Tabeguache Peak Trip Report 07/10/2011

Peak(s):	Tabeguache Peak - 14,158 feet
Date Posted:	07/10/2011
Date Climbed:	07/08/2011
Author:	4HClimber

Aimming for Tab--landed on Grizzly
Who Moved Tabeguache Peak and put Grizzly Mountain in Its Place? Note: This report is linked to Tab and Grizzly Mt. even though I did not make it to Tab. I had planned to do Tabeguache via Jennings Creek but ended up on Grrizzly Mountian. How did that happen? This report is being written for the following reasons: 1. To explain how this mistake could happen a. Started � mile to the west of Jennings creek b. Left my map in the vehicle c. Did not get to the trailhead in the daylight 2. To offer a trip report to Grizzly Mt"I did not see any such reports on 14ers.com for the route I took. How it happened was that I started out up what I thought was Jennings Creek. I was actually about a half mile to the west on the Cyclone Creek drainage. One of the reasons this happened is that I did not get the chance to find the trailhead in the daylight the day before. Depart Trailhead - 5:30 a.m. Summit Grizzly - 9:30 a.m. Depart Summit - 10:00 a.m. Arrive Trailhead - 1:00 p.m. About 15 minutes on the trail, I realized that I had left my map in the vehicle. I had studied the route so much, I decided to forge ahead. First lesson violated---always have a map, regardless how simple the route or how much you've studied it. About .5 mile up the trail things started not to mesh with the Jennings Creek description of Roach in his latest edition. I should have been popping out of the trees at that point. However, I was in and out of the trees for at least 2 or more miles. The drainage I was in looked similar to, but some how different than what I had studied. I was committed and kept going. About 30 minutes into the hike, there was a large rock slide to rock hop across. As I made by way out of the trees and to the base of a low saddle I knew that I was not on the right trail, but decided to summit the 13er at the north end of the drainage so that maybe I could at least see where I was. As I approached the north end of the drainage, here is a look up at the peak in my sights. About half way up the saddle, here is a look back down the drainage. About half way up the saddle, here is a look at a cut that made a great trail up. Another shot down the drainage from the top of the saddle. Basically followed elk trails between the woods and the swamp all Tab in the Center of the picture. Cyclone and Carbonate on the right. Calico Peak on the west side of Cyclone Creek.. One more look at Tab from the summit of Grizzly. Man I'm a long way from my intended target! Gotta fly the 4-H flag! A look at Cyclone and Carbonate from the Cyclone Creek drainage. About 1/2 to 3/4 mile into the hike, here was a an old double barricade across the trail that had been taken out. The first 1/2 to 3/4 mile of the trail was easy to follow. The rest of the hike was mostly elk trails between the woods and Even though I ended up miles away from my intended target, It was a good day in the mountains. If it's solitude you seek, this is the route for you. I was most definitely solo on this day. Lot of bushwacking and rock hopping on this trip. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Aimming for Tab--landed on Grizzly

Who Moved Tabeguache Peak and put Grizzly Mountain in Its Place?

Note: This report is linked to Tab and Grizzly Mt. even though I did not make it to Tab.

I had planned to do Tabeguache via Jennings Creek but ended up on Grrizzly Mountian. How did that happen?

This report is being written for the following reasons:
1. To explain how this mistake could happen
a. Started � mile to the west of Jennings creek
b. Left my map in the vehicle
c. Did not get to the trailhead in the daylight
2. To offer a trip report to Grizzly Mt"I did not see any such reports on 14ers.com for the route I took.

How it happened was that I started out up what I thought was Jennings Creek. I was actually about a half mile to the west on the Cyclone Creek drainage. One of the reasons this happened is that I did not get the chance to find the trailhead in the daylight the day before.

Depart Trailhead - 5:30 a.m.
Summit Grizzly - 9:30 a.m.
Depart Summit - 10:00 a.m.
Arrive Trailhead - 1:00 p.m.

About 15 minutes on the trail, I realized that I had left my map in the vehicle. I had studied the route so much, I decided to forge ahead. First lesson violated---always have a map, regardless how simple the route or how much you've studied it.

About .5 mile up the trail things started not to mesh with the Jennings Creek description of Roach in his latest edition. I should have been popping out of the trees at that point. However, I was in and out of the trees for at least 2 or more miles. The drainage I was in looked similar to, but some how different than what I had studied. I was committed and kept going.

About 30 minutes into the hike, there was a large rock slide to rock hop across.

As I made by way out of the trees and to the base of a low saddle I knew that I was not on the right trail, but decided to summit the 13er at the north end of the drainage so that maybe I could at least see where I was.

As I approached the north end of the drainage, here is a look up at the peak in my sights.

About half way up the saddle, here is a look back down the drainage.

About half way up the saddle, here is a look at a cut that made a great trail up.

Another shot down the drainage from the top of the saddle. Basically followed elk trails between the woods and the swamp all

Tab in the Center of the picture. Cyclone and Carbonate on the right.

Calico Peak on the west side of Cyclone Creek..

One more look at Tab from the summit of Grizzly. Man I'm a long way from my intended target!

A look at Cyclone and Carbonate from the Cyclone Creek drainage.

About 1/2 to 3/4 mile into the hike, here was a an old double barricade across the trail that had been taken out.

The first 1/2 to 3/4 mile of the trail was easy to follow. The rest of the hike was mostly elk trails between the woods and

Even though I ended up miles away from my intended target, It was a good day in the mountains. If it's solitude you seek, this is the route for you. I was most definitely solo on this day. Lot of bushwacking and rock hopping on this trip.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Johnson

Doh!
7/10/2011 9:14pm

Guess we may get our chance to do it together after all.... happy you're back safe.

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