Kiefer - Aug 17, 2024 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2024
Summer Trail
4th time up. Never on the standard summer trail though. Easy & quick day. Hordes of people on Handies.
Woodie Hopper - Aug 4, 2022 7:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2022
South Ridge from Cuba Gulch
Nice day for a 3fer 13er fest. American-> Jones-> Niagara. Late drizzle during the last 2 miles was nice. My 4Runner is happy not to be returning to Cuba Gulch! Closest people were on Handies, and a couple descending from Niagara.
Kiefer - Jun 7, 2021 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2021
Late Spring climb
Ascended Traitor Couloir and descended Patriot. Garbage snow by 8:00 am and downright dangerous conditions by 10:00 am. Took a fall/slide on a snowfield along the summit ridge. Banged up pretty good.
ajberry - Jul 1, 2018 8:06 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2018
Pie-fecta
From Burns Gulch
seano - Jan 24, 2016 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 21, 2016
Burns Gulch
On the way to tagging Jones on a long snowshoe. Pretty good conditions for January in the San Juans, but that still makes it a cold, snowy, windy day. Trip report.
A quick run from Burns Gulch up to Jones, traversed to American took less than 3/4 hr. down to Burn Gulch along the north side of Jones into a basin with a small lake, connected with Burns Gulch later on.
Had a late start, went rock c;limbing in Eureka that am.
Kiefer - May 22, 2014 9:41 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2014
Via American Basin
I intended on going over American Peak to get to Jones & Niagra Peaks but when I topped out on the ridge (Independence Couloir), weather down south, basically over Niagra and Crown Mountain was horrible. So I decided to tag American and bail back down.
They had plowed the road up to the pass (recently) which made the walk out really easy. I dropped my pack at the junction and walked up the road maybe a half mile and hiked steep but snow-free slopes (until the mellow summit ridge) to get Edith Mountain.
It was a terrific trip being solo and actually getting back to altitude again. I've done so much obscure, low-altitude crap bushwhacks lately, that I didn't even mind not getting my objective!
spoliquin - Jun 24, 2012 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2012
Via Burn's Gulch
Combined with Niagara and Jones for a nice day hike.
Matt Lemke - Jun 13, 2012 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
With Jones and Niagara
From Burns Gulch TH
strudolyubov - Jun 11, 2012 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
Traitor Couloir
Solo climb via Traitor Couloir route from American Basin TH. Rotten snow at the base at 8am, good snow in the middle, a little bit of ice close to the top. The last ~60 feet is melted out already. Nice climb. After summiting American, hiked over to Jones.
sbkelley - May 22, 2012 5:00 pm Date Climbed: May 19, 2012
Grouse Gulch/Independence Couloir
Cold and breezy morning, but great snow conditions. Traversed from saddle as high as possible to get into American Basin right beneath Traitor. Grade was moderate on Independence, and the views got better as we got higher. The ridge traverse to the summit is loose, but not bad.
theREALCarpeDM - Sep 26, 2011 3:03 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2011
from American Basin
Went with Britt, Bob & Kate, and Otina & Darrin. Took the West Face route - with roughly a foot of snow for a couple hundred feet up to the saddle. The snow was not fun on the way down - especially since I didn't have poles or axe - just microspikes. (Otina loaned me a trek pole, though.)
miztflip - Jun 23, 2010 12:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2010
Trio
Climbed from lower Burns TH. Up Niagra to Jones and to American. Part of a 4 day 17 peak outing. Great views all around.
BigRob - Nov 7, 2009 11:13 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2009
From Burns Gulch
I went up the northern fork of Burns Gulch to American Peak. There was significant snow in Burns Gulch. After Jones/American saddle not much snow on American. I crossed Snare Gulch from American and climbed up NE ridge route of Jones. Returned to vehicle via Jones West ridge into Burns Gulch.
altitude14er - Sep 17, 2009 1:13 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2009
Route Climbed: West Ridge
I did this easy hike in 4 and 1/2 hours round trip! Not much too it, don't expect to find much of a trail until you get a few hundred feet below the Jones/American saddle,
Parked at Cuba Gulch and hiked up the Snare Stairs to Snare Gulch and up the South Ridge. Traversed over to Jones and Niagara as well. Beautiful day and cool route. Saw no one except the 2 of us the entire day (except those on Handies).
Started at 4WD American Basin TH and did a late snow climb of Independence Couloir, which was getting pretty thin. Slope angle never exceeded the upper 30's. Traversed over to Jones & Niagara.
chicagotransplant - Oct 28, 2007 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
"American Pie"
Climbed south ridge en route to Jones and Niagara, basically followed Gerry Roach's "American Pie" route from his 13ers book.
Surprisingly not much snow on the south sides of these peaks, almost no need for gaitors even!
shanahan96 - Jun 5, 2007 7:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2007
an american victory
summited american via the victory couloir. short and sweet getting right to the point! 600 feet of couloir leading almost directly to the summit. awesome views into the needles/grenadiers from up top.
jamie
Kiefer - Jun 4, 2007 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2007
Victory Couloir
An extremely sweet little climb up a great couloir with two great friends. Other then the occasional line, some good snow to be had. Summit was still snow-capped and ridged. Climbed down and traversed over to Handies afterwards.
Kiefer - Aug 17, 2024 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2024
Summer Trail4th time up. Never on the standard summer trail though. Easy & quick day. Hordes of people on Handies.
Woodie Hopper - Aug 4, 2022 7:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2022
South Ridge from Cuba GulchNice day for a 3fer 13er fest. American-> Jones-> Niagara. Late drizzle during the last 2 miles was nice. My 4Runner is happy not to be returning to Cuba Gulch! Closest people were on Handies, and a couple descending from Niagara.
Kiefer - Jun 7, 2021 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2021
Late Spring climbAscended Traitor Couloir and descended Patriot. Garbage snow by 8:00 am and downright dangerous conditions by 10:00 am. Took a fall/slide on a snowfield along the summit ridge. Banged up pretty good.
ajberry - Jul 1, 2018 8:06 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2018
Pie-fectaFrom Burns Gulch
seano - Jan 24, 2016 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 21, 2016
Burns GulchOn the way to tagging Jones on a long snowshoe. Pretty good conditions for January in the San Juans, but that still makes it a cold, snowy, windy day. Trip report.
Liba Kopeckova - Jul 14, 2014 11:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2014
with JonesA quick run from Burns Gulch up to Jones, traversed to American took less than 3/4 hr. down to Burn Gulch along the north side of Jones into a basin with a small lake, connected with Burns Gulch later on.
Had a late start, went rock c;limbing in Eureka that am.
Kiefer - May 22, 2014 9:41 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2014
Via American BasinI intended on going over American Peak to get to Jones & Niagra Peaks but when I topped out on the ridge (Independence Couloir), weather down south, basically over Niagra and Crown Mountain was horrible. So I decided to tag American and bail back down.
They had plowed the road up to the pass (recently) which made the walk out really easy. I dropped my pack at the junction and walked up the road maybe a half mile and hiked steep but snow-free slopes (until the mellow summit ridge) to get Edith Mountain.
It was a terrific trip being solo and actually getting back to altitude again. I've done so much obscure, low-altitude crap bushwhacks lately, that I didn't even mind not getting my objective!
spoliquin - Jun 24, 2012 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2012
Via Burn's GulchCombined with Niagara and Jones for a nice day hike.
Matt Lemke - Jun 13, 2012 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
With Jones and NiagaraFrom Burns Gulch TH
strudolyubov - Jun 11, 2012 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
Traitor CouloirSolo climb via Traitor Couloir route from American Basin TH. Rotten snow at the base at 8am, good snow in the middle, a little bit of ice close to the top. The last ~60 feet is melted out already. Nice climb. After summiting American, hiked over to Jones.
sbkelley - May 22, 2012 5:00 pm Date Climbed: May 19, 2012
Grouse Gulch/Independence CouloirCold and breezy morning, but great snow conditions. Traversed from saddle as high as possible to get into American Basin right beneath Traitor. Grade was moderate on Independence, and the views got better as we got higher. The ridge traverse to the summit is loose, but not bad.
theREALCarpeDM - Sep 26, 2011 3:03 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2011
from American BasinWent with Britt, Bob & Kate, and Otina & Darrin. Took the West Face route - with roughly a foot of snow for a couple hundred feet up to the saddle. The snow was not fun on the way down - especially since I didn't have poles or axe - just microspikes. (Otina loaned me a trek pole, though.)
miztflip - Jun 23, 2010 12:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2010
TrioClimbed from lower Burns TH. Up Niagra to Jones and to American. Part of a 4 day 17 peak outing. Great views all around.
BigRob - Nov 7, 2009 11:13 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2009
From Burns GulchI went up the northern fork of Burns Gulch to American Peak. There was significant snow in Burns Gulch. After Jones/American saddle not much snow on American. I crossed Snare Gulch from American and climbed up NE ridge route of Jones. Returned to vehicle via Jones West ridge into Burns Gulch.
altitude14er - Sep 17, 2009 1:13 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2009
Route Climbed: West RidgeI did this easy hike in 4 and 1/2 hours round trip! Not much too it, don't expect to find much of a trail until you get a few hundred feet below the Jones/American saddle,
jrf - Jul 21, 2009 11:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
From Cuba Gulch THParked at Cuba Gulch and hiked up the Snare Stairs to Snare Gulch and up the South Ridge. Traversed over to Jones and Niagara as well. Beautiful day and cool route. Saw no one except the 2 of us the entire day (except those on Handies).
shknbke - Jul 15, 2009 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
via Independence CouloirStarted at 4WD American Basin TH and did a late snow climb of Independence Couloir, which was getting pretty thin. Slope angle never exceeded the upper 30's. Traversed over to Jones & Niagara.
chicagotransplant - Oct 28, 2007 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
"American Pie"Climbed south ridge en route to Jones and Niagara, basically followed Gerry Roach's "American Pie" route from his 13ers book.
Surprisingly not much snow on the south sides of these peaks, almost no need for gaitors even!
shanahan96 - Jun 5, 2007 7:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2007
an american victorysummited american via the victory couloir. short and sweet getting right to the point! 600 feet of couloir leading almost directly to the summit. awesome views into the needles/grenadiers from up top.
jamie
Kiefer - Jun 4, 2007 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2007
Victory CouloirAn extremely sweet little climb up a great couloir with two great friends. Other then the occasional line, some good snow to be had. Summit was still snow-capped and ridged. Climbed down and traversed over to Handies afterwards.