Climbing Deadwood Mountain

[BusaDave9]

Today I took my CJ to the La Plata Mountains. Except for the main road up the canyon most of these trails see very little maintenance (I like that!). Today I headed for one of my favorite trails there. I climbed Deadwood mountain. I took my jeep as far as I could. When the jeep trail ended I continued on foot.

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At the very beginning I had to cross the La Plata River. The water was very low.

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From there the trail climbs Deadwood Mountain. The trail is very steep and narrow. Most traffic that head up here (and there's not much) is ATVs and hikers on foot. With almost no maintenance the switchbacks are very eroded and steep at times. Even with my CJ5 I had to maneuver back and forth 3 times to negotiate some switchbacks. I continue up the very steep slope.
Deadwood is the first big mountain in this sub-chain of the San Juan Mountains. Looking to the south there aren't many mountains that direction.

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There was one fallen tree blocking the trail but I always bring my saw. Unfortunately it was an hand saw. (my chain saw is to bulky for a CJ5 ).
Even though I've been up this trail before I have to stop near the top to see if I can still continue. This is one such time. It's just hard to see if it will be possible to turn around up ahead.

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Near the tree line I get to the end of the road for motorized vehicles. There is a fork here but either route is only for foot traffic.
I hike onward where the trail has lots of fallen trees.

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I follow this trail back until I can view the next valley.

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Then I almost backtrack to follow the ridge over my jeep to the top of Deadwood Mt.

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Looking back across La Plata Canyon this is Burwell, Spiler & Babcock Peaks

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Above the tree line Deadwood Mt is all rocks.

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a moth above the tree line.

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Some of the Indian Paintbrush flowers were more brilliant than anything I saw at lower elevations.

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From the top of Deadwood Mountain I took this picture looking north. Lewis Mountain is on the right. La Plata Canyon is on the left.

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[BusaDave9]

From the top I made this 360° panorama. I just stood in one spot and took pictures in each direction. The software on this web site then made it into a panorama.
Check it out: Click here for Deadwood Mountain Panorama

 

[IOPort51]

I get winded climbing in and out of the Jeep at that altitude, even with my pacemaker set to "rich".

the panorama is pretty incredible.

 

[thiswontbetooexpensive]

I went outside at 6am and watered the yard and I didn't take any pictures. The view is nowhere near as nice as what you have shared Busa. Thanks again as always; keep it coming!

 

[Bowbender]

I gotta get out there and see some of that country first hand.... really cool. I keep showing my wife your pics, gettin' her used to the idea of a road trip What elevation does the tree line run?

 

[BusaDave9]

What elevation does the tree line run?

The tree line around here is about 12,000 feet.

 

[Bowbender]

Will my rig setup to run on the flatland run OK at that elevation?

 

[BusaDave9]

Will my rig setup to run on the flatland run OK at that elevation?

Yes, when I bought my CJ it was set up for sea level and still ran fine.

 

[Bowbender]

Good to know, thanks. I can check that off my list...:-)

 

[Petescj]

That is pretty sweet. What a beautiful area you have to explore there. Definately Bucket listing this one. Someone even made a campfire there it seems. Im not toting firewood and a tent up there.

From the top I made this 360° panorama. I just stood in one spot and took pictures in each direction. The software on this web site then made it into a panorama.
Check it out: Click here for Deadwood Mountain Panorama

 

[danray48]

What a great place to ride. Lucky you...

 

[BusaDave9]

Someone even made a campfire there it seems. Im not toting firewood and a tent up there.

It didn't look like anyone really made a fire there. People just stacked up some rocks. Those mountain tops also see a lot of lightning strikes so you wouldn't wan to camp there.

 

[IOPort51]

Can you even begin to imagine what it would be like up there on a cloudless night? almost like riding in the space station.