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July 12, 2015 Elevation: 13,069’ (Chiquita); 13,513’ (Ypsilon) Elevation Gain from Chapin Pass Trailhead: 2,474’ Roundtrip Distance: 8.1 Miles Mount Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain are the second and third summits of the six that make up “Mummy Mania,” an incredibly ambitious one day tread. Hiking Mummy Mania includes Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain, Fairchild Mountain, Hagues Peak, and Mummy Mountain. Whew…I’m out of breath just thinking about it! Before I knew the sweet taste of Colorado, much before it taught me to remain happily lost amidst its grandeur, and back when living here was still a fantasy, this hike is what I imagined Colorado to be. Our double-peak adventure began at the Chapin Pass Trailhead on Old Fall River Road at 11,040’. Very shortly into the trail we split right at a fork to follow “ALL SUMMITS”. Here, still barely in the Subalpine zone, the weathered rock staircases and tree root steps teeter just on the brink of tree line, showcasing several spacious views of the Chapin Creek Valley.  Once in the Alpine zone, Mount Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain are discernible, while the trail becomes more intuitive than defined.  After passing Mount Chapin on our right, we steadily climbed a mixture of grass, moss, and talus to the broad and windy Chiquita summit. From here we viewed Mount Chapin, Yipslon Mountain, and Horseshoe Park, all while standing among so many wildflowers!
Next, a saddle presents Ypsilon’s laborious (non) path, an ascent that so rightfully earns the title of slog. The beautiful rocks here are larger, slab-like, and demand focus with each and every step. In fact, in two instances my mind wandered for one second toward the incredible history in the geology surrounding us, abruptly awakening me to the realization that I was about to go rock-slab surfing down a less than cushiony hillside. The final approach to Ypsilon Mountain summit involves a phenomenal walk along its dramatically sheer east face. The sun began to sink as we enjoyed a 360 degree view of the Mummy Range Mountains, Never Summer Mountains, Longs Peak area, and Estes Park.
Instead of re-summiting Mount Chiquita on the return, we descended the western slope of Ypsilon. While still intuitive, this provided no trail with the only strategy being to move laterally across the steep rock field and to continuously maneuver over and around delicate vegetation.
In retrospect, I think it might have been wiser to backtrack. Nonetheless, as five bull elk ran playfully down below us, we were engrossed in their spirit and drawn upward to the sky as it effortlessly shown deep pink and deeper orange.  If you are seeking the sensation of utter confidence in being lost while precisely where you should be, hike Mount Chiquita and/or Ypsilon Mountain! Happy Trails! 
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"The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges, and tell a good story when we get back home." ~ Gary Snyder
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“Hiking -I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of the word ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, A la sainte terre,’ ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.” ~ John Muir |
