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Peak(s):  Carbonate Mountain  -  13,662 feet
Cronin Peak  -  13,872 feet
Grizzly Mountain  -  13,722 feet
Unnamed 13082  -  13,082 feet
Pomeroy Mountain  -  13,164 feet
Cyclone Mountain  -  13,616 feet
"Lo Carb"  -  13,598 feet
Date Posted:  08/06/2013
Modified:  10/24/2013
Date Climbed:   08/03/2013
Author:  bergsteigen
 Scrambling in the Sawatch - A Welcome Treat!   


Carbonate Peak A, Cyclone Peak A, "Lo Carb", Cronin Peak, Grizzly Mountain, Pt 13,070, Pomeroy Mountain A


Trailhead: Shavano Historic Townsite
Mileage: 11.44
Elevation Gain: 5,894' (-4,984')
Partner: Solo, with guest star appearance by Al (Alby426), who gave me a car shuttle!
Time: 9.3 hrs (ridge run: 6 hrs)

Driving up from the Wescliffe area, there's very little cell service, so as soon as I hit Salida and Poncha Springs I immediately try to get an updated forecast for the next days ridge run. Won't load.... refresh.... won't load. Well, crap! I need to eat my dinner and relax before another long ridge run, so I hope that the weather hasn't changed too much. (Famous last words)

The road up to the Shavano Historic Townsite isn't all that bad, especially after the road I just came down from Cottonwood! The townsite is completely gone, so you'll have to use other methods to find it. Across from the old defunct road was a nice campsite, so I parked there. I settled down with dinner, a gatorade and a book for the evening. Lovely!

I get up early and am on the old road, now trail at about 4:30am. The road has tons of dead-fall which makes travel annoying. I had thought to follow it up to the point between Carbonate and Cyclone to gain the ridge there. But I had visions of mountain lions stalking prey by the stream in my head. So, up the ridge to Carbonate I went. Not too bad, as I seem to find a reasonably less treed area and so the bush whack was pretty easy. Found lots of pretty dead trees that filled some photography time. I figured I had a few minutes at least. They were so picturesque!

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Tree - Moon

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Tree - Carbonate


Up the gentle ridge I went, watching the sunrise and playing my favorite mountain past-time of stalk the silly ptarmigan. La, la la...

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Sunrise behind Shav & Tab

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Sunrise on Taylor, Aetna and group

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Remaining ridge up Carbonate


Once on the summit of Carbonate, I settle into my usual solo summit routine. I turn on my phone to make sure my SPOT message has sent, and see if I can get that updated forecast.... Oh F Crap S B!!!! 50% storms by 10AM!!!! Time to run this ridge! And GO!

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Ridge over to Cyclone

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Looking back at Carbonate


Cyclone is a short distance away from Carbonate, so I get there quickly. I really want Cronin, it's only an extra 2 miles.... Good thing the ridge looks pretty simple and easy.

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Grizzly, Lo Carb and Cronin

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Ridge to Cronin

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Looking back at Carbonate, Cyclone and Lo Carb

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Antero

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Shav & Tab


Phew, back on Lo Carb after only a 1:20 detour.

Now for the ridge to Grizzly.... uh oh! That doesn't look easy It's loose, blocky, knife edge like crap. There's times to stay ridge proper, and others to drop slightly to the south. Don't go too far off ridge, as the slope becomes more unstable. At least the class 3 scramble section of cliffs were fairly solid to down climb. I kept looking forward to the saddle, hoping that from there it would get easier. But it doesn't. There's 2 more blocky ridge bumps to go. THEN, it gets easier.

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Ridge to Grizzly looks.... uh... challenging

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Please, let the class 3 loose crap be over already!!! - And no

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Looking back at the scramble off of Lo Carb


Once on Grizzly, I decide the weather, while building, is not going fast. So I can keep following the ridge to the next 2 peaks. At least I am heading in a bail direction if needed. The ridge down Grizzly is fairly stright forward, only a little bit interesting at the Pt 12,831 ridge bend.

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Looking back from summit of Grizzly

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On Grizzly - ridge left to go

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The descent ridge off Grizzly

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Pt 12,831 and ridge to go before 13,070 ridge

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Ah, so this is why I can't "cut the corner" on this ridge - Pomeroy and 13070 in background


From the ridge bump, it's another short, but easy stretch up to Pt 13,070. Sunny still!

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Ridge up to 13,070


On the summit of Pt 13,070, I notice that the ridge over to Pomeroy Mountain, while only a short distance away, looks more technical than expected! Oooooo fun! It seems that the "Low 100 13ers" once again delivers a masterpiece! After my summit of Pt 13,001 in June 2012, the lowest 13er in the state, I have become ever more convinced that the lowest 13ers are the more interesting, and I have sought them out whenever I get the chance. These two, do not disappoint! A must have for the ubber 13er hipster!

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On 13,070 - looking at ridge to Pomeroy


About halfway along the ridge, the scrambling begins. Lots of class 3, and some class 4 options exist on super solid slabby rock. I wish I had more time to play, but I am scramble-running to beat the weather. Of course, to catch my breath I snap photos of as many of the sections as I can, for your viewing and planning pleasure!

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Easy ridge is over - now its class 3 & 4 scramble running

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Looking down on the first section
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Next ridge prominence

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Slabby scramble

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3rd ridge prominence

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More class 4 slabs

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4th ridge promince


I arrive on the summit of Pomeroy in the sun. But I am not fooled! I snap the last photos, click the last buttons, and head down with haste!

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Looking back at super fun scramble ridge


Once below treeline, the rain and the storms begin with short work. Bleh, it will be a long walk down in the rain along the 4WD road. Hmmmm maybe I could hitch a ride?


Fun ridge traverse on low 13ers!

Down the 4WD road I walk, in the rain. Then, the AMAZING happens! My friend Al is driving up the road with his family! He offers me a ride, and I gratefully accept. It got me out of the rain and lightning, and I get to catch up with someone I haven't seen in a couple years. That and he saved my knees ~2 miles and almost 1,000' in elevation loss. Yay Al!

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):




Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30


Comments or Questions
rajz06
User
Looks...
8/6/2013 11:29pm
...like a total blast, especially the ridge to Pomeroy! The rocks on this traverse are somewhat atypical for the Sawatch. Have to add these to the never-ending 13er wishlist - thanks for the beta!


rking007
User
I love these ridge runs
8/7/2013 4:01am
Thanks for putting up more eye candy for me to eventually someday maybe get to. Looks like a great run and a total blast to do solo or with a partner. Looking forward to your next low 13er adventure!


rob runkle
User
Nice
8/7/2013 5:04pm
Pretty cool stuff!!!


bergsteigen
User
Thanks!
8/8/2013 6:28pm
I was talking with Al when he was giving me a lift, and making a loop of 13,070 and Pomeroy would be pretty easy with a decent 4WD vehicle. The other part of the loop can then be done out of Shavano, with less hassle

rajz06 - I'm always surprised when I find good scrambling in the Sawatch.

rking007 - Your Welcome! After finishing the 14ers, it was nice to have the freedom to just go wild on these 13ers, looking for the gems!

Rob - Just wait till you have Wilson finished, then you can do these fun things too


EatinHardtack
User
Still love your TR's
8/9/2013 8:47pm
Thanks Otina on another great 13er loop idea for me, if I ever climb this summer. Snow is hinting at the peaks though



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