Onager - Oct 26, 2015 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2015
Standard Route
What should have been a hike turned into a snow climb for my 38th 14er! Climbed remote 14,014 ft. San Luis Peak via the Northeast Ridge today. I left home at 3:30 AM and made it to the trail head by 7 AM. I started off trail and realized that no one had been on the trail in some time because the snow on the trail was untouched, aside from moose and coyote tracks. I followed the animal tracks to treeline, at this point I was already 5 miles in but saw what was ahead of me, a lot of steep snow covering what should have been the trail. I broke trail the entire way to the summit of the mountain. It was exhausting. I made the summit just before noon and saw that large clouds were building nearby so I snapped a few photos and high-tailed it back down. I made it off the snow slope and had to hike in a snow flurry the last 2 miles. Made it back to the car around 3 PM. Round trip it took 8 hours to cover 13.5 miles up and back down 3,600 ft. I was the only soul on the mountain today. Glad to be done with this one.
Moogie737 - Oct 6, 2015 12:34 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2015
Stewart Creek TH (from Lake City)
#1 10-4-15 W/ the best climbing partner one could ask for. Twenty mph winds and short bursts of snow showers added stimulating color to what could have been a drab slog. Our GPS indicated a r/t mileage of 13.74.
MissH - Aug 3, 2015 11:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2015
4th (and final) in 4 days
Awesome way to end 4 days (and 4 14ers) in the San Juans. Went via Stewart Creek TH. Long dirt road wasn't that bad - about an hour's drive each way. Mellow way to end our trip. Climbed with MoapaPk (Harlan).
apachedino - Jul 13, 2015 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2015
8 14ers in 6 days
The last of 8 14ers in the region on a road trip. This one is a little more remote.
buzzdainer - Jul 13, 2015 11:32 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2015
Stewart Creek
Stewart Creek Trail is nicely maintained for a trail that doesn't get a ton of use. Beautiful day, nice weather.
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:09 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2012
Rough day
avy concerns, trailbreaking, effing cold... etc. no summit...
milan - Oct 18, 2012 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2009
Lonely for a weekend
There was awesome weather in Boulder and I was working on Saturday. At one moment, I looked out, smelled the autumn air and could not resist. I took my car, bought food, put my gear in and drove to Grizzly Gulch. The beauty was breathtaking, all aspens were golden. After Handies, I drove to San Luis Trailhead and had another awesome day, didn't see human for two days.
Shaylee - Aug 27, 2012 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San Luis
8-26-2012
Kessler - Aug 27, 2012 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San Luis
8-26-2012
Scott - Aug 27, 2012 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San Luis
August 25-26: San Luis Peak
School was starting the next week and work has been stressful, so we thought we would climb another 14er. This time we took aim on a much easier objective; San Luis Peak in the San Juan Mountains.
August 25
Kessler, Shaylee and I left late morning from Craig to drive to the Stewart Creek trailhead. The drive took longer than expected, so we didn’t get there until evening.
It was raining right when we started the approach. We made steady progress up the trail, especially since we didn’t take any rest in the rain. I was planning on camping somewhere near the highest beaver ponds shown on the topo map, but the trail has been recently rerouted leaving much of it near timberline to be high and dry.
Once at timberline, the creek was far below, but we weren’t worried since I could make a run down to water if needs be and there was still a lot of daylight available to backtrack if we didn’t find a campsite.
We ended up finding a nice little stream and a sheltered place in the willows well above timberline at 12,350 feet; about 100 feet above the trail and next to a lone tiny little stunted tree, about the highest little tree in the basin. The willows provided shelter and since it was a small semi-flat place in the middle of a steep slope, lightning danger would be minimal (less than in the trees around timberline). The ground was lumpy and the high altitude would make sleeping a little harder perhaps, but the views were great, the clearing skies meant that the stars would be in full view, and the sun would reach this place much sooner than it would back in the forest.
August 25
After a nice night (we could hear the wind at night, but the willows provided shelter and the wind didn’t blow the flaps of the tent much) we woke up just before sunrise. It was 34F. We took our time getting ready in the morning since it was a bit chilly and windy. We then hiked back down to the trail and started up the mountain under completely clear skies.
We made steady progress up the mountain and stopped to watch a marmot not far below the saddle. The rest of the climb went smoothly and we had the mountain to ourselves until we reached the summit at 10 am where a few other climbers had also just reached the summit from the other side.
We spent 35 minutes at the summit before heading back down. When we reached the summit of San Luis, the skies were clear, but by the time we left the summit there were some small puffy clouds. We hiked back to camp and packed up under skies that were getting cloudier as time went on.
We headed down the mountain and eventually the rain and thunder came around noon, but we were well below timberline and back in the thick forest. It rained most of the way down, but that didn’t bother us much. It was a nice little getaway.
skorpeo - Aug 4, 2012 12:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2012
Had the Mountain to myself
Beautiful day and Hike. Thanks CFI for working on the trail.
Ken Dammen - Jul 25, 2012 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2012
Standard route
Climbed this peak with Dustin Kelley. Weather good, long drive in on dirt road. Straight forward relatively easy as far as 14ers go. #46 Colorado 14er with 12 to go! First 14er of this season...slow start.
Hiked up from the West Creek Trailhead, via the Colorado Trail and the south ridge. This was my 30th 14er. Was joined by Rich Woessner, his 22nd 14er and my 6 month old Golden Retriever, Loki - his 3rd 14er.
The end of a long week in Colorado. My tenth peak, over 27,000' of vertical at the peak and over 70 miles on return to the trailhead. I can't wait for next year..
Woodie Hopper - Jun 23, 2012 12:33 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2012
Cebolla TH with Stewart
This was a great day despite the wind. The beginning of the traverse from Baldy Alto is a little grungy, but otherwise ok. The traverse looks longer than it is. Didn't see anyone else the entire day. I headed to Stewart afterwards.
DerekFreed - May 30, 2012 7:52 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
Onager - Oct 26, 2015 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2015
Standard RouteWhat should have been a hike turned into a snow climb for my 38th 14er! Climbed remote 14,014 ft. San Luis Peak via the Northeast Ridge today. I left home at 3:30 AM and made it to the trail head by 7 AM. I started off trail and realized that no one had been on the trail in some time because the snow on the trail was untouched, aside from moose and coyote tracks. I followed the animal tracks to treeline, at this point I was already 5 miles in but saw what was ahead of me, a lot of steep snow covering what should have been the trail. I broke trail the entire way to the summit of the mountain. It was exhausting. I made the summit just before noon and saw that large clouds were building nearby so I snapped a few photos and high-tailed it back down. I made it off the snow slope and had to hike in a snow flurry the last 2 miles. Made it back to the car around 3 PM. Round trip it took 8 hours to cover 13.5 miles up and back down 3,600 ft. I was the only soul on the mountain today. Glad to be done with this one.
Moogie737 - Oct 6, 2015 12:34 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2015
Stewart Creek TH (from Lake City)#1 10-4-15 W/ the best climbing partner one could ask for. Twenty mph winds and short bursts of snow showers added stimulating color to what could have been a drab slog. Our GPS indicated a r/t mileage of 13.74.
MissH - Aug 3, 2015 11:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2015
4th (and final) in 4 daysAwesome way to end 4 days (and 4 14ers) in the San Juans. Went via Stewart Creek TH. Long dirt road wasn't that bad - about an hour's drive each way. Mellow way to end our trip. Climbed with MoapaPk (Harlan).
apachedino - Jul 13, 2015 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2015
8 14ers in 6 daysThe last of 8 14ers in the region on a road trip. This one is a little more remote.
buzzdainer - Jul 13, 2015 11:32 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2015
Stewart CreekStewart Creek Trail is nicely maintained for a trail that doesn't get a ton of use. Beautiful day, nice weather.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Jul 6, 2015 10:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2015
Stewart CreekEasiest peak ever with point 13 something...
With Mat (the sport climber), Lee n Kerry.
SiberianSayan - May 14, 2014 2:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 1994
A quick hop off the CTApproximate date. Was backpacking the Colorado Trail and took a quick jaunt off the CT to the summit.
DanielL - Oct 9, 2013 12:48 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
Great solitudeHiked standard route from Stewart Creek (13 miles RT) - long hike but gentle terrain with great views and solitude.
astroclimber - Jul 6, 2013 9:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2011
beauty dayLong walk but beautiful quiet day.
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:09 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2012
Rough dayavy concerns, trailbreaking, effing cold... etc. no summit...
milan - Oct 18, 2012 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2009
Lonely for a weekendThere was awesome weather in Boulder and I was working on Saturday. At one moment, I looked out, smelled the autumn air and could not resist. I took my car, bought food, put my gear in and drove to Grizzly Gulch. The beauty was breathtaking, all aspens were golden. After Handies, I drove to San Luis Trailhead and had another awesome day, didn't see human for two days.
Shaylee - Aug 27, 2012 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San Luis8-26-2012
Kessler - Aug 27, 2012 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San Luis8-26-2012
Scott - Aug 27, 2012 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
San LuisAugust 25-26: San Luis Peak
School was starting the next week and work has been stressful, so we thought we would climb another 14er. This time we took aim on a much easier objective; San Luis Peak in the San Juan Mountains.
August 25
Kessler, Shaylee and I left late morning from Craig to drive to the Stewart Creek trailhead. The drive took longer than expected, so we didn’t get there until evening.
It was raining right when we started the approach. We made steady progress up the trail, especially since we didn’t take any rest in the rain. I was planning on camping somewhere near the highest beaver ponds shown on the topo map, but the trail has been recently rerouted leaving much of it near timberline to be high and dry.
Once at timberline, the creek was far below, but we weren’t worried since I could make a run down to water if needs be and there was still a lot of daylight available to backtrack if we didn’t find a campsite.
We ended up finding a nice little stream and a sheltered place in the willows well above timberline at 12,350 feet; about 100 feet above the trail and next to a lone tiny little stunted tree, about the highest little tree in the basin. The willows provided shelter and since it was a small semi-flat place in the middle of a steep slope, lightning danger would be minimal (less than in the trees around timberline). The ground was lumpy and the high altitude would make sleeping a little harder perhaps, but the views were great, the clearing skies meant that the stars would be in full view, and the sun would reach this place much sooner than it would back in the forest.
August 25
After a nice night (we could hear the wind at night, but the willows provided shelter and the wind didn’t blow the flaps of the tent much) we woke up just before sunrise. It was 34F. We took our time getting ready in the morning since it was a bit chilly and windy. We then hiked back down to the trail and started up the mountain under completely clear skies.
We made steady progress up the mountain and stopped to watch a marmot not far below the saddle. The rest of the climb went smoothly and we had the mountain to ourselves until we reached the summit at 10 am where a few other climbers had also just reached the summit from the other side.
We spent 35 minutes at the summit before heading back down. When we reached the summit of San Luis, the skies were clear, but by the time we left the summit there were some small puffy clouds. We hiked back to camp and packed up under skies that were getting cloudier as time went on.
We headed down the mountain and eventually the rain and thunder came around noon, but we were well below timberline and back in the thick forest. It rained most of the way down, but that didn’t bother us much. It was a nice little getaway.
skorpeo - Aug 4, 2012 12:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2012
Had the Mountain to myselfBeautiful day and Hike. Thanks CFI for working on the trail.
Ken Dammen - Jul 25, 2012 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2012
Standard routeClimbed this peak with Dustin Kelley. Weather good, long drive in on dirt road. Straight forward relatively easy as far as 14ers go. #46 Colorado 14er with 12 to go! First 14er of this season...slow start.
argothor - Jul 21, 2012 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2012
Via West CreekHiked up from the West Creek Trailhead, via the Colorado Trail and the south ridge. This was my 30th 14er. Was joined by Rich Woessner, his 22nd 14er and my 6 month old Golden Retriever, Loki - his 3rd 14er.
Hyadventure - Jul 18, 2012 10:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Via the South RidgeThe end of a long week in Colorado. My tenth peak, over 27,000' of vertical at the peak and over 70 miles on return to the trailhead. I can't wait for next year..
Woodie Hopper - Jun 23, 2012 12:33 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2012
Cebolla TH with StewartThis was a great day despite the wind. The beginning of the traverse from Baldy Alto is a little grungy, but otherwise ok. The traverse looks longer than it is. Didn't see anyone else the entire day. I headed to Stewart afterwards.
DerekFreed - May 30, 2012 7:52 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
West Willow Creek 4wd THNice hike, more up and down than I expected!