Argentine Pass Summit Hiking and Jeeping Adventure
Spend 3 days exploring the deep valleys and soaring peaks of the Colorado continental divide surrounding Argentine Pass. Your trip begins with a 4x4 jeeping adventure to reach our alpine base camp near Argentine Pass before attempting your first summit of the trek. You will spend your next two evenings here with a camp cook preparing your meals and comfortable camp beds in your tents. Do not be fooled though, the days’ hikes to tag the surrounding summits will be long and those luxuries will be earned. Prepare to summit as many as 5 peaks all above 12,000 feet on this incredible high altitude hiking trip.
Difficulty Level
Moderate - Hard
Participants should be in good physical shape, exercising regularly. Hiking distances will range from 9 – 10 miles and include up to 3,600 ft in elevation gain.
Exposure Rating
Moderate
Hiking up mountain valleys to high alpine lakes. You are shielded from the worst of the elements most of the time. Hiking above tree line to Alpine Summits exposes you to wind and possible storms. Exposure to steep slopes or cliffs is minimal.
Trail Type
Rough & Rocky Trail
Alpine Scree Fields
Trails are all well maintained but still rough and rocky by most standards. Expect loose rocks and regular high step ups above knee height. There are long sections of travel on unimproved alpine terrain including loose scree slopes.
Itinerary
3 days of Hiking - 2 nights of lodging - 2 nights in Base Camp - 2 days of travel
DAY 0: Travel & Pre-Trip Meeting
Fly in to Denver International Airport where our shuttle driver will be awaiting your arrival. An hour drive takes you to your lodging in Georgetown, Colorado on the edge of the scenic Georgetown Lake.
DAY 1: Jeep to Base Camp, Climb Pendleton Mountain (12,491 FT)
Hiking Distance: 10.5 miles | Hiking Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
We will wake up early and Jeep up to our base camp before beginning our first full day of hiking on the moderate slopes of Pendleton Mountain. Our goal is to allow our bodies to adjust to the altitude before taking on our bigger hikes over the following days. As we ascend, Colorado’s mining history will be visible all around you in the form of tailing’s piles and old mining shaft entrances. As we reach long high ridge you will be greeted with an excellent view of the rest of our trip’s objectives.
DAY 2: Climb Mount Wilcox (13,408 ft)
Hiking Distance: 10 miles | Hiking Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
We will have a moderately early start after our first night spent at camp – the day’s objective will be the mighty Mount Wilcox. We will begin by making our way to the far side of the Leavenworth Creek and use old mining roads to gain access to the high alpine ridge on Wilcox’s Northern flank. Once we break above tree line the journey is far from over. We must still ascend about 1’000 feet to reach the summit. Fortunately Wilcox’s Northern ridge are beautiful and gently sloped alpine meadows making for quite an enjoyable ramble and excellent second day of hiking.
DAY 3: Climb Mount Edwards (13,850 ft) & Argentine Peak (13,738 ft)
Hiking Distance: 9.5 miles | Hiking Elevation Gain: 3,600 feet
This is the final day of hiking and certainly the biggest. The plan is to summit two 13,000 foot mountains – Mount Edwards and Argentine Peak. We will begin with Mount Edwards climbing its Southeastern flank. From the summit you will have excellent views of the top of the continental divide – Grays and Torreys Peaks. Then we will descend the Southern ridge along the Continental Divide across the top of the Argentine Pass and onto the towering Argentine Peak. From here the hiking becomes more challenging, the trail disappears, and we must navigate the raw North Ridge of Argentine Peak with a traverse through a steep and somewhat exposed scree-field as the crux of the day. Surpass this challenge and you will be rewarded with stunning views of mountain ranges marching off on every point of the compass as you reach the high summit of Argentine Peak. After reaching this lofty summit we will make our way back down to base camp where we will load back into the jeeps and drive back to Georgetown and our celebration dinner!
DAY 4: Travel on
We will shuttle you back to Denver International Airport and bid you farewell as you head on to your next adventure.
