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Unnamed 13510
Baldy Cinco 13383
"Baldy no es Cinco" 13313
Unnamed 13162
Partner: Dave Alex
TH: Spring Creek Pass
~15 miles 5000 feet
Yet another group of peaks I had pushed to next year for quite a few years. Not this year, I made it a top priority for this year. Dave Alex agreed to climb with me, we met up Monday night at Spring Creek Pass and car-camped. We woke up at 5:30 and were on the trail by 5:50.
The CDT and Colorado Trail travel by the pass, we followed the well defined trail east to Snow Mesa. Once on top of Snow Mesa I was immediately taken back to the state I grew up in, Kansas, and the beautiful Flint Hills. Only the background of Snow Mesa is more spectacular. We made our way North across a small canyon towards our first peak of the day, "Baldy no es Cinco". In the valley we met a couple who also car-camped at Spring Creek Pass. They were not in as good a shape as we were. Dave and I made quick work of the south slopes of "Baldy no es Cinco". I think it gets this name because it is incorrectly identified on CO 149 towards Slumgullion Pass.
Snow Mesa "Baldy no es Cinco"
Our summit stays were short because it was slightly overcast and windy. 20 minutes after we sat on "Baldy no es Cinco" we were on the real deal. The ridge was all grass and went very quick. 13162 was a bit further away, but the ridge was still grassy. We met a herd of elk on 13162.
To get to 13510 we had to descend to 12500 feet before ascending the south ridge of 13510. By this point in time I was reminded of the Mummy Mania Traverse. The wind was really howling on the south ridge and the final grunt took more effort than it should have. 13510 is the only summit with no register. Our plan was to descend to the CDT and follow it over Snow Mesa.
Snow Mesa as I have already said, reminds me of the Flint Hills in Kansas, crossing the entirety of Snow Mesa confirmed this feeling. I was taken back to many of my runs in the Flint Hills. This is not a place to get stuck in a thunderstorm. There is no protection from the elements. We reached the TH just before 2:00.
Now for the first of two bonus reports. While driving towards Stewart Creek I noticed an Unnamed 11er off of Los Pinos pass. I had to climb it. It was a quick climb through an aspen grove to a small meadow and a great summit view. Too bad I left my camera in the car.
This next bonus report is of unnamed 12783, a seldom climbed peak just north of the Baldy Cinco group. I woke up to stormy skies and wanted a short hike with easy bailout points instead of a tundra walk. This peak fit that description. For those wanting to extend this trip, 12783 could be added to the Baldy Cinco group.
I started hiking up the Tumble Creek trail and quickly found myself in prime moose territory. About 15 minutes up the valley I heard a strange grunting noise and looked over my shoulder only to see a moose enjoying a salad of willows and grass. This and the amazing amount of moose droppings kept me on constant alert in this narrow valley for moose. I have never encountered an aggressive moose, but didn't want to startle one. The trail is mellow and travel was quick all the way to tree line. From there it was an easy tundra walk until the final 30 feet to the summit. It was a class 2+ scamper up solid rocks to the small summit. There was about a hundred foot drop on the north side of the summit. I had just enough time to sign the interesting summit register before I heard thunder rumbling. Time to boogie. I ran down to treeline in 15 minutes and took a leisurely pace down the trail where I had another close encounter of the moose kind.
Summit Surprises
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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