TR: Scarps Ridge Traverse Hike (15 Aug 2013)

(Last Updated On: July 9, 2017)

The entire ridge traverse of Scarps Ridge has been on my mind to do as a hike for over a year now. But, something like this is always more fun to do with a little bit of company. So, when my friend Jenny said she had the day off and wanted to go for a hike, the Scarp’s Traverse was one of my first suggestions.

We did the traverse the opposite direction of most people. Instead of hiking more downhill, we hiked more uphill, traveling from east to west. We set up a shuttle the morning before our hike, leaving Jenny’s car at the Irwin Lodge, and began hiking up Red Lady.

‘Tis the season for mushrooms.

View towards town where it was sprinkling. We dodged rain all day long.

Layers of ridge, ending in Mount Owen.

Gothic Mountain in the distance. The haziness of our views was due to smoke from a wildfire near Glenwood Springs.

The ridge leading to the summit of Red Lady.

Jenny climbing Red Lady’s ridge.

The dirt was particularly loose on the ridge.

Me climbing the ridge.

Looking toward Redwell Basin from near the summit of Mount Emmons (Red Lady).

The top. Mount Emmons, or Red Lady, was our high point for the day.

Dodging the rain once again 🙂

Jenny’s panorama from the summit. Click to enlarge.

A zoomed in version showing our future path along Scarps Ridge.

Looking back toward the top of Coon’s from where we came.

After reaching the summit of Red Lady, we worked our way over to the top of Gunsight Pass. Here is the view of colorful Scarps Ridge from the pass.

Not long after, the ridge changed from rainbow-colored rock to beautiful alpine tundra.

A look back at Red Lady.

Jenny making a fashion statement with double sunglasses 🙂

And the ridge keeps going, meandering through the sky with magnificent views. Peeler Lakes and Peeler Peak shown.

The view through the gap.

The beautiful Peeler Lakes below.

Buckwheat of varying hues decorated the ridge.

The amazing views did not stop.

Lupine was changing to pods.

And we rested among the flowers.

Parts of our hike brought us close to the cliffs on the north side of the ridge.

Jenny admiring the views.

Eventually we made our way to the western endpoint of the ridge. Blue Lake as seen from the endpoint.

Peeler Basin below.

Richmond in the distance.

Looking back at our day’s route.

From the endpoint, we descended toward the Irwin Lodge.

The Scarps Ridge Traverse hike is only about 10 miles, and is highly worthy with views better than most peaks in the area. Check it out on my hiking guide. There’s still time to enjoy the season’s warm weather!