Hike into Pigeon and Turret peaks

Pigeon & Turret Peak

  • Duration 3 Days
  • Overnight Camping
  • Technical Climbing

Satiate your sense of adventure with two 13ers in one trip!

Pigeon can be seen from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad as it proceeds along the Animas River from Durango towards Silverton. Located in the Needles, a subrange of the San Juan Mountains, Pigeon rises 6000′ above the Animas River. Its East Face is a 1000′ sheer wall that dwarfs the terrain surrounding it. These peaks typically see much less traffic than 14ers such as Windom, Sunlight, and Eolus and as a result you are rewarded with solitude unlike anywhere else in Colorado. Climbing Pigeon requires endurance, skill and a sense of adventure and we do recommend completing a peak like Vestal as a warm up for the likes of Pigeon and Turret.

Trip Details

Duration

3 Days, 2 Nights

Difficulty

Some climbing experience necessary

Maximum Guide Ratio

2:1

Included

  • AMGA and SJE trained/certified alpine guide 
  • All technical equipment (helmet, harness, climbing equipment, ropes, packs, etc.) 
  • Federal land usage surcharge (USFS/BLM)
  • Camping equipment and all meals

Not Included

  • Lunch/snack food & water
  • Guide gratuity
  • Train fees (approach via the iconic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway!)

Trip Itinerary

  • First, we met at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad station to board the iron horse that will deposit us at the bottom of the Animas valley and reduce our approach considerably.
  • After we get off the train and gather our packs at the Needleton train station, we locate the trail and begin our trek up No Name basin.
  • By late afternoon we will arrive at Jagged Pass and get our first truly unobstructed view of our objective.
  • We will from here make camp in the No Name creek drainage and take a well-deserved break, eat some food, and prepare for an early start the following day to summit Jagged Mountain.

  • We will wake up very early to have some breakfast and set out to begin hiking up to the base of the peak. The exact time will be determined by your guide the day prior.
  • At a point, your guide will transition you to a roped team and the technical climbing section will begin. Progressively getting steeper the further up the ridge you get.
  • After some route-finding and technical sections, we will reach the summit bloc no later than noon. If we have time we will take some time to enjoy the summit, snap some photos before we begin our descent.
  • Descending the same route we came up, we will arrive back at camp and enjoy the rest of the afternoon with some free time before turning in for our second night in the basin.

  • We wake up at a more reasonable hour and have some breakfast before packing up camp and heading back down the primitive trail through No Name basin.
  • Arriving at the Needleton train station, we wait for our train to stop and pick us up to take us out of the wilderness in style. Most often enjoying a hard-earned cold beer on the way out.
  • Upon arriving in Durango, your guide will gather all company gear, debrief you on your trip, and let you go to tell all your friends about the unforgettable experience you just had.
Turret Ridge Climbing

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