This popular winter trek to Wild Irishman Mine begins at the town of Montezuma and ascends the Saints John Creek valley past many vestiges of the heavy mining activity that once flourished in this area. Other good ski tours also begin just above Montezuma.
On this tour you pass through the town of Saints John at 11,000 feet. A few people live here now, but it once was a vital mining community which even had a public library. Saints John is named after St. John, the Evangelist, and St. John, the Baptist. These are the patron saints of freemasonry.
After Saints John, where some may choose to turn around, the wide road courses up the valley to the remnants of the Wild Irishman Mine at timberline beneath Glacier Mountain.
Begin on skis down to the south southwest on the wide road and then ascend steeply as the road curves to the right. Avoid a side road on the left 200 yards from the trailhead. Follow two switchbacks up the main road before reaching a level area and a fork at the mouth of the valley. Keep left (south) as the right fork leads to the former Hunkidori Mine. Ascend more gradually and reach the town of Saints John at mile 1.3 of your tour. The road before the town can be icy at times.
After passing extensive mine ruins on the left, the road turns sharply to the right at a junction, crosses Saints John Creek and then curves sharly left beneath a cabin. Follow this road to the south. Higher in the basin pass through a fence with a signboard on the right. Continue up the open and very scenic valley to a fork at mile 2.3 of the tour. Descend here to the left (south southeast) and cross Saints John Creek again before a final steep half-mile to two cabin ruins to the left of the road around the site of the former Wild Irishman Mine. Another 75 yards up the road leads to a lovely overlook of the Saints John Creek basin and beyond. Be careful on your steep and rapid return.
The details
Tour distance: 2.8 miles each way
Tour time: Up in 95 minutes. Down in 45 minutes.
Starting elevation: 10,300 feet
Highest elevation: 11,640 feet
Elevation gain: 1,620 feet (includes 140 extra feet each way)
Difficulty: More difficult
Avalanche danger: Moderate (upper 20 percent)
Trail: All the way
Relevant maps: Montezuma 7 1/2 minute
Keystone 7 1/2 minute
Trails Illustrated Number 104
Summit County Number 2
Arapaho National Forest-Dillon Ranger District
Getting there: From the Interstate 70 Dillon-Silverthorne exit (No. 205), drive east on U.S. 6 for 7.5 miles. Just past the entrance to the Keystone Ski Area, turn right onto the Montezuma Road and set your mileage to zero. Drive up the wide, well-plowed Montezuma Road for 5.4 miles and park on the right at the intersection with Road 275 in the town of Montezuma.
