theREALCarpeDM - Jul 5, 2023 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2023
Maxwell --> Trinchera with shuttle
Big huge blow-down event in spring 2022 made this impassible from Blue Lakes campground. But Valerie wanted to get Maxwell since LIDAR says it's ranked. So we shuttled Maxwell-->Cuatro-->Leaning South-->Leaning North-->Trinchera. The blow-down area got higher than the junction with the North Fork trail, so we had a bit of a bushwhack (not so bad) to find it. But it was a wonderful trail back to my car at Purgatoire campground. Windy but beautiful day.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 5, 2020 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2020
big day
Went up Maxwell, traversed over Mariquita and DeAnza, back onto Maxwell, then continued north to Cuatro, Leaning South and North, Trinchera and English Saddle. My son picked me up at Blue Lakes campground.
chicagotransplant - Nov 20, 2017 11:47 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2017
Ridge Run
Ridge run with Rachael and Scot, starting at 12955. Glad to have a car shuttle so we could descend off Maxwell. Not as much snow down here as in the northern part of the state, so made a nice farewell to fall hiking for us before winter really sets in!
slowbutsteady - Sep 29, 2012 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2012
ascent #7
Parked at bottom of road near Blue Lake CG. Left car 5:30 am, on top 10:30 am, using east ridge approach. An hour longer each way than previous hikes but hell, I am almost seventy.
Kiefer - Mar 5, 2012 1:24 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2012
North Ridge
Kind of an expected long day. Was able to follow an old trench to roughly ~11,000. Some postholing ensued before the talus was reached. Very windy. Probably would have enjoyed it more. Tagged Pt. 12,955 afterwards. Views were incredable though!
REM - Jun 25, 2011 7:50 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2001
North Ridge
Climbed With Emery Ashby and "CJ." Great views of Culebra.
shknbke - Feb 25, 2011 7:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 6, 2011
n.e. slopes
Took the n.e. slopes from the road, which were most wind scoured until the last 500 feet or so. Ran the ridge all the way south to Cuatro and back, then over to 12955. It went pretty quick even with snow.
Climbed in the morning under partly cloudy skies. Completed leaning South and Leaning North before the storms came.
Sarah Simon - Jun 26, 2010 11:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
East Ridge
Wow, we really lucked out on the weather. We were able to just mozy around to the summit of Trinchera. We saw a lot of Big Horn Sheep in the area and enjoyed fantastic glissading on the descent!
MBS1017 - Dec 13, 2009 4:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
North Ridge
Started from Blue Lake. Great weather, great day. A very friendly Bighorn hung out on the summit with us the whole time we were up there. He seemed curious and was never more than 15-20 ft from us. Very cool.
kavak - Jan 6, 2009 9:57 am Date Climbed: Sep 27, 1997
East Ridge
Our intent was to climb East Spanish Peak in this area, but since it was still early in the day upon our arrival we decided to add Trinchera Peak to our intinerary.
boisedoc - Jun 4, 2008 3:05 am Date Climbed: May 26, 2008
fun snow climb
snowshoed up the jeep trail from Blue Lake Campground (which was still snowed in over Memorial Day). At treeline I found some fun snowslopes along the north side of the east ridge to crampon up. I went down the north ridge following a couple of I believe Mountain Goats (maybe Bighorns with very short horns). Had a good glissade down. Fun little hike with good views of West Spanish Peak
bruceg - May 9, 2008 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1987
First Colorado Peak
From West side. Great view of Spanish Peaks
SarahThompson - Mar 31, 2008 1:01 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2006
East Ridge
Started from the bottom of the Trinchera 4WD road and climbed Trinchera's east ridge. Went on to "Leaning North Peak", "Leaning South Peak" & Cuatro, then retraced my steps.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 22, 2007 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Dec 17, 2005
Route Climbed: North Ridge
Hiked up the road to Blue Lake, continued on up a little below the tree line to set up camp. Spent the night. This was one of the coldest nights I've seen in the mountains. Our temperature gauge showed 22 degrees below zero. Our summit attempt ended on the ridge to the summit. Winds picked us up and blew us onto our backs. I did not like that feeling of being at the mercy of mother nature. So for saftey sake we turned around.
Two months later, this time with a camera!! Easier this time. All my summit pics came from this trip.
I knew what to expect this time once I got on the peak. Very clear and dry weather made for a great hike starting from Blue Lake CG. Don't remember the amount of time it took for the hike, but was beat when I got to the car. I now felt this mountain was mine.
Seven years later. With drier conditions and a couple of companions, I was on the summit.
Started hiking the road from Blue Lake. Before reaching the North Fork Trail cutoff two guys in a 4WD pickup gave me a ride. We parked at the ridge saddle between Trinchera and UN 12,955. Climbed the north ridge, negotiated the drop-off, then hit the summit. Afternoon storms chased us back down to the truck at which time it began to drop large slush balls on us and covered the ground.
At the age of 16, my brother (age 14) and I hiked our first mountain. We weren't ready for the conditions. Dad dropped us off at Blue Lake CG about mid-morning. We hiked in the very light rain and fog up to the mine shack and took a break. From there we went back to the north saddle ridge and began climbing. It was cold--probably in the 40's with some drizzle and light wind. We reached the drop off point below the summit and were quickly discouraged. Because we didn't know what else was in store above us, and because we were cold and hungry, we turned around and headed down. We did take a couple of pics from the drop off point. I became fascinated with this peak and wanted to learn more about it.
slowbutsteady - Jul 21, 2007 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2006
slowbutsteady
My 5th ascent since the first in 1993.Climbed from Blue Lk Cg up east ridge. 6:40am depart, on top 11:20am.
KyleR - Jun 12, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2004
North Ridge
Nice easy ascent of a 13'er with great views. You can always count on Bighorn in the area and the remains of an old mine are an interesting diversion. A great peak to bag with a non-climber who will be instantly hooked for life.
theREALCarpeDM - Jul 5, 2023 4:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2023
Maxwell --> Trinchera with shuttleBig huge blow-down event in spring 2022 made this impassible from Blue Lakes campground. But Valerie wanted to get Maxwell since LIDAR says it's ranked. So we shuttled Maxwell-->Cuatro-->Leaning South-->Leaning North-->Trinchera. The blow-down area got higher than the junction with the North Fork trail, so we had a bit of a bushwhack (not so bad) to find it. But it was a wonderful trail back to my car at Purgatoire campground. Windy but beautiful day.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 5, 2020 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2020
big dayWent up Maxwell, traversed over Mariquita and DeAnza, back onto Maxwell, then continued north to Cuatro, Leaning South and North, Trinchera and English Saddle. My son picked me up at Blue Lakes campground.
chicagotransplant - Nov 20, 2017 11:47 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2017
Ridge RunRidge run with Rachael and Scot, starting at 12955. Glad to have a car shuttle so we could descend off Maxwell. Not as much snow down here as in the northern part of the state, so made a nice farewell to fall hiking for us before winter really sets in!
slowbutsteady - Sep 29, 2012 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2012
ascent #7Parked at bottom of road near Blue Lake CG. Left car 5:30 am, on top 10:30 am, using east ridge approach. An hour longer each way than previous hikes but hell, I am almost seventy.
Kiefer - Mar 5, 2012 1:24 pm Date Climbed: Mar 2, 2012
North RidgeKind of an expected long day. Was able to follow an old trench to roughly ~11,000. Some postholing ensued before the talus was reached. Very windy. Probably would have enjoyed it more. Tagged Pt. 12,955 afterwards. Views were incredable though!
REM - Jun 25, 2011 7:50 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2001
North RidgeClimbed With Emery Ashby and "CJ." Great views of Culebra.
shknbke - Feb 25, 2011 7:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 6, 2011
n.e. slopesTook the n.e. slopes from the road, which were most wind scoured until the last 500 feet or so. Ran the ridge all the way south to Cuatro and back, then over to 12955. It went pretty quick even with snow.
Midlife Mountaineer - Aug 15, 2010 11:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010
Not many people but lots of bighornsClimbed in the morning under partly cloudy skies. Completed leaning South and Leaning North before the storms came.
Sarah Simon - Jun 26, 2010 11:46 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
East RidgeWow, we really lucked out on the weather. We were able to just mozy around to the summit of Trinchera. We saw a lot of Big Horn Sheep in the area and enjoyed fantastic glissading on the descent!
MBS1017 - Dec 13, 2009 4:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
North RidgeStarted from Blue Lake. Great weather, great day. A very friendly Bighorn hung out on the summit with us the whole time we were up there. He seemed curious and was never more than 15-20 ft from us. Very cool.
kavak - Jan 6, 2009 9:57 am Date Climbed: Sep 27, 1997
East RidgeOur intent was to climb East Spanish Peak in this area, but since it was still early in the day upon our arrival we decided to add Trinchera Peak to our intinerary.
boisedoc - Jun 4, 2008 3:05 am Date Climbed: May 26, 2008
fun snow climbsnowshoed up the jeep trail from Blue Lake Campground (which was still snowed in over Memorial Day). At treeline I found some fun snowslopes along the north side of the east ridge to crampon up. I went down the north ridge following a couple of I believe Mountain Goats (maybe Bighorns with very short horns). Had a good glissade down. Fun little hike with good views of West Spanish Peak
bruceg - May 9, 2008 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1987
First Colorado PeakFrom West side. Great view of Spanish Peaks
SarahThompson - Mar 31, 2008 1:01 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2006
East RidgeStarted from the bottom of the Trinchera 4WD road and climbed Trinchera's east ridge. Went on to "Leaning North Peak", "Leaning South Peak" & Cuatro, then retraced my steps.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 22, 2007 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Dec 17, 2005
Route Climbed: North RidgeHiked up the road to Blue Lake, continued on up a little below the tree line to set up camp. Spent the night. This was one of the coldest nights I've seen in the mountains. Our temperature gauge showed 22 degrees below zero. Our summit attempt ended on the ridge to the summit. Winds picked us up and blew us onto our backs. I did not like that feeling of being at the mercy of mother nature. So for saftey sake we turned around.
billokc - Sep 26, 2007 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 1978
Climb it AgainTwo months later, this time with a camera!! Easier this time. All my summit pics came from this trip.
I knew what to expect this time once I got on the peak. Very clear and dry weather made for a great hike starting from Blue Lake CG. Don't remember the amount of time it took for the hike, but was beat when I got to the car. I now felt this mountain was mine.
billokc - Sep 26, 2007 2:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 1978
Return to ConquerSeven years later. With drier conditions and a couple of companions, I was on the summit.
Started hiking the road from Blue Lake. Before reaching the North Fork Trail cutoff two guys in a 4WD pickup gave me a ride. We parked at the ridge saddle between Trinchera and UN 12,955. Climbed the north ridge, negotiated the drop-off, then hit the summit. Afternoon storms chased us back down to the truck at which time it began to drop large slush balls on us and covered the ground.
billokc - Sep 26, 2007 2:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 1971
First VisitAt the age of 16, my brother (age 14) and I hiked our first mountain. We weren't ready for the conditions. Dad dropped us off at Blue Lake CG about mid-morning. We hiked in the very light rain and fog up to the mine shack and took a break. From there we went back to the north saddle ridge and began climbing. It was cold--probably in the 40's with some drizzle and light wind. We reached the drop off point below the summit and were quickly discouraged. Because we didn't know what else was in store above us, and because we were cold and hungry, we turned around and headed down. We did take a couple of pics from the drop off point. I became fascinated with this peak and wanted to learn more about it.
slowbutsteady - Jul 21, 2007 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2006
slowbutsteadyMy 5th ascent since the first in 1993.Climbed from Blue Lk Cg up east ridge. 6:40am depart, on top 11:20am.
KyleR - Jun 12, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2004
North RidgeNice easy ascent of a 13'er with great views. You can always count on Bighorn in the area and the remains of an old mine are an interesting diversion. A great peak to bag with a non-climber who will be instantly hooked for life.