Jul 16, 2018 — Engineer Mountain is a popular 12er due to its relatively short approach and short section of scrambling. It's also got some incredible views, being in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The Pass Creek Trailhead is accessed on the west side of Coal Bank Pass, along US Hwy 550. The trail begins through a pretty wildflower-filled meadow as it slowly gains elevation and heads through the forest. It passes a cute unnamed pond and continues ascending to an alpine meadow above, where the absurdly photogenic Engineer Mountain comes into view. A social trail leaves the Pass Creek Trail and leads up to the east ridge of Engineer Mountain. The base of the peak is steep and dirty, but Austin and I made it to the talus-covered ridge crest. The majority of the ascent from here is Class 2, but there were two sections of fun Class 3 moves. The first is a chimney-like feature used to get above the crest and onto a somewhat exposed slope on the south side of the ridge. The second bit of Class 3 leads up this face and back to the ridge crest, where Class 2 leads on talus to Engineer Mountain's summit. The views were spectacular.
Note the photos are looking blurry and rough because I broke my lens a couple of days ago and condensation was building up inside. Oops!
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