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Jul 27, 2023 — Gothic Mountain is a 12er located outside Crested Butte CO, prominent enough to offer excellent views of the surrounding areas and with a trail all the way to its summit. The Washington Gulch Trail is a point to point hike over the shoulder on the north side of Gothic Mountain, meaning reaching the summit can be done from either wing of the Washington Gulch Trail. One side begins on Gothic Road (CR-317) and the other along Washington Gulch Road (CR-811). I chose the latter since I wanted a backdrop of the Elk Range 13ers as I made my ascent and I was happy with my choice. In addition, driving in this way means passing beneath the gorgeous eroded pinnacles on the east side of Gothic Mountain, located on a plot of land for research by the nearby Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
Unsure how far I'd get today since I managed to start my trip right as Colorado's monsoon season began, I set out quickly along the initially steeply switchbacking slope. The slope was covered in low plants, meaning my views toward the wildly colorful Elks was superb and I took a few breaks truly just to enjoy them. The Washington Gulch Trail tamed out a bit after the first half mile or so, progressively ascending at a kinder pace. Gothic Mountain ahead poked through the trees. An open meadow filled with wildflowers gave way to forest, and then back into a meadow where I found myself on the north side of Gothic Mountain. A clear trail junction marked the spot where I should leave the Washington Gulch Trail and continue south. Descending a hundred feet or so along this side-trail led me back into the forest, where the trail was easy to follow, but had some downed trees serving as easy obstacles.
Now at the base of Gothic Mountain's north ridge, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at how steep the trail would be, considering how the peak had looked from afar. A steep few hundred feet led to easy hiking through tundra. I watched as dark clouds gathered, but ventured on when I didn't hear any thunder. As the grade steepened again, the slope became more rocky. The basins on Gothic Mountain's east face were impressive sights from this angle. I reached a trail junction, where keeping left took me to a false summit of Gothic Mountain, while the right wraps around it. I recommend just going up and over because you only add a few more vertical feet rather than side-hill on the lesser-traveled wraparound option. A minor Class 2 move on the way up to the high point was the only notable obstacle. When I reached the summit of Gothic Mountain, I was awarded with a rainbow hovering over Crested Butte, as well as a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.
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