Brown's Pass

The plan for today (as explained yesterday) was a trip up to Brown's Pass in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. The low pressure system over Nebraska had moved some 25 miles east overnight and the prediction of 6"16" of snow turned into some flurries over Denver and maybe a dusting in the Front Range. Good news for me.


Brown's Pass is accessed from the Denny Creek Trailhead off of Cottonwood Pass Road. This is also the main trailhead for Mt. Yale, but that's not on the agenda for today - ice picks required today. Brown's Pass Trail starts uphill at 10000' and doesn't stop until you reach the pass 3.5 to 4 miles and 2000 vertical feet later.

The drive up Cottonwood Pass Road

The trail started with a climb.

And crossed Denny Creek several times.

At times, it opened to views of the valley.

And sometimes views of neighboring peaks.

It climbed through Aspen groves.

And as the Aspen turned to Spruce, the forest floor became snow covered.

Finally the pass came into view.

The views from the pass...

Looking North, you can see the Three Apostles, Emerald Peak and Mt. Harvard.

And South...