Today, Joyce/K0JJW and I activated Kaufman Ridge (W0C/SP-081). This was my 10th activation of this summit and the 8th for Joyce. Kaufman is an easy summit near our cabin, so it is a favorite when we want to do a Summits On The Air (SOTA) activation. I’ve posted about how to activate this summit in the past, but a few things have changed over the years, so this update seems appropriate. Because of the off-trail hiking, we always seem to take a different route each time, but the specific route is not critical. We have learned a few things to avoid on the hike, which are reflected in this post. The one-way hiking distance is about 1.4 miles with 1000 vertical feet.
Getting There
There is no trail and no trailhead. To reach the recommended parking spot, turn south at the top of Trout Creek Pass and follow Windmill Drive (also marked as County Road 318) southeast to San Isabel National Forest. As you enter the forest, you will be on FS318, which has a gate normally closed from Dec 1 to Apr 30. You can still activate the summit when the gate is closed, but you’ll have to hike in on the road.
Pass through the gate going south on FS318 and take a sharp left (almost a U turn) onto FS308. Later, turn right onto a side road, FS308B, which should be marked. Drive a short distance on FS308B until the road is closed to motor vehicles. These roads are easy 4WD and high clearance 2WD will probably work fine. The FS road continues but is closed to motor vehicles at this point. There is a dispersed campsite here, so you may encounter campers. Park here at 38.85979, -105.93318.
The Hike
The hike up Kaufman starts on the old Jeep road, which is easy to follow. Later, this road ends, and the off-trail hiking begins. In the past, we’ve tried just heading straight for the summit (which works), but it can take you into significant downed timber and difficult rocky areas. It is better to head due south, hook around to the west and approach the summit from the east/southeast as shown on the map. This avoids the large aspen grove directly NE of the summit, with lots of downed timber.
There is a medium-sized rock (maybe 2 by 2 by 3 feet) sitting in the open that is a useful landmark to aim for. This waypoint (The Rock) is particularly useful for orienting yourself on the descent. Keep heading south past The Rock and turn slightly southwest toward a ridge that runs NW/SE from the summit. A good place to intersect this ridge is marked as the waypoint Trail on Ridge. Here you will intersect a game trail that runs along the ridge, which you should follow to the summit. This waypoint is also useful on the descent, to let you know when you need to leave the game trail (which continues on SE for a while).
Once you get onto the ridge, you will have a fantastic view of the Collegiate Peaks to the west. A cairn is at the summit with the typical summit register in a jar.
We had a fantastic time today on the summit. Great spring weather, blue sky with a few clouds. We worked a number of stations on 2m and 70 cm: KF0RIG (On Spinney Mountain, W0C/SP-118), KD0MRC, K8QWR, W0XC, K0MGL, K0LTH, W5PYB (mobile), W0BV, K0PF (mobile), and KD0RRD (mobile).
73 Bob K0NR
Waypoints
End of Old Jeep Trail (38.85545, -105.93519)
The Rock (38.85545, -105.93519)
Trail on Ridge (38.84937, -105.94055)
Summit (38.85050, -105.94280)