Dunsinane Mountain & Precipice Peak
View of Dunsinane Mountain and Precipice Peak at sunset from our campsite in the West Fork Cimarron valley.
A short but extremely scenic outing in one of my favorite areas of Colorado
View of Dunsinane Mountain and Precipice Peak at sunset from our campsite in the West Fork Cimarron valley.
View of Dunsinane Mountain from our campsite in the West Fork Cimarron valley.
View of Turret Peak at sunset from our campsite in the West Fork Cimarron valley.
View of Precipice Peak at sunset from our campsite in the West Fork Cimarron valley.
View of Chimney Rock from the Courthouse Mountain Trail just before sunrise.
Close-up shot of Chimney Rock just before sunrise.
Kevin taking in the views above treeline on the Courthouse Mountain Trail shortly after sunrise. "Fortress Peak", Redcliff, and Coxcomb Peak can be seen in the background.
Kevin high on Courthouse Mountain. Chimney Rock is on the right.
Dwight basking in the early morning sun near the summit of Courthouse Mountain.
Dwight standing on the summit of Courthouse Mountain as it casts its pyramidal shadow behind him.
Kevin scrambling over slightly exposed rock to the summit of Courthouse Mountain.
Beginning the descent of Courthouse Mountain's east ridge.
A wall-like hoodoo that can be seen along the Courthouse Mountain Trail.
Chimney Rock as seen from the meadow just east of the Courthouse Mountain Trailhead.
Turret Ridge from the north as seen during our ascent of Dunsinane Mountain's western slopes. This summit is arguably the hardest 12er in the state.
The summit of Dunsinane Mountain is well guarded by a high, seemingly impenetrable cliff band. We're headed for the large notch on the left.
Courthouse Mountain and Chimney Rock from the western slopes of Dunsinane Mountain.
This "hoodoo gate" provides access to Dunsinane Mountain's north ridge.
Turret Ridge and a curious, narrow pillar on the west slopes of Dunsinane Mountain.
One wall of the hoodoo gate.
Kevin nearing the impressive hoodoo gate.
This massive tower was detached from one of the gate walls.
The top of one of the gate walls was quite an interesting garden of hoodoos.
The other sweeping gate wall, also topped with interesting hoodoos.
Dwight investigating the crux of Dunsinane Mountain's north ridge. Slick, snow covered ledges didn't inspire confidence on this loose, highly exposed 4th class terrain.
We decided that continuing on under these conditions without a rope was more risk than we were willing to take. We'll be back another day when the route is dry.
Kevin and Dwight descend Dunsinane Mountain.