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Twin Peaks 13,580
December 29, 2008
~8 Miles and ~4,700 Gain
At last with a good break in the weather in the high country, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to climb a 13eener. I got off work around 4:00 PM, packed and made the 4 hour drive to Alamosa, arriving at the Zapata Falls Trailhead around 10:30 PM. I ended up sleeping in the back of my Pathfinder, where I woke up around 6:00 AM to eat oatmeal and was hiking by 6:30 AM.
I followed the Zapata Falls trail for a bit and then started veering toward the long northwest ridge of Twin Peaks. I stayed as close to the ridge proper as I could. I managed to posthole up to about ~10,500 feet and as soon as I got into the trees, I had to dawn my snowshoes. I continued to follow the northwest ridge snowshoeing to about ~11,800. I had forgotten my skins for my skis so the snowshoeing was a slow and brutal process for me.
Once I was out of the trees on the ridge, I was able to move much faster where I arrived at the summit around noon. The views of the Blanca group were excellent as were the views of the Sand Dunes and Crestones. I spent close to an ½ hour on the summit where I couldn't have asked for a better day. There was very little wind and not a cloud in the sky.
On the way down I backtracked on my trail and made a quick shortcut to check out Zapata Falls which were pretty cool. I arrived back at my car at 3:00 PM.
Sunrise over the San Luis Valley.
Ridge to 13660A. Future winter option.
Looking down the NW ridge.
Neat.
Ellingwood from the NW ridge.
Looking up the NW ridge.
Looking down the NW ridge.
The summit is close.
Blanca and Ellingwood from the summit.
Little Bear from the summit.
Crestones and Sand Dunes.
Looking back toward the summit.
Zapata Falls.
Twin Peaks
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Those are some great pics you took, thanks for posting.
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