Eccles Pass/Peak, Nuchu (Gore) range, CO Dayhike

This was my last warm-up hike before a BP trip. With the side trip to the summit, it was probably about 12 miles and +/- a little over 3,000 ft. I was out about 6 hours.

There are a few different ways to get to Eccles Pass from the Frisco area: I took the Meadow Creek trail, which is the steepest/most direct route. The first couple miles are not actively bad in any way: just kind of non-descript climbing in forest. From there, it opens up in parkland forest and then a huge meadow as one approaches the pass.

I hit the pass around 10:30 and the weather was great, so I continued on the easy class 2 path to the summit, at 12,300. Great views here, esp. north into the upper Willow Creek drainage, to Red Mtn, and to the main crest of the range on the far side of Red Buffalo Pass.

There was an alternate descent that looked fun, directly down from the summit on steep grassy slopes (instead of backtracking to the pass), so I took it. It was fun: it undoubtedly didn't make my descent any faster, but it was more interesting.

This was an excellent hike: I'd do it again. It could be part of any number of loops with a shuttle (or using the summit county transit system), but they'd all be on the long side for dayhikes--15+ miles.

Meadow Creek headwaters:

Big view from Eccles summit:

Alternate descent slopes: