Climb Mount Kelso and Have Beautiful, Solitary Views of Grays, Torreys and the Continental Divide!

Most people make their way down Stevens Gulch's horrific 4 wheel drive road to summit ultra-popular Colorado 14ers Grays and Torreys Peaks. But Mount Kelso provides a chance to look at the area in complete solitude. 

Mount Kelso does not have an easily definable route once you split from The Continental Divide Trail, but any adult with a sense of adventure and a can-do attitude should be able to reach the summit. The trail described is a fun, semi-challenging class 2 bushwhack which will keep you away from the crowds while under the watchful gaze of Grays and Torreys.  

Take the Continental Divide Trail towards Grays/Torreys until just before the Kelso' Ridge area. If you reach an abandoned mine, you have gone too far. From there, we walk across a Boulder Field (Class 2) and into what was a semi-steep open mountain field. You can take this carefully and diagonally up back towards the way you came, all the while heading slowly higher. 

You will see the summit along a cliffed edge, and can follow along the steep but open mountain fields until you get to the top. There is a pile of rocks to mark the summit and there is some great cliff hangs with a beautiful view of Gray, Torreys, Sniktau and many other awesome mountains. There were several mountain goats on the ridge who enjoyed the silence with us. 

Followed the summit ridge back towards Kelso Ridge, until we were forced down. Try to find the gentle slopes, but coming down will be more challenging than going up. You can come down to the continental divide path sooner than you came up once you see the main path below you. Be sure to bring hiking poles, they really help!

It is fantastic to sit at the summit and watch people do the saddle between Grays and Torreys via binoculars. We had the summit all to ourselves and saw no one else on our mountain specific just the goats and the views! Be sure to obey the standard mountaineering rules of being off the mountain before 1pm, and to turn around if you see any thunderheaded storms heading your way. It's better to be safe than sorry.