East Ridge from Tellurium Peak

Overview

West Tellurium is the lower partner of Tellurium Peak at the head of Tellurium Creek, north of Taylor Park. Alone it is a simple, direct Class 2 climb; most people tie it to Tellurium.

From Tellurium's summit, follow the west ridge southwest over rocky but fair ground. A few outcrops need care and slow you a little. From the saddle east of West Tellurium, it is under half an hour of easy scrambling on loose rock and tundra to the top, with a fine view of the Lincoln Creek peaks and the Elk Mountains.

The full loop is about 8.1 miles with 2,645 feet of gain. From Tellurium it is about 1.3 miles and 745 feet one way.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Gunnison, take Highway 135 north 17.4 miles to Almont and turn right on Forest Road 742 toward Taylor Park Reservoir. It's paved the 16.7 miles up to the Trading Post in Taylor Park. Turn left (north) there and keep on 742, now graded gravel, up the east side of the reservoir for 14.9 miles to Forest Road 584 on the right. If you reach Dorchester Campground, you are about a mile past it. From Buena Vista, drive County Road 306 west over Cottonwood Pass; on the far side it becomes County Road 209 and drops to the reservoir, where you turn right on 742.

Forest Road 584 climbs up Tellurium Creek and needs a true 4WD with good clearance. Cars should stop at the bottom. The first 1.5 miles are the worst, mostly loose rock; higher up the grade eases and there are smoother flat stretches. Plan on about 45 minutes for the 5 miles to a primitive camp beside a stand of tall conifers on the south side of the road, a little below some beaver ponds (about 11,400 feet). This camp is the trailhead.

Dorchester, Dinner Station, River's End and Lakeview campgrounds are along the way, and there are many primitive sites, including one about 3 miles up Tellurium Creek. The only other way in is the Lincoln Creek road to Grizzly Reservoir from Highway 82, which also takes 4WD.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Beaver pond camp 11,400' · 0 mi

   Walk north up the old road. Where it forks at about 11,600 feet, keep right (east). Elk often graze here.

2. 2

   Leave the road 12,000' · 1 mi

   The road heads on toward a saddle on Tellurium's southeast ridge, where it fades out near an old mine. Leave it and aim for the steep south face.

3. 3

   South face 12,600' · 1.5 mi

   Climb a steep, very rocky slope, then traverse into the rock-filled couloir that falls from just east of the summit.

   Watch for: Loose rock; watch for rockfall from others.

4. 4

   Gray ramp 13,150' · 2 mi

   Partway up the gully, cut left onto a ramp of lighter gray rock. It tops out on the summit ridge a bit west of the high point.

5. 5

   Tellurium Peak 13,311' · 2.2 mi

   A short scramble east leads to the top.

6. 6

   Saddle 12,700' · 3 mi

   Head southwest down the west ridge. Work around a few rocky spots.

7. 7

   West Tellurium 13,078' · 3.5 mi

   Climb the east ridge on loose rock and some tundra.

Getting down

Go back to the saddle and find an old trail (an old roadbed) that runs west of Ptarmigan Lake. Or walk straight down the south ridge to a trail that crosses it near 12,400 feet. Either way, pass west of the lake and follow the old road back to the ponds. Early in summer you may be able to glissade.

If things go wrong

From the saddle, drop south toward Ptarmigan Lake and the old road.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up West Tellurium we list, with its class.

• West Tellurium East Ridge this routeClass 2 8.1 mi