Prize Benchmark: East Ridge from Booby Prize

Colorado 13er · East Ridge from Booby Prize

Is it right for you?

Prize Benchmark is a rocky summit at a meeting point of three far-apart valleys, with a unique view over Taylor Park.

From Booby Prize you follow the ridge north, stepping around rock obstacles, contour past Point 13,090, and scramble the east ridge. It is mostly Class 2+ with brief Class 3.

Booby Prize, Prize Benchmark and Middle Mountain make a loop from the upper South Fork of Lake Creek: about 9.85 miles and 3,850 feet. UN 13,440 can be added too.

Plan of the day

Start by

By 6:30 a.m.

Turnaround

Be on Booby Prize by 10:30 a.m.

Crux

Short Class 3 steps.

Route-finding

Moderate. Contour the southwest face of Point 13,090 to save climbing.

Water

The South Fork and side streams. Filter it.

This week on the summit

Conditions on the summit

Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,391'…

—Summit temp now

—Sustained wind

—Gusting to

—Freezing level

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Tomorrow

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Day three

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Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.

Getting there

Trailhead

South Fork Lake Creek

Find it on a map

From US 24 between Leadville and Buena Vista, take Highway 82 west past Twin Lakes about 14.5 miles and turn left (south) on the South Fork Lake Creek road (Forest Road 391), at the La Plata Peak trailhead. From Aspen, it's about 4.5 miles below the last switchback on the east side of Independence Pass.

Cross the bridge over the Lake Creek gorge and follow Forest Road 391 through private land. Stay on 391 past the Sayres Gulch fork (about 2.7 miles), the McNasser Gulch road (0.6 mile farther) and the Peekaboo Gulch turnoff (1.3 miles farther). There are private cabins near Peekaboo Creek; don't camp near them.

It's about 1.2 more miles to the trailhead at the wilderness boundary. High clearance helps, especially on the last rough stretch, and the Forest Service may close the road lower down.

Where to sleep

Base towns and camping for this climb

Twin Lakes About 14 mi away as the crow flies · 3 campgrounds listed · free camping: Forest Road 125B above Lakeview Lodging & camping → Aspen About 17 mi away as the crow flies · 3 campgrounds listed · free camping: Lincoln Creek Road Lodging & camping →

Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.

Before you go

Check these the week of your climb.

Official forecast

The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.

NWS point forecast →

Directions to the trailhead

South Fork Lake Creek. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.

Get directions →

Roads and highways

Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.

COtrip road conditions →

Closures and fire rules

Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.

Forest Service alerts →

Snow on the route?

From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Avalanche forecast →

Cell signal

Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.

FCC coverage map →

The route

RoadTundraRidgeScramblingExposed to lightning The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.

1
South Fork trailhead 11,280' · 0 mi
Follow the old road into the upper basin. It climbs above the creek through willows and then conifers.
2
Leave the road 12,200' · 2.4 mi
Near 12,200 feet the road bends sharply left, then right. At the right bend, leave it and cross the tundra and creek.
3
Tarn 12,250' · 2.6 mi
Head for a little tarn sitting below the rock glacier that spills off Booby Prize.
4
Southeast saddle 12,560' · 3.1 mi
A game trail climbs south over a low ridge above a pond and contours southwest across Booby Prize's slopes to the saddle southeast of the summit.
5
Booby Prize 13,326' · 3.5 mi
Walk up the southeast ridge over more and more rock, about 600 feet.
6
Saddle 12,950' · 3.9 mi
Head down the rocky north ridge toward Point 13,090. Pass three rock obstacles on the left; at the fourth, drop a little and contour to the saddle.
Watch for: Brief Class 3 possible.
7
Prize saddle 12,850' · 4.3 mi
Contour across the southwest face of Point 13,090 at about 12,800 to 12,900 feet to the saddle below Prize Benchmark.
8
Prize Benchmark 13,391' · 4.75 mi
Scramble more than 600 feet of moderately rocky ground.
Watch for: Brief Class 3.

Getting down

Go back down the east ridge and on toward Middle Mountain (see that page), or return over Booby Prize.

If things go wrong

The saddle with Booby Prize has a game trail down into the basin.

3D flyover

No 3D flyover for this peak

Past the old road the route is trailless. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.

See the trail on video

No video yet

We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.

Other routes

Every way up Prize Benchmark we list, with its class.

Prize BM East Ridge this routeClass 3 9.85 mi

See Prize Benchmark on the 13ers list →

Check in before you go

Send someone your peak, route, trailhead and when you’ll be back. If you’re late, they know where to send help.

East Ridge from Booby Prize

Brief Class 3 scrambling