Mount Trelease 12477'
Mount Trelease is a popular skimo mountain that is easily accessible from Interstate 70. The southeast and north flanks of Trelease are popular for winter backcountry skiing. The high terrain of Pat’s Knob and Trelease Bowl are less dangerous in the spring when the snowpack has completely consolidated.
The entirety of Mount Trelease is in the Loveland Ski Are special use permit. Although Loveland is not using this terrain at this time, the most recent Loveland master plan calls for guided backcountry and snowcat tours in this area. You can access Mount Trelease from the ski area’s backcountry access gate on Chair 8. This route allows you to traverse the West Ridge of Trelease to summit.
Finally, Mount Trelease is the site of the tragic 1970 Wichita State Football team plane crash. The ruins of the plane crash are on the lower flanks of the mountain. If you encounter these ruins, please be respectful of this site.
+ ROUTES
1 – Pat’s Knob
- Rating: I D6
- Season: Spring
- Exposure: Southeast
- Vertical: 1,300’
- Approach Elevations: 10,700’ – 12,304’
- Approach Distance: From Dry Gulch TH: 1 mile
Pat’s Knob is a good choice for a quick spring ski mountaineering adventure. This slope is often dangerous during the winter, and a consolidated spring snowpack can make it enjoyable. The access from Exit 216 allows for a quick climb and a quick exit.
From the parking area at Exit 216 scramble north up the broken terrain of the exit’s road bank to the forest. If this is early in the spring you may see a skin track leading to this point. Climb northwest through the forest, into the open glades, and then to tree line below Pat’s Knob. [39.6925, -105.8916] Climb directly up Pat’s Knob or climb to the left to access the windswept and more gentle way to the top.
2 – Trelease Bowl
- Rating: I D4
- Season: Spring
- Exposure: Northeast
- Vertical: 1,250’
- Approach Elevations: 10,700’ – 12,250’
- Approach Distance: From Dry Gulch TH via Pat’s Knob: 1.5 miles
You can catch a quick glimpse of Trelease Bowl when driving west on Interstate 70 near the Herman Gulch exit. The bowl hangs above Dry Gulch and frequently avalanches during the winter. This is a good route to use when introducing a novice to spring ski mountaineering.
Trelease Bowl can be accessed using the approach described above for Pat’s Knob, or via an approach using Dry Gulch. To access Dry Gulch, from the parking lot at Exit 216, go northeast on the dirt frontage road that parallels the westbound lanes of Interstate 70. At 0.6 miles you will reach a gate, and the road then climbs north and northwest into Dry Gulch. From the gate ski approximately 1.1 miles past the fenced in yard, past the clearing, and to the bottom of the 140, Tubes, and 130 winter backcountry skiing areas. [39.7031, -105.8872] From here, climb up the Tubes to tree line and the base of Trelease Bowl. 39.6968, -105.896
+ TRAILHEAD
Dry Gulch Trailhead (10,700’)
The Dry Gulch Trailhead is located at Exit 216 on Interstate 70. This exit is the same exit for Loveland Pass, the Loveland Ski Area, and the last exit before the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels. If you are exiting the interstate from the east the trailhead is immediately on your right. If you are coming from the west, exit the interstate, and take a left on to Highway 6 and then an immediate left under the interstate. Look for the pull out described above on the left. [39.6859, -105.8863]
+ MAPS & PICTURES
Below we have included a link to a Google interactive map and a curated list of photos of the mountain.