West Spanish Peak

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/13/2019, By: 13erRetriever
Info: Route is still in summer conditions. I thought I had read that they got a couple of inches when that storm rolled through last week but no evidence at all that it touched the Spanish Peaks. Looking across to the other Sangre de Cristo peaks, everything still looked dry. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/23/2019, By: cloudkicker
Info: Not much more to update on since the last CR. Full summer conditions. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/14/2019, By: CatsAreMyFriends
Info: Trail is close to summer conditions. A handful of snow drifts cross the trail below treeline; the first half-mile after the parking lot is the worst offender and is quite muddy. The ridge ascent briefly crosses snow for a yard or so on the way up and as you gain the false summit, otherwise snow is entirely avoidable in the steep section. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/4/2019, By: Jeeves042
Info: Quite a few patches of snow to go through below treeline. Then above treeline the snow was avoidable up until the false summit. False summit to summit there was still a continuous snow field. My group was able to do some glissades on the way back down. We made it up and down without any traction or flotation. Being out on the plains a bit more, the Spanish Peaks were much more melted the than the actual Sangres. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 1/12/2019, By: benpulver43
Info: Climbed West Spanish Peak via the Wahatoya trail. Parked just below the right turn onto the Forest Road. Road is well traveled with crusty snow all the way up to the trailhead. Trail to the saddle with East Spanish Peak was lightly traveled with a couple inches of snow most of the first half and then some deep drifts to the saddle. I opened up a nice trench all the way to the saddle. Knee deep snow from saddle to the treeline, I broke a trail pretty much straight up the ridge from the saddle. Very little snow above treeline, most of it was easily avoidable. This is a non-standard route for West Spanish Peak but is a decent winter route (~14 miles round trip) as the road to Cordova Pass from Cucharas Pass is totally socked in with snow. 

Route: Wahatoya trail
Posted On: 11/24/2018, By: tdawg012
Info: Snowshoed 2mi to the trailhead on the mining road off CR 360. Continued snowshoeing on mining road from the TH to the basin containing Bulls eye mine on West Spanish. Snow was both slabby and sugary with active little slides on steeper slopes. Snowshoes on steep slopes were useless. Picked my way up the bowl on exposed rock to the north ridge which lead to the summit. Ridge cornices were soft. The wind made things interesting. Going down a spur off the north ridge proved to be time-consuming with current snow conditions. We originally intended on taking the standard SW ridge route via Cordova pass but the road (364/Fr415) at Cucharas Pass was snowed up and actively drifting. Maybe a stout 4wd drive could give it a go but our CRV sans snow tires wasn't up for the challenge. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/10/2018, By: Tittaferrante
Info: We had snow from Cordova to summit, 2 to 4 inches along route. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/25/2018, By: Trash_Panda
Info: Clear to the summit. No snow. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/17/2018, By: Jon1702
Info: Full summer conditions and not a flake of snow. Beautiful trail, though also very loose and rocky. The hike from treeline to summit is a slog but definitely worth it. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 5/8/2018, By: denverfromdenver
Info: Little has changed from the last two posts. Cordova Pass restrooms are still locked, trail to summit is 98% dry. Summer conditions. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 4/16/2018, By: RWinters
Info: Intermittent snow from Cordova Pass to treeline. Above treeline slopes are windblown mostly free of snow. No traction or flotation needed. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 12/4/2017, By: calenning
Info: Very nice trail up to the summit. FSR 415 comes up at CR 46 on map/gps. CR 46 road was snow packed but 4 wheel drive was not used. The restroom at the West Peak trailhead was locked. About 1 to 2 inch of snow on trail until you break tree line. The trail to the summit was very clear and defined. If you can't see the next cairn you are probably off trail. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 12/3/2017, By: majtytom
Info: Exactly same "summer" conditions as reported a week ago:last two miles with snow on the road (take it slow), some patches of snow below treeline, bone-dry above it. Similar goes for East Spanish peak. However, I did not want to risk a ride with my Subaru Forster to Wahatoya TH, so I started from CR360. Some snow on the road, but after hiking it, I think I would be able to do it all the way to the TH. From TH to the saddle, the trail was covered in 1-3" of snow, but it was OK. From the saddle to treeline, some patches of snow, which did not cause any problems. Above treeline, bone-dry. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/26/2017, By: ma1919
Info: Essentially summer conditions, especially above treeline. There are some inconsequential snow patches in the trees, all of which I walked through in my non-waterproof shoes without getting wet. Absolutely no reason to bring any sort of snow gear until the next storm. Very little wind, except for a steady breeze on the summit and right at treeline. The Cordova Pass road is packed snow for most of the last 2.5 miles coming from the west. I took it a little slower in my Outback and didn't have any problems, but it was a little slick in spots once it softened up in the afternoon. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/25/2017, By: mikemalick
Info: Absolutely no worries for the few small patches of snow along the trail below tree line. No extra gear. After breaking tree line, high and dry to the summit.