Destination: High basin
Round-trip distance: 5 miles
Starting elevation: 10,300 feet
Maximum elevation: 12,000 feet
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Rating: Easy, but steep
Time: 5 hours
Recommended Use: Day hike. Interesting historical area. Spectacular views of Taylor Park.
Maps: Gunnison National Forest; 7=' Pieplant; Trails Illustrated Crested Butte/Pearl Pass
Trailhead Access
Follow Highway 135 north from Gunnison to Almont for eleven miles. Turn right (east) on paved Taylor River Road (County Road 742). Follow this road as it winds its way generally northeast for 26 miles to the Taylor Park Reservoir. Cottonwood Pass Road intersects the Taylor River Road at the point where the pavement ceases and the road becomes gravel. Continue on the Taylor River Road for approximately four and one-half miles to the Pieplant Mill Road on the right (east). Follow this road north across open sagebrush meadow into a lodgepole pine forest for four miles to the historic town site of Pieplant. The hike begins north of town, just before the Wilderness boundary.
Trail Description
This hike begins its winding track up the mountainside just behind the Pieplant Mill. Since Pieplant is somewhat remote, standing four miles off the main road, it is one of the few mining towns in the valley that still has standing buildings. The town was named for the broad-leafed rhubarb plant growing wild along the creek flowing southwest from Jenkins Mountain. Prospectors were happy to see the plant growing there, a reminder of home, and so named the town after this wonderful"Pie plant." The plant does well in this area and can still be seen growing near the Taylor Park Trading Post.
The town of Pieplant is situated in a wide meadow three thousand feet below the summit of Jenkins Mountain. Park anywhere along the road in the open meadow, then begin hiking northeast from the main cluster of two or three buildings. A road heads along the front of the tall mill building. You may attain the trail by hiking along this road, exploring the mill site, then climbing up the steep hill to reach the trail behind the remains of the mill. However, the actual trail begins to the north of the mill, on the east edge of the meadow. Here a good trail can be seen heading north and south. Turn south and begin hiking along the road. It climbs steeply and within a few hundred yards rises above and behind the mill. The faint track of the Timberline Trail continues south from here as the main road switches back to the left. Continue on the main road. Within twenty minutes the road reaches the Wilderness boundary. No motorized vehicles may pass beyond this point. Hike around the Forest Service gate blocking the road and continue following the road as it ascends the western shoulder of Jenkins Mountain.
At approximately one mile the road turns sharply back to the north and curves around the extensive remains of the mine. The sound of water can be heard rushing to the right, but no creek is visible from here. Continue north along the road another one-quarter mile to a high meadow at 11,000 feet. The trail moves close to the creek, an unusually pretty stream snaking through the grass. This would make a beautiful campsite. The creek washes down from the ridge visible high above timberline to the north. The road now switches back to the left and again enters a mixed pine, fir, and spruce forest. Openings in the trees begin to offer beautiful views of Taylor Park.
Continue on another one-quarter mile to a point where the road switches back again, passing more collapsed remains of the mining operation. The road becomes steeper as it begins a steady northeast climb. It's difficult to imagine that vehicles at the turn of the century were able to ascend such a steep grade. In spite of the steepness, your reward comes each time you stop to rest and turn around, for each turn of the road offers a more spectacular view of the valley and beyond. Soon after leaving the remains of the mining operation, the first view to the northeast opens up. Far off on the horizon Cottonwood Pass Road climbs to the top of the pass. Beyond the pass Mount Yale towers like a pyramid to over 14,000 feet.
The last half mile of this hike is very steep. It finally ends above timberline in a high rocky basin one thousand feet below Jenkins Mountain's west shoulder. The road traces around the rocky basin, stretching toward the tundra above the granite cliffs. Rock slides have' wiped away the final section of the road.
The views from this basin are spectacular. The Sawatch Range stretches far to the south, and the Cochetopa Hills can be discerned in the hazy mist on the southern horizon. The steep cliffs surrounding the basin are dizzying as you look up. Hundreds of rock "fingers" stick out from the mountainside above.
Though the summit of 13,432-foot Jenkins Mountain cannot be seen from the basin, it can be climbed from here. Allow an additional two to three hours for the additional two-mile ascent and return. To climb from the basin, drop down and cross the boulder-strewn basin. Avoid the steep, loose rock surrounding the west and north sides of the basin and begin an ascent up the tundra to the northeast. The first few hundred feet are steep, but it levels out as you swing back around to the west and approach the low point on the saddle. From the 13,000-foot saddle, turn east for the final, gentle four hundred feet to the summit. Return by the same route. If your route-finding skills are good, you may wish to descend via Jenkins's gentle south shoulder. If you stay on the broad ridge, you will eventually cross the Timberline Trail, which you can easily follow back to Pieplant.
© Article copyright Pruett Publishing.
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