Bandera Mountain Climber's Log

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skook

skook - Aug 31, 2023 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2005

Bandera Hike  Sucess!

Fun hike. Good workout and something different than Si. Don’t think this page was up when I climbed it.

tcingrum

tcingrum - Aug 6, 2022 7:33 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2022

Bandera  Sucess!

Pleasant trail hike to the summit

markhadland@gmail.com

markhadland@gmail.com - Jul 26, 2020 12:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2020

Bandera Mountain Summit  Sucess!

Planned to hit Bandera Mountain Summit, 2nd time, and 4th for Little Bandara. Perfect blue skies - almost too perfect as the temps rose. Started at exit 42 - Tinkham vs. the Ira Springs trailhead, in part to avoid parking crowds and the dusty potholed road, plus the lower trail is a beautiful moss-covered trail with stumps of old grown tree harvested long ago, with beautiful stream flowing along the trail. There are no water sources once you pass the log bridge, and the true summit to Bandara is long and hot as it's exposed to the sun. Wildflowers along the steep boot path to Little Bandera are in full bloom, so take your time and enjoy the many colors. All lakes are melted out and the trail to Bandera Mountain summit is completely snow-free. There is a talus field of a couple of hundred yards marked with cairns to navigate once you get to the final stretch. The talus covered summit has a summit register, a small box with some papers, and other odd items. From the summit looking South Rainier looms larger than ever. There is a massive blow of talus below and it could be an interesting scramble adventure to explore and connect with the trail for Talpus Lake in the future. Super views of the peaks along the I90 corridor with Tusk O Granite and Granite Mountain to the East, Silver, Tinkham, Abiel, and Humpback to the South. McClellan and the Dukes to the South West, Defiance, PPP, Web to the West, and many of the Home Court 100 to the North and North West. Stuart in the far distance. Most people don't venture past Little Bandera, but if you want an amazing hike and required, make the effort to push to the final summit.

cascadescrambler

cascadescrambler - Sep 5, 2019 10:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 1996

Bandera  Sucess!

Hit snow below Little Bandera and had a chilly lunch sitting in the snow on top before going on to the summit

markhadland@gmail.com

markhadland@gmail.com - Jul 3, 2018 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2018

Winter hike in summer  Sucess!

Day hike up to Little Bandera, then to Bandera Mountain for the summit. Trip started uneventfully. Passed folks from Wisconsin hiking up the steep hill past the Mason Lake cutoff in flip flops :0. Upon reaching little Bandera, light snow flurries started coming down. We opted to push for the summit. Snow covered the trail and become progressively deeper, further into the trail. 1"-2" of new snow covered the trail and foliage and was wet and slippery. Poles were a must. As we progressed, visibility decreased, the wind picked up, and more snow was coming down. We pushed across the long scree/boulder filed to the proper summit, took some pictures, and retraced our steps back towards little Bandera. We were the only party past little Bandera during the day and the only two as we descended. Conditions were worsening. The hike to Bandera summit is great and will be much better later in the season. Contrary to some reports, there are great views from the top.

huskertriguy

huskertriguy - Jun 3, 2018 12:57 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2018

3-fer  Sucess!

3rd of a 3-summit day with P3 & Defiance.

Did not traverse to the true summit; it was late in the day and I was looking to descend. (Speaking of descents, that stretch down the spur was unpleasant.)

Snow-free almost the entire way, with some patches left towards the top.

Highly recommend checking out Mason Lake; you are already most of the way there.

Finished on the Ira Springs Trail to close the loop.

mountainloverCO

mountainloverCO - Jul 31, 2016 12:28 am Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2016

Little Bandera  Sucess!

A very cloudy day. The trail up Bandera is super steep for a brief bit, difficult but so short it's over before you know it. Didn't head over to the true summit...it didn't seem worth it given the very cloudy weather we had.

awilsondc

awilsondc - Oct 25, 2015 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2015

Overcast  Sucess!

It was an overcast fall day, but the clouds were high enough to see the surrounding peaks. This one didn't have a lot of appeal for me, probably a one and done. Plenty nearby with better trail and better views for similar effort.

WOLFrising

WOLFrising - Aug 8, 2015 3:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2015

Little Bandera is not a mountain  Sucess!

Go all the way to the true summit, you are so close! Hiked up with Maddie in an hour and 45 minutes. The incline after the fork towards Mason lake is intense, but short. Once on the ridge,it was an easy walk/easy boulder hop to the true summit. Not super exciting, but a great workout.

funkstuf

funkstuf - Jul 22, 2015 3:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2011

Good Exercise  Sucess!

I forgot this one but thought I would not that it's a great short hike for good exercise. I did it quite a few times in the Fall of 2011 and took my 50 lb pack to train for climbing Mt. Aconcagua. Very pretty views of the mountains and the valley below! That last part is steep and up an open area so could be hot in the sun.

Redwic

Redwic - Nov 6, 2014 5:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2007

I forgot to log this...  Sucess!

I forgot to log this ascent, and only realized it when it showed on SP's "Suggested Mountains" page. lol

Good views from false summit, not so much from true summit.

NLord - Oct 24, 2014 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014

Bandera Mt  Sucess!

The last part is killer on the legs

Walkoutnow

Walkoutnow - Jul 11, 2014 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2014

meh  Sucess!

Decent views from the top. Bear grass in full bloom. However, not my favorite hike. Needed blood transfusion after the mosquito onslaught at the top. Also, the dirt road in to the TH is one of the worst I've been on. Could be a good snow climb though, be back in winter.

WendyK

WendyK - May 1, 2014 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2011

Stairsteps to Heaven  Sucess!

Stair-stepped to the top! :)Bear grass, mountain pussy toes, turk's cap lily ... wildflowers and more wildflowers.

pschlais

pschlais - Apr 26, 2014 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012

Bandera  Sucess!

Encountered a few patches of snow. Cloudy when we arrived at the summit so no views

Boonie1

Boonie1 - Mar 8, 2014 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2011

Skeeters!!  Sucess!

Easier to see the trail coming back. Stick to the S. side.

kevinsa

kevinsa - Oct 18, 2013 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2013

Bandera Mountain  Sucess!

Great day for a 2fer along with Defiance.

lidijagrazulis

lidijagrazulis - Jun 15, 2013 8:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2012

Little Bandera  Sucess!

Gorgeous day for a hike! Enjoyed the skyward scramble and scenic ridgewalk! Great early season conditioner with views!

bigbadgoo - Oct 1, 2012 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2011

the little one  Sucess!

Hit up little Bandera w/ridgewalk in the snow

Cascade Scrambler

Cascade Scrambler - Sep 1, 2012 10:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2012

Meh x2  Sucess!

As if I wasn't into it the last time I hiked up here, another friend who actually had never even hiked wanted to come up here. Well, ok I guess. Stopped at the false summit, which everyone pretty much calls the summit anyway. Don't think I'll ever be back- there are too many other places to go- but if you've never been, it's a great place to visit.

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