Mount Spalding

Overview

Mt. Spalding sits just to the north of Mt. Evans. Its southwest side connects to the Sawtooth Ridge between Evans and Bierstadt also. It sits across Summit Lake from Evans and is a popular 13er to climb that can easily be done in an hour or so from Summit Lake. It's more fun to climb Evans and do the 2nd class scramble over to Spalding though. Grays and Torreys are also easily seen from Spalding.

It's accessible from Denver in just over an hour although if you climb from Summit Lake or Evans you have to pay the fee to get on the Mt. Evans Road. You can also access Spalding via second class routes from Guanella Pass and West Chicago Creek as well as a third class scramble across the southern face of Spalding (the Sunrise Couloir).

There's a summit register to sign at the top as well as the great views.

Getting There

From Denver to Summit Lake, the directions are the same as to Mt. Evans. Link to here and view the approach to get that information.

For the other approaches see the Main Page of Evans to see how to get there.

Red Tape

No permits needed although you will pay a fee to drive on the Mt. Evans Road and you must have the passable to be seen from the dashboard of your car.

When To Climb

Summer for the class 2 scrambles but the Sunrise Couloir is a winter Class 3 route according to Roach's book.

Camping

Camping is allowed on the mountain without fees as long as you are a half mile from any road and at least 200 yards off any trail or from any water source. You can park on the Mt. Evans Road shoulder. I did park on the shoulder and slept in the back of a truck without problems.

For a real campground, you can camp at the Echo Lake Campground at the start of the Mt. Evans Road. Contact them at 877-444-6777.

There are also motels in Idaho Springs, CO for the less adventuresome.

Mountain Conditions

Clear Creek Ranger District
303-567-3000

Local weather conditions and forecast

External Links

• Mount Spalding & Gray Wolf Mountain
  
  

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Viewing: 1-4 of 4

Sarah Simon - Sep 19, 2009 8:21 pm - Hasn't voted

Mount Spalding - hierarchy confusion

Hello, For some reason, the Mount Spalding page is attached as a child to this route page: http://www.summitpost.org/route/167058/west-slope-variation.html Two messages by two users have been sent to the owner of the route page to no avail. Perhaps you can detach Mount Spalding as a child to the West Slope Variation? Safe climbing, Sarah

Brian Jenkins - Sep 22, 2009 12:06 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Mount Spalding - hierarchy confusion

Sorry was out of town for a few days so just seeing your post now. Was this corrected as I am not seeing what you are saying. It appears that variation is not attached to anything?? Am I wrong? Thanks, Brian

Sarah Simon - Sep 22, 2009 11:12 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Mount Spalding - hierarchy confusion

Hi Brian, Mount Spalding is still attached as a child to the "West Slope Variation" route. http://www.summitpost.org/route/167058/west-slope-variation.html Please let me know if I can answer further questions! In most cases, of course, routes are submitted as children to mountains, not the other way around. For some reason, the hierarchy is the other way around in this case: Your mountain is the child of a route. Sarah

Brian Jenkins - Sep 22, 2009 7:57 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Mount Spalding - hierarchy confusion

Thanks, I've detached it myself.

Viewing: 1-4 of 4