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This peak is not in the book. Published November 2024

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Cold Benchmark is the high point on a lengthy ridge that separates Dry Fork Creek from Cold Spring Canyon in the Pioneer Mountains. It is most easily climbed from Leadbelt Creek Road to its northwest. An old mining road leads up to its north ridge. Cold Benchmark has a whopping 1,878 feet of prominence and, consequently, is a worthy climbing objective. USGS Blizzard Mountain North

Access

Same as for Peak 8621 (Thimble Peak). This is the third leg of a 3-peak adventure that includes Peak 8621, Peak 8729, and Cold Benchmark (9,178 feet). It covers 8.0 miles with 3,250 feet of elevation gain round trip.

North Ridge, Class 1

The Climb

From the 8,420-foot connecting saddle with Peak 8729, follow a 2-track ridge road south then southeast to the summit. The rocky road gets quite steep in two sections with loose scree/gravel in the road bed. It crosses a ridge hump midway up and drops 35 vertical feet to a minor saddle. Contrary to the USGS topo map, the 2-track goes all the way to the summit. There was a large, torn-down cairn near the high point so I built a new cairn on the nearby high point.

North Ridge/West Face, Class 2

The Descent

From the summit, return northwest then north on the 2-track road to the 8,420-foot connecting saddle. From the saddle, bushwhack west down through a steep pine forest to reach a jeep road that heads right/north to the road junction where today’s journey began. The forest bushwhack is easy initially but gets thicker with more blowdown and much more understory lower down. The terrain is a mix of face, minor gullies, and minor shoulders, but it goes quickly. Once on the jeep road, follow it north for about ½ mile back to the road junction and your parked vehicle.