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.
Colorado 13er · Northwest Ridge
Overview
Drift Peak sits on the long ridge between Fletcher Mountain and Pacific Peak in the southern Tenmile Range. This route starts in Mayflower Gulch off Highway 91, follows an old mining road to the Boston Mine ruins, then climbs Drift's northwest ridge all the way to the top.
The ridge is Class 2 but it is not a stroll. The middle section has a few rocky bumps and a loose slope where short stretches of climber's trail come and go. Higher up the ridge steepens and the rock gets looser. One dark rock point near the top can be scrambled at Class 3 or walked around on its left at Class 2.
From the paved lot it is about 6.8 miles round trip with 3,000 feet of gain. A high-clearance 4WD can shave off 2.8 miles by driving to the mine. Plan on 5 to 7 hours.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5:30 a.m. You are on an exposed ridge for the whole upper half.
Turnaround
If you are not past the rust-colored rock band near 12,900 feet by 10 a.m., or clouds are stacking up, head down.
Crux
The loose slope above the first ridge bump near 12,100 feet, and the steep, rocky ridge above 13,000 feet.
Route-finding
The road is easy. On the ridge, stay on or just left of the crest. The ridge funnels you to the top, but note where you left the road for the way down.
Water
The creek in Mayflower Gulch runs beside the road. There is none on the ridge. Filter it: the gulch has old mine workings.
From I-70, take the Copper Mountain exit and drive south on Highway 91 toward Fremont Pass for about 6 miles. The big dirt lot for Mayflower Gulch is on the east side of the highway. Any car can reach it.
With a high-clearance 4WD you can drive 1.4 miles up the gulch road to the ruins of the Boston Mine at about 11,500 feet, where there are a few spots to park near a gate. This description starts at the paved lot.
TundraRoadTalus and screeRidgeScramblingExposed 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
Mayflower Gulch trailhead 10,980' · 0 mi
Walk up the old road on the east side of the lot. It climbs gently through the trees along the creek.
2
Boston Mine 11,500' · 1.4 mi
The road reaches the old cabins and mill of the Boston Mine. Do not follow the road left into the mine area. Instead take the closed road that heads up to the right.
Watch for: The mine buildings are old and unsafe. Look, don't enter.
3
Old road to the ridge 11,800' · 1.8 mi
Leave the trees and you can see Drift and most of the ridge ahead. Follow the road southwest as it switchbacks up toward the lower northwest ridge.
4
Leave the road 12,060' · 2.2 mi
Where the road meets the ridge, turn left off it and climb south along the ridge to a level area near 12,060 feet.
Watch for: Pick out a landmark here so you leave the ridge at the right place coming down.
5
First ridge bump 12,200' · 2.4 mi
Head to the first bump and find a faint trail that zigzags up through the rocks. When it fades in the middle of the loose slope, pick your way carefully up rock and dirt to the crest.
Follow the narrow crest to the next high point. Look for a faint path on the right side that brings you back onto the ridge, then keep to the crest past the last of the bumps.
7
Rust-colored rock 12,900' · 3 mi
A band of orange rock and an old prospect hole mark the start of the steeper upper ridge. From here the rock is looser and the slope is steeper.
8
Upper ridge 13,400' · 3.2 mi
Climb on or just left of the crest. Short bits of trail appear now and then. Take your time on the loose sections.
9
Dark rock point 13,500' · 3.3 mi
Walk around the dark point on its left side to keep it Class 2, or scramble over the top at Class 3 if you are comfortable.
Watch for: The top of the point is exposed. The bypass is the safer choice in wind or wet.
10
Summit 13,915' · 3.4 mi
Follow a strip of white rock up to the top. Fletcher Mountain and Quandary sit to the south and east.
Getting down
Go down the way you came. Take the loose sections slowly and stay close together. Watch for the spot near 12,060 feet where you leave the ridge for the old road; the lower ridge keeps going and it is easy to overshoot in cloud.
If things go wrong
The old road is your only easy way off. There is no good shortcut down the steep sides of the ridge. If weather turns, retreat along the ridge to the road; the Boston Mine area has no shelter, so keep going to your car.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the old Boston Mine this route follows an open ridge with only scraps of trail. 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.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.