Kebler Pass Road (Gunnison County Road 12), Somerset, CO, 9/25/2011
Marcellina Mountain is the third most prominent peak in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado and thus can be seen from many miles around. This is a true landmark mountain since it is recognizable from anywhere thanks to its unique appearance. Its elevation is 11,353 feet above sea level, and it has prominence of 2,728 feet, with an isolation of 5.1 miles. I spotted the mountain from Gunnison County Road 12 outside the Gunnison National Forest, while looking across ranchland covered with golden aspens and other beautiful autumn colors. This scenic road - also called West Elk Loop or Kebler/Ohio Pass - is unbeatable for experiencing the brisk cool temperatures of fall, golden aspen colors, and clear blue skies. Here we are at 7,340 feet above sea level looking southeast up the ascent from Anthracite Creek 3,000 feet behind us to Marcellina Mountain, 2 1/2 miles away. This scene immediately impressed me with its strong shades of gold and great variety of other colors. This is a very rugged western landscape! At first I was disappointed that the only clouds in the sky were hiding behind the trees at right instead of adding photographic interest above the mountain. But I decided that the scene had plenty of merit and interest even without clouds. The West Elk Mountains are a mountain range within the Rocky Mountains of west-central Colorado. They lie primarily inside the Gunnison National Forest and are surrounded by tributaries of the Gunnison River. The range is bounded on the north by the North Fork of the Gunnison and on the east by the East River, another tributary of the Gunnison. On the south and west it is contiguous with Black Mesa and Fruitland Mesa, both part of the uplift in which sits the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. On the northeast it is contiguous with the Elk Mountains, being separated from them by Anthracite Creek and Coal Creek. Marcellina Mountain also lies within the Raggeds Wilderness, a U.S. Wilderness Area located northwest of Crested Butte. The 64,992-acre wilderness established in 1980 in the White River and Gunnison national forests has 50 miles of trails. It includes some of the world’s largest stands of fast-growing aspen trees, which can gain 5 feet in a single year.
