Climbing Grizzly Peak A, the Highest Centennial 13er, via McNasser Gulch, Sawatch Range, Colorado

Colorado has no fewer than five 13ers named Grizzly Peak. The tallest of them all, Grizzly Peak A, happens to be the highest ranked 13er in the state (top Centennial 13er) at elevation 13,997’. It is located near La Plata Peak in the Sawatch Range of central Colorado. The McNasser Gulch Trailhead requires 4 miles of rough dirt road to get to from Highway 82. On this occasion I got off work early on Friday afternoon and headed up to McNasser Gulch first to set up camp near the trailhead. Later that night my friend Bing drove up in pouring rain to join me as well. We didn’t see any other person at the trailhead or throughout the hike the next day. The hike itself is moderate in stats with 6.5miles/2700’ vertical gain, but the terrain is rough with lots of loose talus and scree field. We also did a few class 3 scrambles to traverse the east ridge leading up to the summit. The summit boasts 360° views of the high peaks in Elk and Sawatch Range. Due to forecasted storm in the afternoon we decided to go back down instead of traversing to nearby Garfield Peak, and got back to camp before noon. Grizzly Peak A is Centennial 13er #19 for me, and easily one of my favorites so far and McNasser Gulch provided a true wilderness experience Music: Ethereal, by Punch Deck Lost Sanctuaries, by HAGHORROR 0:00 Trailhead approach and camp 03:40 Climbing Grizzly Peak 09:01 Summit views and descent