Mt. Shavano Trip Report 07/27/2017

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Shavano - 14,230 feet
Date Posted	07/27/2017
Date Climbed	07/22/2017
Author	ScreeScrambler

Shavano - East Slopes
Note: 1st trip report! Party: John & Steven Goal: Shavano and Tabaguache Achieved?: Partially My hiking buddy Steve and I left from my house dark and early at 3:15 AM in SE Denver to make the drive out to the Shavano trailhead. The drive wasn't bad. Paved for 143 of the 148 miles. The last 5 miles was a little rough, but I figure any high-clearance vehicle could make it (and probably some standard sedans, with a talented enough driver), regardless of the number of drive wheels. Once at the Trailhead, Steve and I got ourselves together and head out at about 6:30 AM. We noticed right away that the sky was looking decidedly gray and overcast, but it didn't seem stormy or threatening, so we figured we'd head up to tree line and re-evaluate. The approach hike was steep and the trail was annoyingly rocky at first, but the scenery didn't disappoint! Small Waterfall along the trail Getting Closer! It wasn't long though, before the forest faded away behind us and Steve and I arrived at tree line. Steven and I looked up at the sky and though it was still pretty overcast, it didn't look threatening, so we decided to push on. Several hundred yards past the tree line, we looked ahead at the trail and saw that we wouldn't be alone today! Apparently a gray sky didn't deter these adventurous spirits either. Trail Friends! Once we reached the saddle, we decided it was a good place for "first lunch" at about 9:00 in the morning. After a couple of sandwiches had revived us sufficiently and we'd visited with a few passing hikers, we set off again for the summit around 9:30, with the weather still holding, but getting a little colder. Weather near Shavano's Summit We arrived at the top around 10:30. At this point, the wind had picked up some and it had started to rain (and snow!) on us. We decided that safety was better than glory and nixed our plan to head over to Tabaguache on the spot. We also chose not to hang around up there, and after taking a few obligatory pictures, headed back down. Steven at the summit John at the summit We soon discovered that what with just putting one foot in front of the other on the way up, we'd failed to notice some pretty astonishing scenery. Luckily for us, it was just as good on the way back down! Once we reached the saddle, we stopped to take a few pictures, and then about every 100 yards thereafter until we reached tree line at around noon. I won't clog up this report with all those pictures, but here are a few. The view back down into the valley Steven surveys the world A single alpine sunflower decorates the saddle Treeline was abrupt on this hike - and photogenic! A couple of hours, a lunch break, and some oxygen-deprivation inspired humor later, Steven and I were back at the car, changed into some fresh clothes, packed up, and on our way to Buena Vista to grab some coffee at the Brown Dog coffee shop before headed back. All in all, I count it as a success. This was my first time up Shavano, and my first 14er this year. The weather held out for us long enough for us to tag the first peak, but turned us back early enough to leave us wanting more. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Shavano - East Slopes

Note: 1st trip report!

Party: John & Steven
Goal: Shavano and Tabaguache
Achieved?: Partially

My hiking buddy Steve and I left from my house dark and early at 3:15 AM in SE Denver to make the drive out to the Shavano trailhead. The drive wasn't bad. Paved for 143 of the 148 miles. The last 5 miles was a little rough, but I figure any high-clearance vehicle could make it (and probably some standard sedans, with a talented enough driver), regardless of the number of drive wheels.

Once at the Trailhead, Steve and I got ourselves together and head out at about 6:30 AM. We noticed right away that the sky was looking decidedly gray and overcast, but it didn't seem stormy or threatening, so we figured we'd head up to tree line and re-evaluate. The approach hike was steep and the trail was annoyingly rocky at first, but the scenery didn't disappoint!

It wasn't long though, before the forest faded away behind us and Steve and I arrived at tree line. Steven and I looked up at the sky and though it was still pretty overcast, it didn't look threatening, so we decided to push on. Several hundred yards past the tree line, we looked ahead at the trail and saw that we wouldn't be alone today! Apparently a gray sky didn't deter these adventurous spirits either.

Once we reached the saddle, we decided it was a good place for "first lunch" at about 9:00 in the morning. After a couple of sandwiches had revived us sufficiently and we'd visited with a few passing hikers, we set off again for the summit around 9:30, with the weather still holding, but getting a little colder.

We arrived at the top around 10:30. At this point, the wind had picked up some and it had started to rain (and snow!) on us. We decided that safety was better than glory and nixed our plan to head over to Tabaguache on the spot. We also chose not to hang around up there, and after taking a few obligatory pictures, headed back down.

We soon discovered that what with just putting one foot in front of the other on the way up, we'd failed to notice some pretty astonishing scenery. Luckily for us, it was just as good on the way back down! Once we reached the saddle, we stopped to take a few pictures, and then about every 100 yards thereafter until we reached tree line at around noon. I won't clog up this report with all those pictures, but here are a few.

A single alpine sunflower decorates the saddle

Treeline was abrupt on this hike - and photogenic!

A couple of hours, a lunch break, and some oxygen-deprivation inspired humor later, Steven and I were back at the car, changed into some fresh clothes, packed up, and on our way to Buena Vista to grab some coffee at the Brown Dog coffee shop before headed back.

All in all, I count it as a success. This was my first time up Shavano, and my first 14er this year. The weather held out for us long enough for us to tag the first peak, but turned us back early enough to leave us wanting more.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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