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Post by Outdoor Union on Jul 11, 2016 15:47:28 GMT -8
Looking for some help with hiking the Sangre de Cristo Mountains this September. We were planning on hiking up the Big Cottonwood and then bushwhacking ones the trail ends up towards Wulsten Baldy and Nipple Mountains. Has anyone been in this area that could fill me in on the hiking up the Big Cottonwood?? Thanks
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Post by tomcat on Aug 22, 2016 17:52:50 GMT -8
I have climbed Cottonwood from the Duckett TH on the eastern side of the range. Depending on your vehicle you can get up the road toward Cloverdale Basin but its rough four wheel drive. From Cottonwood it's a fairly straight shot on a ridge above treeline toward Wulsten. Nipple is usually climbed from Hayden Pass via the Black Mtn Trail and a short off trail climb. From Cottonwood, Nipple could be tough with a below treeline traverse and bushwack. This may be in the Hayden Pass Burn area You may want to check with the San Isabel NF about possible closures. This area, particularly Nipple is in the Hayden Pass burn area and I'm not sure if it will be open this year. There was a fairly expansive closure in the area. tomcatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2014/08/climbing-peaks-of-cloverdale-basin.htmlThe link is to my hike of Cottonwood with other peaks to the south. My exit from Cottonwood would likely be your starting point. Wulsten can be seen on the pics from Cottonwood's summit. Nipple Mtn area was fogged over in the pics however so that won't be of much help.
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