Mike's Hikes - Recent Hike: Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountains

Due to time constraints, I've not had time to write up all the hikes I've done (given the time, I'd rather just do another hike!). Well, my friend Steve Masters, whom I met because of Mike's Hikes, came out and wanted to do Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon. He invited me to join him, and so I did. Steve was kind enough to write up a report of the hike and I'm pleased to be publishing the very first Mike's Hikes Guest Trip Report.

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Destination: Chapin - Chiquita - Ypsilon Mountains - Rocky Mountain National Park
Final Elevation: 12,454' -13,069' - 13,514'
Elevation at Trailhead: 10,640' (Chapin Creek Trailhead)
Elevation Gain: 1,814' - 2,429' - 2,874'
Distance: ~7 miles R.T.
Date: Tuesday, July 6, 1999
Hikers: Mike Molloy (Estes Park, CO) & Steve Masters (Levittown, PA)
Objective: To report on hikes from the perspective of an individual in his fifties (Steve M.)

Made up my mind this past winter that I wanted to do this hike. I'd not done a 13er before, and this was an opportunity to do two in one trip! Jan did not think she would want to try it, so I contacted my friend and hiking mentor, Mike Molloy, to see if he'd be interested in participating in my adventure. I received an enthusiastic affirmative and we agreed to do the hike on July 6th.

Mike picked me up at 0500 and we headed up Old Fall River Road and reached the TH at 0530 and on our way by 0540. The first couple of hundred yards is fairly steep. Right from the get-go, I was real glad that Mike was leading. Mike's pace is perfect for me and he does not vary it, something that I haven't been able to adopt yet. Still, even with the steady pace, I was breathing pretty fast by the time we reached the turn off to Chapin. I'm sure part of the reason was from being wound up for the hike, but it usually takes me a little while to get my second wind.

After the turn, we passed through a couple of spots that still had some fairly deep snow and a few rock stair steps, but the grade was gentle as we rose above treeline and started up the west side of Chapin. The views were becoming excellent. We stayed on the trail past the western summit and climbed the eastern summit as the trail petered out. There are some cairns here and there, but the route is pretty obvious -- up.

We reached Chapin's eastern summit at 0720. There are excellent views of Estes Park and Horseshoe Park, Chapin Creek Basin and the Alpine Visitors Center. We stopped for a bite to eat at one of the stone shelters and chatted with three summer workers from the YMCA who were doing the same hike.

After our snack and picture taking, we headed for Chiquita around 0800.

We hiked down (~400') to the saddle between Chapin and Chiquita and followed the ridgeline up Chiquita. We stopped a few times to admire the wonderfully breathtaking views. It also gave us the 30 seconds or so to resume more controlled breathing. Although I've read that this is the easiest 13er in the Park, I thought it was steeper than Ypsilon and I believe Mike thought so too - And, if you figure a distance of 0.9 miles with a descent of 400', one is climbing ~1,000' in approximately a half mile. A pretty decent hill I'd say. :-)

But thanks to Mike's excellent, consistent pace, we were both feeling great and topped out on Chiquita by 0900, even with the gawking stops.

After signing the register, we revisited with the YMCAers took pictures and took in some sustenance. The views were awesome and I started wondering how much better Ypsilon's views could be?

We lingered a while on Chiquita, just enjoying the beauty. But Ypsilon was there above us and beckoning!

As we started down and across the saddle between Chiquita and Ypsilon there was a huge snow bank extending out from the ridge. I kinda sauntered over to my left to stay on "solid" ground. Mike followed the trail through the snow. As we were almost by, Mike commented that he might have to change his drawers if a big crack suddenly appeared in the snow next to him. We both laughed, but it was a sobering thought.

The trip up Ypsilon required a lot more rock (boulder) hopping. Mike commented as to how he'd hate to have a fall on these rocks. I couldn't agree more. It seemed like half of them had tapered edges that were facing up. But, as mentioned, I think it was still a less difficult climb.

When we topped out, we looked around and didn't see the rock shelter. At first we thought the Peak to our north was Fairchild. But then Mike said this was the false summit and that peak was really Ypsilon's true summit. We took a look around at the views and then continued up to the real summit, arriving at 1120.

Well, I'd run out of adjectives. Let me just say this, no picture can show what the eye beholds up there. This is a "must see" for anyone who loves hiking these mountains, and has the opportunity to do it.

We spent almost an hour drinking in and memorizing this awesome scene. We had our last visit with the YMCAers and talked briefly with another hiker that came up right after us. They headed back about 10 minutes later. While we were relaxing, Mike gave me a couple of pointers that I will definitely use on future hikes.

As we were taking pictures, Mike directed my attention towards the plains. They were totally cloud covered and it was quite a sight. You could actually see clouds filtering into the mountains. There were some really neat cloud formations all around us, and then a few that were questionable, considering our altitude.

Thus motivated, we started back down at 1220. Mike suggested we swing around Chiquita and pick up the trail below Chapin. It was a great thought and we did just that.

It was quite a hike down. Mostly rock hopping for more than an hour. Mike was sure there must be a trail lower down. As I look back, he had to be right. But I was leery of getting too low and having to do some unnecessary climbing to get back up to the trail at Chapin. So he (subtly) drifted down, while I (subtly) angled along the side of Chiquita on a less downward drift. As it turned out, we kind of split the difference. :-)

We stopped to take some close-up pictures of some of the gorgeous, tiny, high altitude flowers and also to shed our long sleeved shirts. It had become very warm (low 70's) even though we were still well above treeline. We continued our rock to rock angled descent and soon saw Chapin. Amazing how different the landscape looks from another direction. Mike saw a trail well down the side of Chapin and we headed for it. Meanwhile, dark clouds were drifting over the saddle between Chiquita and Chapin. Not being thrilled with the thought of being a human lightning rod, I had picked up my pace quite a bit. I think Mike did too, as he wasn't too far behind.

When we reached the trail, neither of us recognized it as the one we came in on. It was way too low. But it headed in the right direction and we took it and it eventually intersected. The clouds never developed into anything and we soon reached treeline. Mike, not knowing how I was doing, inquired as to whether I still had my sense of humor. Well, if he could have seen the big, happy smile on my face, he'd have burst out laughing. I was having a ball. However, with about a half mile to go, I did tell him I only had an eighth of a tank left. I said that, because I wasn't sure how he was feeling (as it turned out - he was feeling the same as me - PLEASED!).

We reached the car at 1415 and Mike and I did a "hi five." Could hiking get any better than what we just experienced? I was so pleased with the day, I could have bellowed a real decent Ya-hoo! But a guy in his 50's should know better, so I restrained it (reluctantly).

We drove up to Trail Ridge Road and stopped at the Lava Rock outlook - which looks right at Chapin-Chiquita-Ypsilon. When we looked at where we had hiked, it was almost too hard to believe. I know the guys Mike and I asked to take our pictures (with the three mountains in the background) were very impressed.

I took one more look to make sure that I'd remember the sight of what we had just hiked for the rest of my life. I know Mike did the same.

--Steve Masters