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Jupiter MountainAugust 18, 2010 - Climb via Southwest Slopes
The majority of our group came to Chicago Basin to climb the three 14'ers that draw the vast majority of visitor to the basin. My compadres were to set off for Sunlight and Windom while I planned to set a course to Jupiter Mountain in an effort to climb another Centennial peak.
I looked across to the other pinnacle that is just a few feet higher and had this tell tale gray pipe cylinder that I knew would contain the summit register. I down climbed from the eastern pinnacle and crossed over to the other point. Gaining the summit proper required one class 4 pitch of just ten feet or so but with a healthy degree of exposure in the event of a fall. No fall for me so I soon walked across the top of this flat surfaced mini catwalk to the summit proper. I did not know which peak the other four would take on first but I could see a figure on the top of Windom. I waved and I down climbed the summit point and maneuvered down the rubble slot to my crossover point and back up the class 3/4 climb to the false summit. From there is was just a reversal of the ascent route until I'd lost the better part of 1000 feet and regained the strong climber's trail. I saw no reason to recreate the wheel nor add to any extant erosion, so off I went on the course of others who preceded me. The trail drops down into the large basin that lies below Columbine pass and and eventually and efficiently intercepts I made easy time down the well worn trail and was soon back in camp, at around noon. I was not alone in camp, however, as the goats had invaded and were inspecting our residence for any goods of interest. They had found none and retreated to the edge of the camp to graze through the lush understory before most of them wandered off, leaving only two to guard their rear and continue to poke about our camp in hope of an offering. None was forthcoming and after G and crew returned, the remaining few goats soon lost interest and moved along.
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