Route: Ruby Creek Traverse (CO)

Location
Colorado, US
Distance
9 mi
Vertical Gain
5,223 ft
Description

Peter Jones submitted the route:

A 9-mile alpine, off-trail loop which circumnavigates the Ruby Creek drainage, west of Empire, CO.  The route covers 4 13ers, 2 12ers. Start and end at the big "Danger, Avalanche, Do Not Enter" gate near the U-RAD Mine Parking lot. Run up the old mine road for .5 miles to an avalanche path/stream on your left. Turn off and begin bushwhacking up, gaining the West/Northwest Ridge of Engelmann Peak (13,362'). Follow the ridge to the summit, then begin ringing the entire basin staying true to the ridge the entire time, tagging Engelmann Peak, Robeson Peak (13,140'), Bard Peak (13,641'), Mount Parnassus (13,574'), Woods Peak (12,940'), and Point 12,600'. After Point 12,600' on the northern ridge coming off Woods, continue down the ridge to treeline, then find the best path down the avalanche gully back to the old mine road and down back to the gate to close the loop. 

GPS Track