Looking for very specific route info: Chicago Basin area

I am not familiar with the area so I went to Google Earth. By searching for Peak Eleven, I could get a very nice close up and in 3D the problem areas really stood out. How do you feel about ascending scree? Just from what I could see, the option closest to Windom Peak seemed the most likely. Again, this is strictly from my armchair.

Unfortunately my great buddy that's lived outside Durango for 30 years is up this way doing a chunk of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride, I get to resupply him perhaps next weekend. If these are longer term plancs remind me in a few weeks and he can give you great intel, he's done just about everything down there. Been more than 35 years since I did most of my 14ers.

I've done the route that goes closest to Windom. I climbed to the saddle, dropped my pack, and summited Windom, then backtracked and dropped straight down to lake 12545. But I don't know how to describe the class. It's a very steep boulder/rock field at the top, some loose rock in there. But it wasn't technical. Just slow. No ledges or hand holds that I remember, other than to just be careful dropping down the rocks. But again, I'm not good with classes.

The route to the left of Sunlight peak goes, but I haven't done it. I was told that was the more common way that people get through there, but I opted for the Windom route when I did it.

Also, once past lake 12545, aim for the "e" in "lake" where your map above says "Sunlight Lake". This will keep you out of some cliffs

Update, joey.

Your beta was very helpful. I found the Windom/Sunlight saddle exactly as you described. I'd say that the descent to lake 12,545 from the saddle is class 2, but very steep at the top. I did not take axe or crampons, so I had to take the scree. (I would have preferred the snow if I'd been equipped for it.) I did take the snow pretty-much all the way down to Lake 12,545 once I cleared the super-steep upper slope. I'd rather post hole a little than descend 1,000 feet in ankle-breaker talus and boulders.

About the descent to Sunlight Lake0--I thought that I followed your advice, but I did end up in those cliff bands and had to drop my pack down ahead of me a couple times. I really needed to ride the ridge even further east than the "E" on the map--east of the outlet of Sunlight Lake. Oh well, next time I'll know.

It's one of those deals where if you were going FROM Sunlight up TO 12,545, the route would be obvious.

Lake 12,545 was particularly spectacular. It'd be tempting to camp near the outlet. But probably too cold in Sept, too exposed to storms in the summer.

Thanks again for the beta.