Shavano Critical Update

[RJansen77]

Do you know how long the social game trail extends for, or what the terrain is like above it? Just don't want it to be a two steps up one step back scree horror show.

I might consider this route in the next few weeks unless I hear some more positive reports of people finding a way to navigate the trees.


Thanks!

No worries about scree. I'll look through my photos today and see if I have anything that depicts the terrain in the trees. There seemed to be several "trails" in the area. Wooderson sets a good steady pace and she got us to treeline in two hours (about 2900 feet). And I wouldn't consider us speedy. You just gotta stay on the ridge and out of the drainage on your left. If you look at a topo, it should be pretty obvious.

http://listsofjohn.com/PeakStats/QMap.php?Q=11263&P=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Zoom in on the second marker from the top (Esprit Point) and then pan the map down. You'll be able to see the campground, the hard right the Colorado trail makes, etc. You'll want to hug the right side of the drainage marked "8" on the map. You'll pass that road 254 A on your way too.

Once you get to treeline it is tundra and some talus hopping the rest of the way.

I'd consider this a good winter route as well because of year-round access.

I would've done a TR on my trip but kept saying to myself "man, it is shavano in the spring, not The Angel, a mundane ridge grunt, etc..."

Thanks very much for your help Papillon! It looks like a pretty straightforward route - just follow the CO Trail and once it makes that hard right, make your way up the drainage to treeline, then pick a friendly line toward the saddle and summit.

If you can post a photo or two depicting typical terrain in the trees, I would really appreciate it.

As someone said in an earlier post, it does look like the Colorado trail makes a nice "catch line" in case one gets off route.

Thanks very much again!

[Papillon]

I don't have much but this is what I've got:

Shavano from CR 240

I'd recommend this route sooner rather than later because it is a long way back to treeline from Shav-Tab if the sh-- hits.

Also, a wise veteran of Colorado mountaineering once told me the area between UN 13630 and Shavano could be the windiest spot in the entire state.

We were lucky.

[RJansen77]

I don't have much but this is what I've got:

Shavano from CR 240

I'd recommend this route sooner rather than later because it is a long way back to treeline from Shav-Tab if the sh-- hits.

Also, a wise veteran of Colorado mountaineering once told me the area between UN 13630 and Shavano could be the windiest spot in the entire state.

We were lucky.

Wow, those photos are very helpful. I'll be sure to carry them on the climb, and will try to attempt it some time this month as it does look like you're above treeline for a while.

Thanks very much again for your help!

[sgladbach]

To anyone who cares:

Alise (my 12 y/o ) and I climbed Shavano last Saturday. I know the route VERY well and don't though we spent a good amount of time dealing with the situation, we were about as on-route as you could get. We were creative on the descent and it helped. I know there has been a significant amount of dead-fall around the state due to the an bizarre series of micro-bursts. I've been in quite a few valleys an seen some amazing results. However, what I saw on Shavano was beyond anything else I've seen . Anywhere, anytime.

Re: Papillon's suggestion: Good Option for those who don't need a trail and can handle steep route finding through the trees. This will not solve the problem for the casual 14er climber looking for a class I / II Sawatch style hike. this one is out for the season for a family style 14er.

Re: Carnegie's conversation with USFS. I've worked a lot of trail crews over the years. This is a very big job. Far larger than your standard post-storm clean-up. I'd not hold the USFS contact to their estimate unless the tell you, specifically, they have had a crew-chief inspect the area and have a plan on file. I'm not certain, given their current budgets, where they will find the $$$ for a project this big.

joshbrink: I'd be surprised if it gets fully restored this season. Possibly partial restoration.

Anybody: This will not be a casual hike this season. For reasonable climb times, you'll need some good route finding skills (not a written description and downloaded GPS file.)
You should leave your dogs home this season. The tree-hopping and ducking will leave them scraped-up and exhausted. If they tend to wander , even a bit, they may wind up lost.

If you enjoy off-route bushwhacking, it's still feasible. After all, a 12 y/o made her way up in 4:45 and down in 3:30. And she's a member of the weaker sex to boot!! Shhh............., don't tell her. I'm trying to raise my daughters to believe they can do anything a man can do. They'll discover the reality when they're older, but , for now, let them dream. (Let's see how fast this comment can de-rail the thread!)

[KeithK]

Gladbach, you're a big sexist jerk.

Personally, I think Shavano is best climbed from the west, over Tabeguache(West Ridge route). It's actually shorter from that side, and I think more aesthetically pleasing for sure. There may still be some downed trees, but that route starts out pretty close to treeline, so I bet the bushwhacking is quite minimal.

[joshbrink]

Gladbach, you're a big sexist jerk.

Personally, I think Shavano is best climbed from the west, over Tabeguache(West Ridge route). It's actually shorter from that side, and I think more aesthetically pleasing for sure. There may still be some downed trees, but that route starts out pretty close to treeline, so I bet the bushwhacking is quite minimal.

Has any one been up the west ridge route since all of the downed trees? Sounds like that may be a better option?

[cheeseburglar]

I understand this is in the national forest. Chainsaws allowed.
Let's get a firewood/aspen furniture wood gathering trip going. I can't do it until late June.
We'll need chainsaws, PBR, tight white tank tops, and a graduate level engineering textbook on cutting wood.
Of course I consider myself a bit of an expert on trees because one of my favorite hobbies is tree jumping.
Probably best to keep the government out of this, or we'll all end up taking a week long course on how not to cut trees.

[thebeave7]

Of course I consider myself a bit of an expert on trees because one of my favorite hobbies is tree jumping.

I can attest to this, the man knows his trees. Maybe we should enlist Sugar Madison as well, he's really good at burning stuff. Cheese can hack and saw, Sugar can move and burn, sounds like a team.

Eric

[KeithK]

Of course I consider myself a bit of an expert on trees because one of my favorite hobbies is tree jumping.

I can attest to this, the man knows his trees. Maybe we should enlist Sugar Madison as well, he's really good at burning stuff. Cheese can hack and saw, Sugar can move and burn, sounds like a team.

Eric

Uh oh, I'll need to get edlins involved as well. Him and Cheese are formidable in tandem, the forest won't stand a chance.

[carnegie]

just to clarify: usfs did not give me a time frame for this job completion. I was being hopeful with the one month; didn't want to dash hopes. They may end up closing the trail, but a mountain can always be climbed, whether the path is set before you or not.
And I have to agree with Mrfrumpylane. I have a forester in my life so I know the risks involved in trail clearing. Guys, be careful if you go out.
here's a pretty picture from this morning: skiing, anyone?

P1140434.JPG

[RJansen77]

just to clarify: usfs did not give me a time frame for this job completion. I was being hopeful with the one month; didn't want to dash hopes. They may end up closing the trail, but a mountain can always be climbed, whether the path is set before you or not.
And I have to agree with Mrfrumpylane. I have a forester in my life so I know the risks involved in trail clearing. Guys, be careful if you go out.
here's a pretty picture from this morning: skiing, anyone?

Thanks for the photo Carnegie! Do you have any idea how much snow fell up around Shavano? The Snotel sites aren't showing more than a few inches, but it looks pretty white-capped in that shot.

Thanks!

[Hunter]

Carnegie- Again to truly grasp the destruction take a 55g barrel of Lincoln Logs and dump them down a flight of stairs. Place two Army Men at the base of the stairs as 'hikers'. A logging company could perhaps make significant progress on clearing the downed trees 'this year', but with all due respect to the FS, I question the ability of the FS to have the resources and manpower available to dedicate that level of progress required perhaps even if given the end of 2013. A far more realistic expectation would be a re-route of segments of the trail and addressing of the unfallen trees in the near-term. I agree with sgladbach- the worst I've ever encountered too. Had anyone witnessed this level of destruction down in Denver, everyone would probably come to the conclusion this was the result of a tornado. Although possible, it's not probable in that terrain.