Best Summit Hikes Denver to Vail: Hikes and Scrambles Along the I-70 Corridor
Copyright © 2016 by James Dziezynski
Published by Wilderness Press
Distributed by Publishers Group West
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, first printing
Cover design: Scott McGrew
Book design: Lisa Pletka and Annie Long
Maps: © National Geographic Maps, with trails added by the author
All cover and interior photos, except where noted, by James Dziezynski
Front cover photos: (top) Reaching the summit of Drift Peak; (bottom) looking west to Vail Pass and the Gore Range from Jacque Peak
Back cover photos: (background) Summit of Mount Eva; author photographed by Jenny Salentine
Frontispiece: Sunset from Shrine Mountain, looking out on the Tenmile Range. Left to right are Peak 10, Crystal Peak, and Pacific Peak. Photographed by Wendy Cranford.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dziezynski, James.
Title: Best summit hikes Denver to Vail : hikes and scrambles along the I-70 corridor / James Dziezynski.
Description: First edition. | Birmingham, AL : Wilderness Press, [2016] | “Distributed by Publishers Group West”—T.p. verso. | Includes webography and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016007499| ISBN 9780899978116 | ISBN 9780899978123 (EISBN)
Subjects: LCSH: Hiking—Colorado—Denver Metropolitan Area—Guidebooks. | Hiking—Colorado—Vail Region—Guidebooks. | Trails—Colorado—Denver Metropolitan Area—Guidebooks. | Trails—Colorado—Vail Region—Guidebooks. | Interstate 70—Guidebooks. | Denver Metropolitan Area (Colo.)--Guidebooks. | Vail Region (Colo.)—Guidebooks.
Classification: LCC GV199.42.C62 D463 2016 | DDC 796.5109788/83—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016007499
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.
SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions and know your own limitations.
Contents
Safety: First Aid and Hiking at Altitude
1. South Slopes of Mount Bancroft to Parry Peak
2. James Peak–Mount Bancroft Loop
II. Fall River Reservoir Trailhead
3. Northeast Ridge Slopes of Mount Eva to Witter Peak
4. Parrys Rib to Parry Peak–Mount Bancroft–Mount Eva Loop
The Witter Slam: Witter, Eva, Parry, Bancroft, and James Peak Point-to-Point Ending at Loch Lomond
Fall River Reservoir–Berthoud Pass Point-to-Point
III. West Chicago Creek Trailhead
5. Alpine Peak to Sugarloaf Peak Loop
IV. Empire–Republican Mountain Trailhead and Bard Creek Trailhead
6. Republican Mountain and Sherman Mountain
7. Bard Peak via Bard Creek Trail