"Mas Alto Peak"

Route: Rito Alto Lake
Posted On: 6/21/2025, By: Mtnman200
Info: Full summer conditions 

Route: San Isabel Creek
Posted On: 6/13/2025, By: JasonKline
Info: I only did Gibson Peak (12,835') from San Isabel, but Mas Alto, Alto, and Menos Alto appeared to be in dry summer conditions. The water crossings were raging and high. They were consistently above my knees (OK, that's probably only up to your calves for many of you). My lower half was drenched the entire day. 

Route: Rito Alto to San Isabel Shuttle
Posted On: 6/22/2024, By: Sbenfield
Info: IF YOU ARE A MOSQUITO ENTHUSIAST THESE PEAKS ARE FOR YOU. Hiked along with Alto y Menos Alto. Conducted a car shuttle starting at Rito Alto TH and ending at San Isabel TH. Rito Alto trail was easy to follow although very wet from the rain the evening before. We were soaked from overgrown vegetation! From near Rito Alto Lake easy access to Mas Alto ridge with a quick scramble to summit. Going to Alto, we stayed close to the ridge, wed estimate ~class 4 in one area, a class 3 grassy workaround still had some snow. Then straightforward walking to Menos Alto. Decent into San Isabel was a typical Sangre bushwhack. The San Isabel trail crosses the creek multiple times and we gave up staying dry, oftentimes just walking straight through it with little regard to how wet we got 

Route: Rito Alto Lake
Posted On: 6/24/2023, By: tjf242424
Info: The trio of 13ers above Mas Alto Lake are in great condition. Access to 13062 is dry and the entire ridge is dry over 13060 and on to 13028. One short section starting up 13060 felt 3rd/4th class. The descent from 13028 is a breeze, lots of snow but supportive (at 10am) with some nice glissades. The first 1,000 ft went fast. I didnt use traction and my poles were fine for speed control on the glissades. Tons of mosquitos at the trailhead and on the approach until 10,000 ft, but none in the upper basins. 

Route: Hermit Pass loop of 13062-13060-13028
Posted On: 8/22/2021, By: IHikeLikeAGirl
Info: Gorgeous day. Hiked the old (closed) road from Hermit Pass to the Rito Alto trail and down to Rito Alto Lake. On the NW side of the lake we left the trail and ascended NW (bushwack was not bad at all). Once above treeline it was mostly tundra on the ascent. Stayed just north of the ENE ridge and ascended the ENE face directly to the summit on embedded conglomerate rock and tundra. Then proceeded onto 13062 and 13028 (bypassing the C4/C5 cliff on the east side). Descended to Mas Alto Lake, through grassy breaks in the cliffs, and down to Rito Alto Lake, where we picked up a trail all the way back up to the pass. One could descend the ridge to the North Fork Crestone trail (to save some elevation loss/gain), but I couldn't see enough of the ridge to tell if the difficulties could be bypassed. Marmot72's report has some good beta on the ridge, wish I had read it more closely before this trip. 

Route: Rito Alto Trail
Posted On: 6/23/2018, By: TravelingMatt
Info: I did 13062, 13060 and 13028 as an out-and-back from the Rito Alto TH on the west side. Thought this would be a better routing than going up the San Isabel Trail or over Hermit Pass. I hiked in some 5.5 miles on the Rito Alto Trail to a meadow at around 10,880', then ascended south up a steep clearing (first pic), eventually gaining the NE ridge of 13062 at around 12,400'. NE ridge goes straight to summit steeply but easily, mostly grass. North ridge of 13060 has rock face that can be bypassed to left/east (second pic); multiple steep grass chutes lead back to the ridge and I rate this section 2+ rather than strict 3. Peak 12890 between 13060 and 13028 can be bypassed to left/northeast via a grassy ramp (third pic). From 13028 I dropped to Mas Alto Lake, followed creek to around 12200, tacked north then northeast down to treeline, then zigzagged down to Rito Alto Lake. Stats: 16+ miles, 5300' gain, Class 2+. Spent about 3 hours on the ridge total. Long day. 

Route: San Isabel Lake Trailhead
Posted On: 8/16/2016, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. The water is fairly high, so expect to get wet feet. The grass is pretty high on the trail at times.