Culebra Peak Trip Report 07/19/2020

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Culebra Peak - 14,053 feet
Date Posted	07/19/2020
Date Climbed	07/18/2020
Author	Chuck Williams

Culebra Logistics
Culebra was my 53rd 14er summit; like many, I was saving it toward the end due to the $150 fee. Being a detailed guy, I wished for more logistical info prior to heading down the ranch. Here's what I learned: Ranch staff were very polite and helpful, went a long way toward mitigating fact I was paying for the mountain All vehicles park outside the ranch gate. No one gets in any earlier by getting there night before. See picture If you are setting up tent, you climb over fence and there is a decent grass area to pitch. Camping area has a sign. Real obvious There is a porta-potty just in side gate, by tent pitching area Ranch hand opens gate at 0600 day of hike. Vehicles queue up to enter. Ranch hand has tablet with names and checks off each person entering After entering ranch, you drive to and park at Ranch HQ building. You give your name to another ranch hand who checks you off on his tablet. He gives you very brief instructions on where to go and park (same as 14ers.com) There is a real restroom with running water available in Ranch HQ building Saw a couple 2WD trucks struggling with road up and at 4WD parking lot. Road is real doable for 4WD vehicles - no issues in my Ram or other all/4WD vehicles I started hike at 0645. Hit summit just before 0900. I'm not the fastest guy, but I'd say I'm in top quarter I took the "cross the creek" route mentioned in 14ers. It was a little tricky because it was overcast and I couldn't see terrain too high above me and there is no trail. Fortunately just followed what I thought was route and it worked out Note: 14ers route picture 14 shows blue arrow pointing down to left from the cairn - pretty sure that arrow is pointing wrong direction. As you are ascending, you go right when you get to cairn Departing ranch - sign out on clipboard at ranch HQ and get code so you can let yourself out when you get ranch perimeter gate I made reservation in Dec for my slot, but met folks who made theirs early 2020 and few who were able to capitalize on cancellations Mt was more fun and beautiful than I was expecting This is my first trip report, feel guilty not have done one for any of the others. Hope you find this helpful. Cheers, Chuck

Culebra Logistics

Culebra was my 53rd 14er summit; like many, I was saving it toward the end due to the $150 fee. Being a detailed guy, I wished for more logistical info prior to heading down the ranch. Here's what I learned:

Ranch staff were very polite and helpful, went a long way toward mitigating fact I was paying for the mountain
All vehicles park outside the ranch gate. No one gets in any earlier by getting there night before. See picture
If you are setting up tent, you climb over fence and there is a decent grass area to pitch. Camping area has a sign. Real obvious
There is a porta-potty just in side gate, by tent pitching area
Ranch hand opens gate at 0600 day of hike. Vehicles queue up to enter. Ranch hand has tablet with names and checks off each person entering
After entering ranch, you drive to and park at Ranch HQ building. You give your name to another ranch hand who checks you off on his tablet. He gives you very brief instructions on where to go and park (same as 14ers.com)
There is a real restroom with running water available in Ranch HQ building
Saw a couple 2WD trucks struggling with road up and at 4WD parking lot. Road is real doable for 4WD vehicles - no issues in my Ram or other all/4WD vehicles
I started hike at 0645. Hit summit just before 0900. I'm not the fastest guy, but I'd say I'm in top quarter
I took the "cross the creek" route mentioned in 14ers. It was a little tricky because it was overcast and I couldn't see terrain too high above me and there is no trail. Fortunately just followed what I thought was route and it worked out
Note: 14ers route picture 14 shows blue arrow pointing down to left from the cairn - pretty sure that arrow is pointing wrong direction. As you are ascending, you go right when you get to cairn
Departing ranch - sign out on clipboard at ranch HQ and get code so you can let yourself out when you get ranch perimeter gate
I made reservation in Dec for my slot, but met folks who made theirs early 2020 and few who were able to capitalize on cancellations

Mt was more fun and beautiful than I was expecting

This is my first trip report, feel guilty not have done one for any of the others. Hope you find this helpful. Cheers, Chuck

Comments or Questions

BillMiddlebrook

pic #14
7/19/2020 12:08pm

That arrow in the picture is meant to represent the continuance of the hike, down the ridge, after the cairn. I'll tweak it a bit so that is more obvious.

Yeah, definitely do not drop left off the ridge right at the cairn. :)

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