ptarmigan lake – Wild Wanderer

Tellurium Peak – 13,311

RT Length: 16.42 miles

Elevation Gain: 4219’

Last time I went to Ptarmigan Lake I did it in my side by side and it took over an hour and a half to drive up. This time, feeling like I needed to ‘earn’ this hike, I parked in the dispersed camping area and hiked 6 or 7 miles (depending if you trust Strava versus CalTopo) to Ptarmigan Lake. Here’s a picture of the camping area. There are several large, dispersed campsites at the beginning of the 4WD road. Vehicles (Tundra, Subaru, Tacoma, 4Runner, etc.) are not allowed on this road, so unless you have a side by side, Razor, etc. you’ll need to hike in.

It took me 3 hours carrying a full pack to make it to the lake. The road is easy to follow but very rocky. Here are some pictures of the road up to 11900’, where the junction is with the trail that takes you to the lake. There are several stream crossings along the way, but this time of year they were all low enough I could rock hop across.

At around 11480’ there’s a junction in the road. You can go either way. To the right you’ll go through a marshy area, to the left you’ll stay high and see the marshy area. I went right on the way in and hiked out the other way. Both were comparable, but the road to the left is a little shorter.

Here are some pictures of the rest of the route up to the parking area.

At 11900’ there’s a parking area and a closed gate. To the left if the gate is a trail that will take you to some old mines. The trail stops at the mines, but in the distance you can see where the old road to Ptarmigan Lake used to be. I aimed for that and hiked up to the lake.

From here you can go right to Ptarmigan Lake or continue your hike. I stopped at the lake and set up my tent for the night. My watch said it was 6 miles to the lake, CalTopo gave me 7 miles and 2650’ of elevation gain. It took me 3 hours to get to the lake.

From Ptarmigan Lake the next objective is to head northeast to make it to the saddle of West Tellurium/Tellurium. It’s an easy class 2 hike to get there.

Once on the saddle I turned right, and this became a ridge hike. I followed the ridge east. It started out as class 2 and continued to be class 2 until the false summit. Just before the false summit the terrain became rocky but stayed at class 2.

From the false summit I continued to follow the ridge east. The terrain became more difficult as I descended about 150’, then reascended up to Tellurium. I mainly stuck to the ridge, unless it was obvious to drop down to easier terrain. I felt this was easy class 3, but with a lot of choss/talus and exposure.

Here are some pictures of the ridge:

The last section of the ridge just before the summit became rocky, but a class 2 rocky

I summited Tellurium Peak at 7:40am

Tellurium Peak:

This was my only peak for today, so I turned around and headed back down/up/down the ridge. Here are some pictures of my way back over to the false summit.

Then it was back to the West Tellurium/Tellurium saddle.

Then from the saddle I hiked back to my campsite at Ptarmigan Lake

From the lake to the summit and back took me 3 hours total, with a stop on the ridge to make a phone call. Now to head out. From the lake I followed the 4WD road back to the trail/mines

Then I followed the road all the way back to the dispersed camping area, taking the upper road this time (both roads make a loop).

I made it back to my truck at 11:45am. This hike totaled 16.42 miles with 4219’ of elevation gain. Here’s the topo of my entire route

And one closer up

On to the next trailhead!

West Tellurium – 13,078

RT Length: 3 miles (from just below Ptarmigan Lake)

Elevation Gain: 1200’ (from just below Ptarmigan Lake)

This was my second attempt at this peak. In my quest to finish the 13ers slowly and enjoyably I planned to drive up to Ptarmigan Lake, set up a tent, and climb the next morning. Of course, this plan failed (kind of). Having attempted this peak before I knew I’d need to take a side by side up to Ptarmigan Lake, so I drove 6.23 miles up the worst 4WD road I’d ever driven in a side by side: 584/ Tellurium Creek .

There are signs as you enter saying no trucks, and there’s no way my Tacoma could have driven up the road. However, at the base of the road there are several large dispersed campsites, so feel free to park there.

Here are some pictures of the 4WD road. I think the hardest part was about 2.5 miles in, but it doesn’t let up the entire time. It started out driving up a wet and rocky creek bed, there were at least 4 stream crossings, there were large rocks (bigger than microwaves), narrow passages, and steep climbs.

I made it up to about 11880’, about .7 miles below Ptarmigan Lake, when I came to a road closure sign. Obviously the road had previously gone all the way to the lake, but it hadn’t for quite some time. So I set up camp near the road closure and was on the trail early the next morning.

There was a class 1 trail that started to the left of the closed gate. It looked like it went to Ptarmigan Lake, and indeed it did. I followed it through a couple of old mines until the trail ended, then saw the old road in the distance and followed that to the lake.

Ptarmigan lake is a great place to find a camping spot if you’re making this a backpacking trip. If not, to the left (west) of the lake is a strong game trail. I noticed it when I was hiking in and saw a herd of elk using the trail. This trail goes all the way to the ridge.

I followed the trail to the ridge

Once on the ridge I turned right and followed the class 2 ridge northeast.

At the top I turned left and continued to follow the ridge to the summit.

I summited West Tellurium Peak at 7am

West Tellurium:

In keeping with enjoying my hikes this was an out and back hike for me, so I turned around and descended the ridge the way I’d summited.

Back on the trail, I took it east towards Ptarmigan Lake

I then found the old 4WD road, and followed that back to the trail that led me to the closed gate/parking area

I made it back to the side by side at 7:45am, making this a 3 mile hike with 1200’ of elevation gain in just under 2 hours.

Here’s the entire route topo. The most difficult part about this hike was by far the drive up/down Tellurium Creek Road, which I’m coming back to hike in again very soon. I wouldn’t drive it again.

And just the hike from the parking area

On to the next trailhead!

Jones Mountain B – 13,214

RT Length: 6.04 miles

Elevation Gain: 2361’

I’d parked about 6 miles past Cottonwood Lake, at the junction of 344/349. There are a few dispersed campsites in the area, and a few further up as well. I was up and on the trail at 4:45am, hoping this would be a quick hike because I had other things to do this afternoon.

The trail starts by following 4WD road 349. It’s a narrow 4WD road, but if your vehicle made it this far, it can make it all the way to the top of the road

I followed the road for 2.3 miles, up to about 12,330’.

I didn’t know it at the time, as it was still dark, but I could have taken the road all the way up to the ridge, and then taken the ridge to the summit, which would have been easier. I’ll have pictures of that route on the way back down. Here’s where the road goes to:

Anyway, I didn’t take the road up, instead, I decided to gain the ridge here

This route was very straightforward

I also got to see a beautiful sunrise

From the I turned right and followed the ridge northeast. From the ridge it was a short .25 mile hike to the summit.

I summited Jones Mountain B at 6:30am

Jones Mountain B:

It was rather cold and windy on the summit, making it feel like fall. I turned around and, in the daylight, noticed the road I’d hiked in on went all the way to the ridge, so I followed the ridge southeast back to the road.