Hiked Shavano and Tabeguache from the Angel of Shavano Campground, adding four miles to the standard route for a 15 mile day with 6,200 feet of gain. 7:50 round trip
After summiting Shavano, we headed towards Tabaguache. It is about a 550' descent to the saddle between the 2 peaks, and a very easy scramble to the top of Tabaguache. On top of Taba, we met a man named Matt, from Colorado Springs, and his beautiful Aussie, Nova, who were just starting the Collegiate Loop. He was scheduled to do 220 miles, and 11 peaks over a 22 day period. We chatted with him for a long while, and then he hiked back towards Shavano with us. Very cool guy with amazing stories. Tabaguache has some amazing views of the hanging valley between it and Cronin Peak, and great views of Antero and Mount White. But itself is a pretty anti-climactic summit.
BKiser90 - May 26, 2020 7:45 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2020
With Shavano
From Blanks Gulch trailhead. Minimal snow and a beautiful day with no storms. Fun glissade down a snowfield on Tabeguache. Unfortunately, on the way back, near Fairplay I suffered some weird tingling throughout my body that caused my legs, arms, and hands to seize with slurred speech. Found out from my doctor bro-in-law that I probably had low blood sugar! Once I had some juice and chocolate milk back at home, I was all better. Make sure to eat right on the mountain to avoid any scares! Keep those sugars up!
Bryan W - Sep 7, 2019 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2019
West Ridge all to myself
As I suspected, a mid-week climb after Labor Day, gave me the West Ridge route all to myself. I didn't see a soul until after I got to the summit. On the way down, there were no signs of anybody having climbed Carbonate either. As much as I believe in safety in numbers, I have to say, I enjoyed the road less traveled or in this case, not traveled at all.
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2017
Only took an hour to traverse the ridge. Great weather.
yadahzoemtn - Jan 26, 2018 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
Got rained out the first attempt
Got it today. Twice over Shavano
kronshage3 - Jun 11, 2017 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2017
Shavano/Tabeguache Combo
Started around 6:45AM. Trail is mostly dry below treeline with a few chunk of snow along trail. Still large sections of snow above treeline. Did not use crampons or other traction since steps were left in snow already. LOTS of wind. Climbed Shavano as well. Back at car around 1:30PM.
skorpeo - Dec 13, 2016 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2016
Came from Shavano. Didn't mentally like that saddle between the two. Pretty nice views all around
BradBartick - Oct 4, 2016 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2016
With Shavano in high wind
Descended from the saddle between Shavano and Tabeguache. Aim for the lake, and you can stay in the center of the drainage and find passage all the way down. Loose 2nd class and steep in places. Get to the lake. From the burm above the outlet of the lake at the start of the traverse south back to the Shavano trail, sight a small rocky-topped hump on the slope to the south (the skyline you are ultimately aiming for). That hump is maybe a mile away, it is about the same elevation you are at, and that's what you aim for. Do not try to stay too high initially, as its small pines on cliffs. We went maybe 300 feet down, and it was much easier traversing. We eventually came to a clear avvy path between the trees, and hiked back up at that point and pretty much aimed to land just above the rocky hump, Trail is right there near the hump, south and slightly above it.
Moogie737 - Jul 10, 2016 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
From Shavano
#1 7-3-16 With Dave Armitage. Over in 0+58, back in 0+57. Nice little mini-scramble. Spent one minute on the 2nd Shavano summit and started down in a hurry as threatening clouds began building with uncanny speed. #2 W/ Lana. Long snow bank to climb for the last 250' vertical. From and back over Shavano.
SarahThompson - Dec 28, 2015 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2006
4x
9/9/06 - Standard route up and over Shavano.
11/11/07 - West Ridge with Jones & UN 13,712.
3/14/09 - Winter ascent over Esprit Point and Shavano.
3/14/16 - Winter ascent over Esprit Point and Shavano. Dom's 2nd to last winter 14er!
ajberry - Sep 6, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2015
Standard route, from Shavano
With Megan Berry.
CWFry - Aug 6, 2015 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2015
West Slopes
West Ridge route. Good conditions. Hard to find a defined trail at times after 11,200' from the Jennings Creek trailhead. Weather was good.
Onager - Jun 29, 2015 4:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2015
Success
Wow, what a day. After attempting these two 14ers twice this year and failing both times, I came back today with a vengeance and soloed both mountains! My first summits this year! That makes 23 14ers climbed so far. It's been awhile since I've made a new ascent. Reminds me why I moved out here in the first place!
I set off from the Blank Gulch Trailhead around 05:45 AM with intentions of taking the East Slopes route up and over 14,229 ft. Mount Shavano. I arrived at treeline by 8:00 AM, only saw about 10 other climbers and some casual hikers along the way, but I sped past all of them. Once above the "Angel of Shavano" snowfield (Where I failed last time) I lost the trail for a bit and then picked it back up on Shavano's South Ridge. Boy, was it windy. My hat flew off my head a few times but I ran and was able to apprehend it without further incident. I am estimating wind gusts of about 60 mph, strong enough to knock me down a few times. I picked up the Shavano trail and made the summit around 10:00 AM. Pretty tired but confident, I then proceeded down to the col between Mount Shavano and 14,155 ft. Tabeguache Peak. The way down had no marked trail and was mostly a scramble in 60 mph winds. No one else attempted to go over to Tabeguache, just me for today. At least it was blue skies all day... I descended about 500 ft. down and made the mile journey over to Tabeguache. Once you start climbing down Shavano towards Tabeguache, it is a commitment. There is no escape or bail route. The only practical way back to safety is to re-summit Shavano. What a chore. I climbed up snow to the summit of Tabeguache and made the summit around 11:00 AM. Knowing I had to make it back over Shavano, I didn't stay long. I took out my ice ax and slid down the snow back to the col between the peaks. I regained Shavano by 12:15, drank all my water and made my way back down to treeline by 1:00 PM. From here, it was still a few miles back through the woods to the trail head with no water... I made it back to my vehicle around 2:30 PM.
All in all, two 14ers summited, 5,600 ft. of elevation gained over 11.25 miles in about 8 and 1/2 hours. Glad to be done with them.
JRaphaelson - Aug 17, 2021 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2021
Shav and TabA hell of a traverse, but glad to get it done. Not my favorite 14er.
hgrapid - Jul 27, 2020 9:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2020
Foggy - with ShavanoFoggy at the top. Hiked with Shavano
xDoogiex - Jul 24, 2020 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2020
#28Done with Shavano
birdhead - Jul 19, 2020 4:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2020
Shavano and TabeguacheHiked Shavano and Tabeguache from the Angel of Shavano Campground, adding four miles to the standard route for a 15 mile day with 6,200 feet of gain. 7:50 round trip
kteichert - Jul 18, 2020 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2020
4th 14er in 2 daysAfter summiting Shavano, we headed towards Tabaguache. It is about a 550' descent to the saddle between the 2 peaks, and a very easy scramble to the top of Tabaguache. On top of Taba, we met a man named Matt, from Colorado Springs, and his beautiful Aussie, Nova, who were just starting the Collegiate Loop. He was scheduled to do 220 miles, and 11 peaks over a 22 day period. We chatted with him for a long while, and then he hiked back towards Shavano with us. Very cool guy with amazing stories. Tabaguache has some amazing views of the hanging valley between it and Cronin Peak, and great views of Antero and Mount White. But itself is a pretty anti-climactic summit.
BKiser90 - May 26, 2020 7:45 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2020
With ShavanoFrom Blanks Gulch trailhead. Minimal snow and a beautiful day with no storms. Fun glissade down a snowfield on Tabeguache. Unfortunately, on the way back, near Fairplay I suffered some weird tingling throughout my body that caused my legs, arms, and hands to seize with slurred speech. Found out from my doctor bro-in-law that I probably had low blood sugar! Once I had some juice and chocolate milk back at home, I was all better. Make sure to eat right on the mountain to avoid any scares! Keep those sugars up!
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:18 pm
--2019
Bryan W - Sep 7, 2019 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2019
West Ridge all to myselfAs I suspected, a mid-week climb after Labor Day, gave me the West Ridge route all to myself. I didn't see a soul until after I got to the summit. On the way down, there were no signs of anybody having climbed Carbonate either. As much as I believe in safety in numbers, I have to say, I enjoyed the road less traveled or in this case, not traveled at all.
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2017
From ShavanoSolo traverse after doing the Angel on Shavano
technicolorNH - Sep 26, 2018 10:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2018
from ShavanoOnly took an hour to traverse the ridge. Great weather.
yadahzoemtn - Jan 26, 2018 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
Got rained out the first attemptGot it today. Twice over Shavano
kronshage3 - Jun 11, 2017 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2017
Shavano/Tabeguache ComboStarted around 6:45AM. Trail is mostly dry below treeline with a few chunk of snow along trail. Still large sections of snow above treeline. Did not use crampons or other traction since steps were left in snow already. LOTS of wind. Climbed Shavano as well. Back at car around 1:30PM.
skorpeo - Dec 13, 2016 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2016
Nice hikeLight snow year. I really enjoyed it.
wannabepeakbagger - Nov 24, 2016 2:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2016
Windy dayCame from Shavano. Didn't mentally like that saddle between the two. Pretty nice views all around
BradBartick - Oct 4, 2016 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2016
With Shavano in high windDescended from the saddle between Shavano and Tabeguache. Aim for the lake, and you can stay in the center of the drainage and find passage all the way down. Loose 2nd class and steep in places. Get to the lake. From the burm above the outlet of the lake at the start of the traverse south back to the Shavano trail, sight a small rocky-topped hump on the slope to the south (the skyline you are ultimately aiming for). That hump is maybe a mile away, it is about the same elevation you are at, and that's what you aim for. Do not try to stay too high initially, as its small pines on cliffs. We went maybe 300 feet down, and it was much easier traversing. We eventually came to a clear avvy path between the trees, and hiked back up at that point and pretty much aimed to land just above the rocky hump, Trail is right there near the hump, south and slightly above it.
Moogie737 - Jul 10, 2016 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
From Shavano#1 7-3-16 With Dave Armitage. Over in 0+58, back in 0+57. Nice little mini-scramble. Spent one minute on the 2nd Shavano summit and started down in a hurry as threatening clouds began building with uncanny speed. #2 W/ Lana. Long snow bank to climb for the last 250' vertical. From and back over Shavano.
SarahThompson - Dec 28, 2015 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2006
4x9/9/06 - Standard route up and over Shavano.
11/11/07 - West Ridge with Jones & UN 13,712.
3/14/09 - Winter ascent over Esprit Point and Shavano.
3/14/16 - Winter ascent over Esprit Point and Shavano. Dom's 2nd to last winter 14er!
ajberry - Sep 6, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2015
Standard route, from ShavanoWith Megan Berry.
CWFry - Aug 6, 2015 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2015
West SlopesWest Ridge route. Good conditions. Hard to find a defined trail at times after 11,200' from the Jennings Creek trailhead. Weather was good.
Onager - Jun 29, 2015 4:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2015
SuccessWow, what a day. After attempting these two 14ers twice this year and failing both times, I came back today with a vengeance and soloed both mountains! My first summits this year! That makes 23 14ers climbed so far. It's been awhile since I've made a new ascent. Reminds me why I moved out here in the first place!
I set off from the Blank Gulch Trailhead around 05:45 AM with intentions of taking the East Slopes route up and over 14,229 ft. Mount Shavano. I arrived at treeline by 8:00 AM, only saw about 10 other climbers and some casual hikers along the way, but I sped past all of them. Once above the "Angel of Shavano" snowfield (Where I failed last time) I lost the trail for a bit and then picked it back up on Shavano's South Ridge. Boy, was it windy. My hat flew off my head a few times but I ran and was able to apprehend it without further incident. I am estimating wind gusts of about 60 mph, strong enough to knock me down a few times. I picked up the Shavano trail and made the summit around 10:00 AM. Pretty tired but confident, I then proceeded down to the col between Mount Shavano and 14,155 ft. Tabeguache Peak. The way down had no marked trail and was mostly a scramble in 60 mph winds. No one else attempted to go over to Tabeguache, just me for today. At least it was blue skies all day... I descended about 500 ft. down and made the mile journey over to Tabeguache. Once you start climbing down Shavano towards Tabeguache, it is a commitment. There is no escape or bail route. The only practical way back to safety is to re-summit Shavano. What a chore. I climbed up snow to the summit of Tabeguache and made the summit around 11:00 AM. Knowing I had to make it back over Shavano, I didn't stay long. I took out my ice ax and slid down the snow back to the col between the peaks. I regained Shavano by 12:15, drank all my water and made my way back down to treeline by 1:00 PM. From here, it was still a few miles back through the woods to the trail head with no water... I made it back to my vehicle around 2:30 PM.
All in all, two 14ers summited, 5,600 ft. of elevation gained over 11.25 miles in about 8 and 1/2 hours. Glad to be done with them.