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Aug 12, 2020 — Google won't navigate you to the trailhead coordinates I have listed as the trailhead. Instead, navigate to this turn-off: 39.4567473, -105.7214929 and follow the good dirt road. We were able to make it all the way in a mid-clearance vehicle, but I recommend having decent tires for the last couple of miles. From the Gibson Lake Trailhead, the trail leads through the woods, follows a road-converted-trail for a while, then continues out of treeline into pretty meadows/tundra. Once at Gibson Lake, what research led me to believe was the standard route seems to head right (northwest) from the lake and up the steep slope, continuing up to the north side of Whale Peak. We headed this way on the ascent. It's Class 2 with loose rocks in short parts, and quite steep in sections up the grassy slope, so much so that we needed at least a hand to stabilize ourselves, even on the grass.
From the summit of Whale Peak, we decided to attempt a route down the southern ridge, continuing down to the east side of Gibson Lake. This route was much better. The ridge was more mellow, with only a small section of Class 2, and otherwise a pleasant descent. There was even a social trail of sorts along the ridge. I recommend coming this way instead for both the ascent and descent.
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