www.cmc.org Search    Join Support Store Programs About Us Conservation Education Groups Members Login Trip Schedule       Trip Details   Home :: Members :: Activities :: Activity Search :: Trip Details << Back Saturday  11/07/2009  Fort Collins Group Lightning Peak (10,567') and Thunder Peak (10,134"), RMNP   Difficult C Pace: Moderate Difficulty: Off Trail Status: Closed "Lightning Peak" is an unofficial name for this ranked peak that juts strongly up just north of Estes Cone in RMNP. "Thunder Peak" is also an unofficial name for a ranked peak north of "Lightning". Both offer compelling views of the entire Mummy Range and many of the high peaks of the high Continental Divide of the park, as well as of Mount Meeker and Longs Peak. Toward the east Gianttrack Mountain, Ramshorn Mountain, Lily Mountain, The Crags, Twin Sisters Peak, and Twin Sisters Mountain are advantageously seen from these summits, as are many of the ranked peaks of Larimer County, particularly Mount Olympus and Crosier, Palisade, and Prospect Mountains. No trail penetrates the steep terrain that needs to be climbed to reach the two summits. In winter, it's almost guaranteed that we'll encounter no on in this portion of RMNP, even on weekends. We'll hike (or snowshoe if early snow has accumulated) from the East Portal Trailhead (at 8,220 feet) by starting up the Wind River Trail; we'll leave the trail near the confluence of the two branches of the creek that forms this valley system. We'll move up the gently rising wooded valley until we reach the base of the Northwest Ridge of Lightning Peak. From this point up to treeline, the mountain will engage us with unrelenting, steep slopes. We'll climb the ridge to the summit where we'll eat lunch and admire the remarkable vistas. Let's hope for clear weather and low winds! After appreciating our vantage at the top of Lightning, we'll descend to its saddle with Thunder Peak, climb Thunder, and then make a fairly moderate descent back to the Wind River Trail and the trailhead. Most of the trip will involve Class 2 terrain (no portion will exceed this rating), and we will follow a route that entails little exposure. If we encounter snow conditions that require snowshoeing, catching both peaks will require a rigorous, exhausting day! If snowshoeing is unnecessary, we'll have a more   Trail mileage: 6 miles Elevation gain: 3000 feet Driving distance: 80 miles Meeting time: Join | Support | Store | Events | About Us | Conservation | Education | Groups | Members       © 2005 Colorado Mountain Club. All rights reserved.       Web Site Feedback