-gulch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AllTrails<\/a>. This path included a few switchbacks before crossing Middle Mountain to reach Browns Peak. Unbeknownst to me, there is also a &#8220;direct&#8221; route, detailed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/route.php?route=huro4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14ers.com<\/a> (the Browns Peak variation). This alternative is shorter and steeper, requiring more off-trail hiking on talus fields.<\/p>\n<p>Scenery-wise, I thought the &#8220;standard&#8221; route was certainly better. The beautiful views of mountains ahead somewhat eased the effort of climbing the switchbacks (slideshow below).<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2760.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2760.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak from Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak from Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_102922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_102922.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Overlooking Lulu Gulch\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lulu Gulch<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_100901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_100901.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"View of Mountains from Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>View of Mountains from Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2756.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2757.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lakes in Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_102441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_102441.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Flowers along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_103353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_103353.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_103232.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_103232.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Looking down at Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking down at Trail Switchbacks<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_104351.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_104351.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Small Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Small Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near the top of the switchbacks, that also served as an overlook.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2760.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak from Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_102922.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak from Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_100901.jpg\" alt=\"View of Mountains from Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2756.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2757.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_102441.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_103353.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_103232.jpg\" alt=\"Looking down at Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_104351.jpg\" alt=\"Small Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2760.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2760.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak from Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak from Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_102922.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_102922.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lulu Gulch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lulu Gulch<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_100901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_100901.jpg\" alt=\"View of Mountains from Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View of Mountains from Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2756.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2757.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lakes in Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_102441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_102441.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Flowers along Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_103353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_103353.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_103232.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_103232.jpg\" alt=\"Looking down at Trail Switchbacks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking down at Trail Switchbacks<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_104351.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_104351.jpg\" alt=\"Small Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Small Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near the top of the switchbacks, that also served as an overlook.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Just a few steps away from the top of the switchbacks, there was an overlook (last photo of the slideshow above) with gorgeous views. A stunning range of mountains stretched across the valley, with the village of Winfield nestled at its base. The depth of the valley was a testament to the progress I had made.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2763_DSC_2779-17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2763_DSC_2779-17.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains around Overlook\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains around Overlook<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2762C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2762C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2782.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2782.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>La Plata Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2780.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2780.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Hope\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Hope<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2781.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2781.jpg\" alt=\"Quail Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Quail Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2783.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2783.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A nameless one.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2784.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2784.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2761.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Overlooking Winfield\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Winfield<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A few cottages and some parking lots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2786.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of Huron Peak visible behind Browns Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2785.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2785.jpg\" alt=\"Trail onward to Middle Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail onward to Middle Mountain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2762C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2782.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2780.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Hope\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2781.jpg\" alt=\"Quail Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2783.jpg\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2784.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2761.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Winfield\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2786.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2785.jpg\" alt=\"Trail onward to Middle Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the trail-side overlook.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2762C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2762C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2782.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2782.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>La Plata Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2780.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2780.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Hope\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Hope<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2781.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2781.jpg\" alt=\"Quail Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Quail Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2783.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2783.jpg\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A nameless one.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2784.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2784.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2761.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Winfield\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Winfield<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A few cottages and some parking lots.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2786.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A tiny bit of Huron Peak visible behind Browns Peak.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2785.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2785.jpg\" alt=\"Trail onward to Middle Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail onward to Middle Mountain<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Leaving the overlook, the trail largely followed a ridge towards Middle Mountain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_105521.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_105521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110350.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110158.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110154.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110154.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grassland on Hillside<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110937.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110937.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Middle Mountain in the center left of this photo, just steps from trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110942.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110942.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_111127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_111127.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Fork Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Fork Valley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_105521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_110350.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_110158.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_110154.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_110937.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_110942.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_111127.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Fork Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_105521.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_105521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110350.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110158.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110154.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110154.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grassland on Hillside<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110937.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110937.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Middle Mountain in the center left of this photo, just steps from trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_110942.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_110942.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Ridge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_111127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_111127.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Fork Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Fork Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Just as the trail passed next to Middle Mountain, I started to feel a bit uneasy, as if my body and legs were reluctant to move. This was likely due to the altitude, although at that time I was below 4000m \/ 13000ft, and I was under the impression that I should be better than that. Additionally, the trail grew faint after leaving Middle Mountain. Whatever faint traces that I could find led to a small hill (UN13462).<br \/>\nGiven the state of my body, I decided not to follow the trail up and over UN13462. Instead, I would aim for the saddle point between UN13462 and Browns Peak, essentially sidehilling across UN13462. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">This was the AllTrails route.<\/span> The side of UN13462 was rocky, but the camber was small. Crucially, the relatively lack of elevation gain meant it wasn&#8217;t straining my body.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112331.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112331.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sidehilling towards Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_113648.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_113648.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sidehilling towards Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112617.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside against Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hillside against Mountainous Backdrop<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112201.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grassland on Hillside<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_114427.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_114427.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hillside\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocky Hillside<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_112331.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_113648.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_112617.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside against Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_112201.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_114427.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hillside\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112331.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112331.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_113648.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_113648.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sidehilling towards Browns Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112617.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside against Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hillside against Mountainous Backdrop<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_112201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_112201.jpg\" alt=\"Grassland on Hillside\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grassland on Hillside<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_114427.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_114427.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hillside\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocky Hillside<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At the saddle point between UN13462 and Browns Peak, I stopped and took a 10-minute break. Somehow, I felt completely rejuvenated afterward, as if the altitude sickness had vanished.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2790.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2790.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ridge to Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2788.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2788.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">UN13462, one that I bypassed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2791.jpg\" alt=\"La Plate Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>La Plate Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2792.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2792.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2794.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2794.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the southeast of Huron Peak, unnamed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_115447.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_115447.jpg\" width=\"84%\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Huron Peak as the tallest in the right of the frame.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2790.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2788.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2791.jpg\" alt=\"La Plate Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2792.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2794.jpg\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_115447.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2790.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2790.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ridge to Browns Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2788.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2788.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">UN13462, one that I bypassed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2791.jpg\" alt=\"La Plate Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>La Plate Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2792.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2792.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2794.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2794.jpg\" alt=\"Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the southeast of Huron Peak, unnamed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_115447.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_115447.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Huron Peak as the tallest in the right of the frame.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Leaving the saddle point, I decided to sidehill across Browns Peak rather than climb over it, saving myself some energy. With Browns Peak behind me, for the first time of the day, I saw Huron Peak in its entirety.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_120054.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_120054.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back at the path that I just took.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121106.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121106.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Browns Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To save some elevation gain, I bypassed its summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121152.jpg\" width=\"91%\" alt=\"Trail to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Huron Peak<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The first time of the day when I saw it in entirety. The switchbacks visible in this photo were its standard route which I would take on my descent.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121838.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sidehilling towards Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_122044.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_122044.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Cairn\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cairn<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only cairn that I saw for the entire day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_122559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_122559.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back at Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking back at Browns Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_123613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_123613.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge between Browns Peak and Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ridge between Browns Peak and Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121650.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121650.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_120054.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_121106.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_121152.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_121838.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_122044.jpg\" alt=\"Cairn\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_122559.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back at Browns Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_123613.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge between Browns Peak and Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_121650.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_120054.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_120054.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking back at the path that I just took.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121106.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121106.jpg\" alt=\"Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Browns Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To save some elevation gain, I bypassed its summit.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121152.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Huron Peak<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The first time of the day when I saw it in entirety. The switchbacks visible in this photo were its standard route which I would take on my descent.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121838.jpg\" alt=\"Sidehilling towards Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sidehilling towards Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_122044.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_122044.jpg\" alt=\"Cairn\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cairn<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only cairn that I saw for the entire day.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_122559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_122559.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back at Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking back at Browns Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_123613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_123613.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge between Browns Peak and Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ridge between Browns Peak and Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_121650.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_121650.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Finally, at 12:35pm, I joined the standard route to Huron Peak. It seemed I was the only person that day to summit Huron Peak via Lulu Gulch, which puzzled me. This variation wasn&#8217;t that much longer if one had a low-clearance car, and it came with more diverse scenery along the way. I could hardly think of the brief off-trail sections on rocks to be a deterrent. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2805C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2805C11.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back at Browns Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking back at Browns Peak<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Taken from the summit of Huron Peak. The red line indicated the approximate route that I took, before joining the standard route. To avoid unnecessary elevation gain, I avoided the two peaks along the way.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>At this time, there was 400m (0.2 miles) of trail with 150m (500 ft) of elevation gain ahead of me. I launched my drone, which followed me for this homestretch before Huron Peak&#8217;s summit. Here&#8217;s a video:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oo4S4FHVyLU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4>Summit of Huron Peak<\/h4>\n<p>Just past 1pm, I reached the summit of Huron Peak. I wanted to follow my tradition and use a drone helix video to commemorate the moment. Unfortunately, my drone seemed to have a mind of its own and refused to follow the pre-set flight paths.<\/p>\n<p>Despite this minor setback, I was thrilled to have reached the top of Huron Peak and was rewarded with breathtaking views. It felt like I was at the heart of the Colorado mountains, as I identified 16 of the state&#8217;s 14ers around me (slideshow below). It&#8217;s as if they were welcoming me to the club, after a 2-year hiatus.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2835C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2835C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2829C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2829C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2840C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2840C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2830C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2830C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2808C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2808C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Elk Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Elk Mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2835C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2829C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2840C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2830C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2808C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Elk Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the 14ers surrounding Huron Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2835C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2835C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2829C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2829C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2840C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2840C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2830C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2830C11.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2808C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2808C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Elk Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Elk Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, there were some other noteworthy mountains, such as the rocky faces of the Apostles that looked both solemn and inviting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2800.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and the Apostles\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ice Mountain and the Apostles<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2801.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/a><\/br>West Apostle<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2832.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Alpine Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2806.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"La Plata Peak under Clouds\" \/><\/a><\/br>La Plata Peak under Clouds<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looks pretty glommy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2833.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Town of Leadville through Gap between Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Town of Leadville through Gap between Mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2800.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and the Apostles\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2801.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2832.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2806.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak under Clouds\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2833.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Town of Leadville through Gap between Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2800.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and the Apostles\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ice Mountain and the Apostles<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2801.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>West Apostle<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2832.jpg\" alt=\"Alpine Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Alpine Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2806.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak under Clouds\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>La Plata Peak under Clouds<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looks pretty glommy.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2833.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Town of Leadville through Gap between Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Town of Leadville through Gap between Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In comparison, the mountains to the west were generally more approachable, with deep valleys allowing lush trees and forests to decorate their slopes below the treeline.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2872.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2872.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_140454.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_140454.jpg\" width=\"83%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mosquito Range mountains in the background right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2836.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2807.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak right across the valley.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2802.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2802.jpg\" alt=\"South Fork Clear Creek Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>South Fork Clear Creek Valley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2872.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_140454.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2836.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2807.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2802.jpg\" alt=\"South Fork Clear Creek Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the mountains to the west of Huron Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2872.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2872.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_140454.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_140454.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mosquito Range mountains in the background right.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2836.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2807.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virginia Peak right across the valley.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2802.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2802.jpg\" alt=\"South Fork Clear Creek Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>South Fork Clear Creek Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2804C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2804C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Marmot\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2814C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2814C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Marmot\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2815C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2815C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Marmot\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2817C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2817C11.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Marmot\" \/><\/a><\/br>Marmot<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I was joined by this creature on the summit of Huron Peak. It didn&#8217;t seem tired at all as it kept running around all the time.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2841_DSC_2867-27.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2841_DSC_2867-27.jpg\" alt=\"Views around Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DJI_0760_DJI_0771-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DJI_0760_DJI_0771-12.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mountains around Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Views around Huron Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from the ground (top) and from my drone (bottom)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>I stayed at the summit of Huron Peak for about an hour before starting my descent just after 2pm. After reaching the trail intersection from Lulu Gulch, the standard route of Huron Peak featured numerous switchbacks through an alpine tundra that had already donned its autumn colors. This was one of the rare occasions when I actually enjoyed the switchbacks: the gradient of the trail wasn&#8217;t steep enough to require my full attention, so it&#8217;s a comfortable stroll watching the pleasing colors of vegetation around me.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143158.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Side of Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Side of Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2875.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2875.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Iowa Peak and Emerald Peak, in the background between them was Mount Harvard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143202.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143736.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_144429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_144429.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Trail against Browns Peak Background\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail against Browns Peak Background<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145025.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145450.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_150111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_150111.jpg\" width=\"96.6%\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_143158.jpg\" alt=\"Side of Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2875.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_143202.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_143736.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_144429.jpg\" alt=\"Trail against Browns Peak Background\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_145025.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_145450.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_150111.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143158.jpg\" alt=\"Side of Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Side of Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2875.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2875.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Iowa Peak and Emerald Peak, in the background between them was Mount Harvard.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143202.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_143736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_143736.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_144429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_144429.jpg\" alt=\"Trail against Browns Peak Background\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail against Browns Peak Background<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145025.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145025.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145450.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_150111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_150111.jpg\" alt=\"Looking up to Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking up to Huron Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>As I descended to a lower elevation, the colors around the trail shifted back to green. Just before reaching the treeline, I enjoyed one last expansive view of the surrounding mountains, from La Plata Peak to the north to the Apostles to the south.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145840.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145840.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail through Meadows against Mountainous Background\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Meadows against Mountainous Background<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2888.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2888.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Meadow\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Meadow<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2895.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2895.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2899.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2899.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>La Plata Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2897.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2897.jpg\" alt=\"Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Huron Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2896.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2896.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Peaks<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2898.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2898.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Granite Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2900.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and West Apostle\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ice Mountain and West Apostle<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2901.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Virginia Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_145840.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Meadows against Mountainous Background\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2888.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Meadow\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2895.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2899.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2897.jpg\" alt=\"Huron Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2896.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2898.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2900.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and West Apostle\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2901.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_145840.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_145840.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Meadows against Mountainous Background\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Meadows against Mountainous Background<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2888.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2888.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Meadow\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Meadow<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2895.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2895.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2899.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2899.jpg\" alt=\"La Plata Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>La Plata Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2897.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2897.jpg\" alt=\"Huron Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Huron Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2896.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2896.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Peaks<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2898.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2898.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Granite Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2900.jpg\" alt=\"Ice Mountain and West Apostle\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ice Mountain and West Apostle<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2901.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Virginia Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Once below the treeline, the trail again entered a series of switchbacks as it descended the steep western face of Huron Peak. At one point, slightly off the trail where the trees were sparse, I found a spot to rest my legs on some rocks while enjoying glimpses of the mountains.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2905.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2905.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/a><\/br>West Apostle<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_154125.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_154125.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2903.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2903.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Granite Mountain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2905.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_154125.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2903.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2905.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2905.jpg\" alt=\"West Apostle\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>West Apostle<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_154125.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_154125.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2903.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2903.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Granite Mountain<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_153329.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_153329.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_153604.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_153604.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_161254.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_161254.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_161941.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_161941.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_162211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_162211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_162626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_162626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_153329.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_153604.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_161254.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_161941.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_162211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_162626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_153329.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_153329.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_153604.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_153604.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_161254.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_161254.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_161941.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_161941.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_162211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_162211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_162626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_162626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At about 4:30pm, I reached the South Winfield Trailhead, which was the standard trailhead for Huron Peak. This was 2.9km (1.8mi) from where I parked. Since no one else was finishing their hikes at the same time, I couldn&#8217;t hitch a ride and had to walk back to my car. Honestly, the walk along Clear Creek Valley wasn&#8217;t that bad, especially the initial part where I found myself in a lush meadow dotted with pine trees that offered open views. It reminded me of the previous day in North Fork Lake Creek Valley, where I could unwind after a hectic day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_163526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_163526.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Granite Peak from Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2907.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Granite Peak from Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2911.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2911.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Virginia Peak from Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2908.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Blaurock and Ervin Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Blaurock and Ervin Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2912.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20240901_163526.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2907.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2911.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak from Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2908.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Blaurock and Ervin Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_2912.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/20240901_163526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20240901_163526.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Granite Peak from Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2907.jpg\" alt=\"Granite Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Granite Peak from Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2911.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2911.jpg\" alt=\"Virginia Peak from Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Virginia Peak from Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2908.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Blaurock and Ervin Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Blaurock and Ervin Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/DSC_2912.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2914.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/DSC_2915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_2915.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Road<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">This was the typical road condition on my walk back. I felt that with a reasonable driver, any car with good ground clearance (around 8 inches or 20 cm), whether 2WD or 4WD, could reach the South Winfield Trailhead in the summer. Along the way I saw a Volkswagen Atlas and a Honda CRV. The worst part of the road was just before the intersection to Lulu Gulch Road, the remaining 2.4km (1.5mi) after the intersection was in better shape and flatter.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the end, I got back to my car at 5:10pm. Including all rests, I finished this hike in under 8.5 hours. After that, I crawled out of the gravel road and returned to Leadville, calling it a day.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The third day of my summer 2024 trip to Colorado. I wanted to include a 14er in this trip to Colorado, so I picked Huron Peak today and climbed it following the loop trail through Lulu Gulch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,666,2],"tags":[667],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9363"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9413,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9363\/revisions\/9413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}