Route Climbed: Blank Gulch Date Climbed: September 2003
Solo Trip - As most people, I hiked Shavano and Tabeguache together. Weather was great and the aspens were changing. From the summit, the aspens looked like rivers of gold pouring off the mountain. A great time to hike these peaks.
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek trailhead via Southwest/West Ridge Date Climbed: September, 2001
Another completely unremarkable Sawatch hump. I remember next to nothing about this climb, except wishing that I had combined it when I had earlier climbed Shavano.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 2, 1992
Staring from the rough road TH neear Jennings Creek, the route is fairly easy to followas is climbs up to and along the south ridge of Tab's western subpeak. The day we were on the summit there were storm clouds miles to the south of us, over Mt. Ouray, but we had enough static electricity to have our arm hair stand out and tingle. We didn't linger on the top, and passed on continuing to Shavano. On the way down we met a couple of men that we had talked to at the TH. They made it to the western subpeak, and had mistakenly believed that the had summited Tab, thinking it was really Shavano. Oops! Close but no cigar!
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 9, 2001
Started from Jennings Creek, and made the summit in about 3.5 hours. Alot of talus to traverse in this route - my knees really felt it. Good views of Shavano and the rest of the Sawatch from the summit.
Route Climbed: The now-closed Jennings Creek Trail Date Climbed: September, 1998
One of my favorite 14-ers, done from the now-closed Jennings Creek trail, I've always thought would be a good way to rate conditioning--long trail, and relentlessly up hill! Done with Aaron and Jim, in a snowstorm with about two feet of fresh snow on top. Interesting footing, to say the least!
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Date Climbed: July 1994
Got my Oldsmobile station wagon to the trailhead - back then the road was better. After mountain climbing in Colorado for 30 years, this was my first solo climb. Attempted to climb Antero on the same trip, but ran out of water and had to return. Upper Browns Creek is a big, miserable swamp.
Route Climbed: West Ridge via Jennings Creek Date Climbed: May 30, 2002
Even though many disdain Jennings Creek, if more people just hiked to the rear of the basin and used Tab's west ridge (rather than trying to ascend nasty, loose slopes to the ridge that splits the Jennings and McCoy drainages), this approach wouldn't have such a poor reputation and the CFI might not have had to close the TH.
Erin and I knew about the impending TH closure that summer, which would obscure the TH and make an approach via Jennings Creek more difficult. We hiked up the trail into the small basin and used a dry Jennings Creek bed for easy passage through the willows. At the rear of the basin, we climbed easy (and very stable!) slopes for perhaps 3-400' to attain Tab's west ridge. Heading east on the ridge for 1.5 miles to the summit made for a fine alpine stroll. Fire season hadn't really ramped up yet (though the Hayman Fire would start little more than a week later), so we could see the full length of the Sangres, and to the southwest we could spy on Uncompahgre. A trip report is available here.
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Date Climbed: July 21, 2002
This was a steep hike. The first two miles gained 2,000 vertical feet. Once at point 13,100’ the trail mellowed out for a bit then started to climb again after a half mile or so. This was the last 1000 foot climb to the summit. The trail is virtually non-existent with numerous trails leading all over the place but they all meet back at the final push to the sub-peak. Roach lists this sub-peak in his book as a point, so I had to do it. From that point, the climb takes you down, back up, back down and then finally back up the the true summit. Two false summits and then a bit of scrambling from the sub-peak to Tabeguache.
Route Climbed: east ridge from west of Browns Lake
Had to scrap my last attempt at this mountain due to weather. This time it clouded up a little but I had plenty of time.
I drove over Antero's shoulder and camped west of Browns Lake. In the morning I ascended to the 12,600 pass west of the summit and walked the ridge to the peak. Met some nice people up there too.
Route Climbed: From Shavano Date Climbed: September 1, 2002
Made the easy ridge walk from Shavano in 45 minutes after coming up the Angel of Shavano Trail. Nice hike! Good steepness and the trail is in great condition. Summitted Tabeguache at 12:15 pm. The walk back to Shavano kinda sucked. A couple of false summits (even though I had just come that way) to throw you off along the way.
Old Ickabod - Mar 31, 2005 8:53 am
Route Climbed: Blank Gulch Date Climbed: September 2003Solo Trip - As most people, I hiked Shavano and Tabeguache together. Weather was great and the aspens were changing. From the summit, the aspens looked like rivers of gold pouring off the mountain. A great time to hike these peaks.
Ratballs - Feb 22, 2005 4:18 pm
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek trailhead via Southwest/West Ridge Date Climbed: September, 2001Another completely unremarkable Sawatch hump. I remember next to nothing about this climb, except wishing that I had combined it when I had earlier climbed Shavano.
ColoradoScott - Feb 3, 2005 4:12 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 2, 1992Staring from the rough road TH neear Jennings Creek, the route is fairly easy to followas is climbs up to and along the south ridge of Tab's western subpeak. The day we were on the summit there were storm clouds miles to the south of us, over Mt. Ouray, but we had enough static electricity to have our arm hair stand out and tingle. We didn't linger on the top, and passed on continuing to Shavano. On the way down we met a couple of men that we had talked to at the TH. They made it to the western subpeak, and had mistakenly believed that the had summited Tab, thinking it was really Shavano. Oops! Close but no cigar!
Richrat - Jan 30, 2005 8:47 pm
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Trail Date Climbed: August 2003This was the worst route possible. Loose rock and dusty the entire trip.
Natasha - Oct 14, 2004 11:48 pm
Route Climbed: Shavano-Tabeguache via Blank Gulch Date Climbed: July 18, 2004Great day, weather held out nicely, especially since we got a bit of a late start, but not too bad. Both summits and the trail were fairly crowded.
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 8:54 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 9, 2001Started from Jennings Creek, and made the summit in about 3.5 hours. Alot of talus to traverse in this route - my knees really felt it. Good views of Shavano and the rest of the Sawatch from the summit.
Saintgrizzly - Aug 10, 2004 9:03 pm
Route Climbed: The now-closed Jennings Creek Trail Date Climbed: September, 1998One of my favorite 14-ers, done from the now-closed Jennings Creek trail, I've always thought would be a good way to rate conditioning--long trail, and relentlessly up hill! Done with Aaron and Jim, in a snowstorm with about two feet of fresh snow on top. Interesting footing, to say the least!
Larry V - Jul 13, 2004 12:11 am
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Date Climbed: July 1994Got my Oldsmobile station wagon to the trailhead - back then the road was better. After mountain climbing in Colorado for 30 years, this was my first solo climb. Attempted to climb Antero on the same trip, but ran out of water and had to return. Upper Browns Creek is a big, miserable swamp.
awillson - Jul 8, 2004 10:10 am
Route Climbed: Blank Gulch Date Climbed: June 15, 2004Climbed along with Shavano with my brother Brent. Weather was moving in, so the summit stay was short.
mountainmota - Jun 15, 2004 7:26 pm
Route Climbed: Blanch Gulch Date Climbed: May 2003Nice easy 14er!
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:39 pm
Route Climbed: over from shavano Date Climbed: june 99not as pretty as shavano, but my last sawatch 14er, so I'll take it.
sbkelley - May 12, 2004 3:05 pm
Route Climbed: Blank Gulch Date Climbed: August 2001Climbed in conjunction with Shavano, but it would be worth going back to explore this mountain by itself. It just has a fun name, ya know? :)
f360driver - Apr 14, 2004 6:53 pm
Route Climbed: From Shavano Date Climbed: September/03Easy climb.
RyanS - Apr 9, 2004 12:44 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge via Jennings Creek Date Climbed: May 30, 2002Even though many disdain Jennings Creek, if more people just hiked to the rear of the basin and used Tab's west ridge (rather than trying to ascend nasty, loose slopes to the ridge that splits the Jennings and McCoy drainages), this approach wouldn't have such a poor reputation and the CFI might not have had to close the TH.
Erin and I knew about the impending TH closure that summer, which would obscure the TH and make an approach via Jennings Creek more difficult. We hiked up the trail into the small basin and used a dry Jennings Creek bed for easy passage through the willows. At the rear of the basin, we climbed easy (and very stable!) slopes for perhaps 3-400' to attain Tab's west ridge. Heading east on the ridge for 1.5 miles to the summit made for a fine alpine stroll. Fire season hadn't really ramped up yet (though the Hayman Fire would start little more than a week later), so we could see the full length of the Sangres, and to the southwest we could spy on Uncompahgre. A trip report is available here.
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:09 pm
Route Climbed: From Shavano via the Angel Date Climbed: June 2001Early summer snow hike was a pleasure.
Grant - Jan 6, 2004 11:26 pm
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Date Climbed: July 21, 2002This was a steep hike. The first two miles gained 2,000 vertical feet. Once at point 13,100’ the trail mellowed out for a bit then started to climb again after a half mile or so. This was the last 1000 foot climb to the summit. The trail is virtually non-existent with numerous trails leading all over the place but they all meet back at the final push to the sub-peak. Roach lists this sub-peak in his book as a point, so I had to do it. From that point, the climb takes you down, back up, back down and then finally back up the the true summit. Two false summits and then a bit of scrambling from the sub-peak to Tabeguache.
rob_runkle - Jul 30, 2003 7:18 pm
Route Climbed: The Blank Gulch Trailhead Date Climbed: July 25, 2004Great 2 banger to end 7 days of 14ers.
big_g - Jul 11, 2003 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2003
Route Climbed: east ridge from west of Browns LakeHad to scrap my last attempt at this mountain due to weather. This time it clouded up a little but I had plenty of time.
I drove over Antero's shoulder and camped west of Browns Lake. In the morning I ascended to the 12,600 pass west of the summit and walked the ridge to the peak. Met some nice people up there too.
rmjwinters - Oct 5, 2002 10:01 pm
Route Climbed: Jennings Creek Date Climbed: June 10 2000Steep and loose on my way to Shavano.
charles97 - Sep 17, 2002 2:30 pm
Route Climbed: From Shavano Date Climbed: September 1, 2002Made the easy ridge walk from Shavano in 45 minutes after coming up the Angel of Shavano Trail. Nice hike! Good steepness and the trail is in great condition. Summitted Tabeguache at 12:15 pm. The walk back to Shavano kinda sucked. A couple of false summits (even though I had just come that way) to throw you off along the way.
Second of 10 fourteeners in 6 days. #10 overall.