About three years ago our good friend Bill Gemmell asked if we would ever consider climbing the West Spanish Peak located in south central Colorado. I told him that it was on our list of desired mountains and he asked if he could join us for the climb. I promised to alert him as to when we would attempt the mountain, giving him plenty of time to prepare for the event.
Other than nearby Mount Morrison, Bill had not done any climbing or even much hiking since we had discussed West Spanish Peak, a mountain that towers to over 13,626 feet, and an impressive 6,000 feet over the La Veta Valley. I sent him an email a full month prior to the climb to see if Bill had been gearing up for this experience. I advised him to attack the matter vigorously with lots of hiking and physical activity, and I recommended some trails around the Pikes Peak area for him to get some altitude training on.
Bill’s working schedule and social lifestyle effectively prevented him from donating the necessary time to altitude training, but he managed to do well with all of his other tasks. On the day of the climb, his only concern was altitude. Ellen and I felt his youthful 35 years, along with his formidable strength (Bill’s a big guy that plays hockey) would likely compensate for this shortcoming.
Our hiking group, The Usual Suspects, usually splits to the four winds on holiday weekends, and this Labor Day outing was no different. Our only attending group member was Barbara Bailey, so we had a well rounded climbing team of four people and a good weather forecast that seemed to assure Bill would achieve his goal. As 13ers go, West Spanish Peak is an easy mountain for folks like us that climb every week. To get up and down the mountain gracefully and feel good at day’s end was Bill’s goal, impressive by most folks’ standards who would not even consider such an undertaking, especially for their first mountain.
It turns out Bill did very well on the climb. He took all of our advice to heart and was prepared from the outset. He was good about taking in liquids and food during his entire time on the mountain, and followed our lead on the multitude of loose rock we encountered (although as loose mountains go, this mountain is very stable). He was in a state of disbelief when he arrived on the summit ridge, and positively euphoric once he was on the summit. The three of us let him lead from there so he could be the first on top.
For an easy three hour climb (which is pretty good for us and very good for Bill), the view is exceptional. The great plains to the east, the Wet Mountains, most of the Sangre De Cristos (including the portion of the range extending into New Mexico) and the mesas near Trinidad are all visible. In the foreground 6,000 feet below, are the amazing volcanic dikes that extend from the Spanish Peaks like the spokes in a wheel. Massive and impressive walls from below, these geologic marvels are merely tiny slivers protruding from the colorful landscape when viewed from above.
The forecast called for storms after 3PM, but the forecast was wrong. A storm on the previous night had set enough moisture in motion to move up the start time for storms to lunch time, so our stay on the summit was brief. A dark bottomed cloud loomed directly overhead, connected to a whole series of clouds hanging motionless over the Culebra range, casting dark shadows all around us.
Our descent was hasty with only short breaks to snatch a sip or a nibble before resuming our dash down the mountain. We were surprised to see people still clamoring up the mountain after 11 o’clock, with sheets of rain falling on Culebra Peak to the west accompanied by bolts of lightning and loud cracks of thunder. Only one person turned around. Some folks are fearless in such matters. Having done much battle in Colorado’s high country, I’m not one of them. Bill is positively mortified by thunder and lightning, a phobia that has stuck with him since an early childhood incident that almost had him killed. He was actually down the trail faster than any of us. We were back at the cars at 12:30.
Ellen’s fellow CMC member and Wilderness Class participant Bill Farrow was leading a CMC hike up the same route, so we spent portions of our day with them as well. It was nice to see Bill again. He’s in great shape and moving on the mountain better than most folks in our age group.
We highly recommend West Spanish Peak. Despite its simple appearance, the mountain has much character and is a joy to climb. The rock quality is surprisingly good and stable, and there’s plenty of solid Class 2 climbing to make the day enjoyable. The forest preceding the climb is lovely as well, as evidenced in the accompanying photos with this report. The view is outstanding and the mountain should not be overlooked for this reason alone.
Congratulations to our friend Bill on a dream brought to life, and a climb well done! Here’s hoping for many more!
Bill Gemmell with Aaron Johnson
To Fee or Not to Fee
Our climb of West Spanish Peak was marred by one small unpleasant item. Thankfully, I stumbled across it while researching the mountain here on SummitPost, so I knew about it before we embarked on the trip. Most of you know that I oppose the rancid fee system spreading across our United States like a rotting disease. I was dismayed that such a fee site was in place at Cordova Pass, where the climb of West Spanish Peak begins. I immediately got in touch with Kitty Benzar, President of the Western Slope No Fee Coalition, whom I’ve been laboring with extensively this year on matters concerning the growing fee fiasco.
She responded that the fee site in question was not on the current authorized list of fee sites. Email inquiries to the local Forest Service were not met with quick emails, as you might imagine. Responses finally came lagging along, referring the matter to Washington D.C. since it was a “national issue.” Answers to specific issues were not forthcoming, such as:
• Is the site authorized, and if so, why isn’t it on the list?
• What type of fee program does the site fall under? (There’s only one).
• Why is the site charging a day use fee when it is clear in the established guidelines that the operators of the site are not authorized to do so?
• Does the site have all the required amenities as set forth by the Granger/Thye Act and the Forest Service?
Cordova Pass Fee Site
Cordova Pass Fee Site
Cordova Pass Fee Site
Answers to these burning questions would hopefully be forthcoming with our visit to West Spanish Peak. Although an unpleasant aspect to the trip, dealing with this site, which for all intents and purposes could be considered illegal, presented an opportunity to further illuminate this growing problem in our public lands. Thus, in addition to the usual stuff, I packed my video camera.
Upon arrival, I went right to work snapping photos and filming video of the necessary items. I must credit the “operator” of this site for making a good effort at meeting the requirements for being a legitimate fee location. Signage was adequate, picnic tables were present and most importantly, the restroom facility was a permanent structure. Whether the Forest Service was the initial investor in these accoutrements is unknown.
Even so, this site was charging a $5.00 fee just to park on the opposite side of the road for climbing West Spanish Peak. For an experiment, I informed Kitty that I would pay the fee, but include a form letter we composed requesting a refund, citing the shortcomings of the site, including this most important aberration. Authorized or not, regardless of location or situation, according to the guidelines established by the Granger/Thye Act and the Forest Service, these fee locations are PROHIBITED FROM COLLECTING FEES from folks simply accessing their public lands and not using the facilities.
Forget the untidy matter that this site is not on the authorized list of fee sites (their permit was issued this year-so they should be well informed of the rules). These points and this fee site (which apparently chose to disregard the FLREA rules) are just a small part of a very large picture, and it’s an ugly picture.
Unauthorized sites, run by private and corporate interests are cropping up everywhere. These opportunists invest very little money and they are making a bundle off of the public-that’s you and me, dear reader, and giving the Forest Service a tidy little cut. This is double taxation without due process. You’re paying to access your land that you’ve already paid for. These unscrupulous operators are laughing all the way to the bank.
The linked video says it succinctly. It’s worth ten minutes of your time to check it out. Hopefully you’ll get hopping mad and take action in a way that best suits you. The most effective action you can take is to NOT PAY THE FEE IF YOU ARE SIMPLY ACCESSING PUBLIC LAND. The Forest Service cannot prosecute for failure to pay a fee that is already considered illegal. A civil lawsuit is pending on the matter.
For the sake of the video and to avoid a potentially ugly scene with affected parties (which were not in attendance on that day) that may have delayed our progress, I paid the fee. Remember under the provision mentioned above, you are not obligated to pay a fee unless you utilize the amenities at a fee site while accessing public land.
Apathy and indifference on this issue will result in our public lands being stolen right out from under our noses. Already I have received the “good job Aaron, carrying that torch-keep up the good work” encouragements. The same folks then merrily go on about their business and pay the fee, fearing retribution from “the mob.” And that’s what the Forest Service wants. They’re counting on intimidation to make them a fast buck. It takes more than just a nut with a video camera and some conviction though to see a resistance movement become a successful campaign (see this trip report for a past victory). Without keen awareness and focused responses from the public on this matter, we’ll all be crying the blues when we can’t go anywhere on our lands without paying a private interest their undeserved piece of the double tax pie.
In the end, it’s up to everyone to resist the fee program, or our free wilderness land will no longer be free.
An excellent film, and much needed exposure for the fee shenanigans being pulled by the Forest Service. Thanks Aaron!
Much more info on public lands fees at www.WesternSlopeNoFee.org
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
