Culebra Peak Trip Report 06/29/2008

Peak(s):	Culebra Peak - 14,053 feet
Date Posted:	06/29/2008
Date Climbed:	06/29/2008
Author:	Kzar

Culebra In the Clouds
Summit: Culebra Peak (Elevation 14,047 ft) Trailhead: Taylor Ranch Trailhead Elevation: 2,830 ft Distance: 7 miles Date: June 29, 2008 Hike time: ~2:45 hour to the summit, ~2 hours back to Four Way Overall Impression: Climbing Culebra was much nicer than I expected. I guess I expected a gravel pile with a 'Shermanesque' walk up but it was more than that. The area feels very pristine with no major trails up the mountain. Still weird paying money to access a mountain, last time I did that I was riding the Matterhorn at Disneyland. Also, it felt very strange starting out on a climb with so many people all at the same time. Description: We drove down from Denver and stopped in San Luis for dinner. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was nice, last place on the right hand side of town. Had the smothered chicken burrito which was good. Glad I was solo in the tent because anyone would have been suffering if they were in there with me. It took a total of 4 hours from I-25 / C470 to the Taylor Ranch gates including the stop for dinner. Gazelle setting up at the Ranch Gate Look East in Culebra's Direction The Gazelle and I got to the ranch gate at 7 or so and there were a few groups already there. Some had staked out camp sites while others were camping in the back of SUVs and pick-ups. We hopped the gate and setup our tents. Plenty of flat ground to setup tents and there is a porta potty about 100 yards away from the two ranch gates. Met Marsha and her friend from www.14ers.com which was fun. We talked about the weather, climbs and my most recent escapade on Kit Carson. It had snowed on the peaks in the area earlier that day and the peaks were still shrouded in clouds. Occasionally we saw lightning in the distance. We were hoping the sky would clear for tomorrow. Sunset Looking West Woke up after 5am and broke down camp. Carlos was prompt at 6am and all the cars piled through the south ranch gate to the office where we paid. Carlos recommended all those with cars leave their cars at the office and catch rides with people that had 4-wheel drive. I'm not sure you need 4-wheel drive but I would definitely recommend a high clearance vehicle. I would never take my Honda Accord on that road unless I didn't want to bring it back home. We took two people from Wisconsin up to the Four Way trailhead. All the other hikers went on the higher tail head. I started from Four Way at 7am thinking it would make the 3,000 ft rule but found out after the fact it is was 170 feet short. Close enough for me. Four Way Sign Starting to Hike From Four Way We hiked up ~1 mile to the higher trailhead where the 4-wheel road dead ends. We then hiked up the north side of the stream for � mile and then crossed the tiny stream. We followed the general direction of the other hikers which looked like ants climbing up the large grassy hillside. The hillside was filled with small yellow flowers (buttercups?) and some other small flowers. We stayed to the right of the snowfields and crossed several granite boulder heaps. Marmots were all over the place and way too friendly. Hiker Climbing the Hillside Marmot in My Face We continued up the hillside until we hit the ridgeline and the infamous monster cairn. I practiced a hand stand for Sunlight but more importantly to earn another nickel from the Professor. How much do you owe me now Professor? Handstand at the Infamous Cairn The ridge to our left and right were completely shrouded in the clouds at this point. We resorted to a map and compass to determine we needed to follow the ridge to our right. We headed in that general direction and every now and then we would get a glimpse of other hikers climbing the ridge or even a summit shot. Once you are on the ridge there is a faint climbers trail because it is hard to scatter all the climbers on the ridge. Carlos, and the owners, ask all the hikers to not walk single file and take a different path to minimize the impact on the area. You continue along the ridge line to a false summit. From there it is a fairly easy climb to the summit. The peak was shrouded in clouds most of the day so I didn't get any great summit shots. Momentary Break in the Clouds on Ridgeline to the False Summit Break in the Clouds Looking Back at the Ridgeline with the Cairn Today the summit held about an inch of fresh snow/hail from yesterday. It was pretty cool at the summit so we didn't hang long. I ate some of the Professor's 'tuna-in-a-bag' and the Gazelle displayed a get well sign for the Professor. We Miss You, Get Well Professor #40 in the Bag We started hiking back and hooked up with three guys. I can't remember their names (old age) but one had over 50 peaks under his belt and the other had a nickname 'something pig'. Apparently he must have eaten more than one smothered burrito in the last 24 hours. We also ran into the Wisconsin duo as they were ascending the false summit. They were doing a great job for having low-altitude lungs. We continued on with "50 peaks guy" until we got to the large cairn. We then parted ways but saw each other as we descended the large slope. We both decided to traverse the hill to a large snowfield and glissade down a stretch. The snow was soft and deep enough to hide the rocks below. We continued to hike down on the north side of the snowfields until we encountered the upper trailhead. We then headed down the road to Four Way where I drank my only cold beer at 12:15, tasty. Snow Near the Summit Burying the Flowers 50 Peak Guy and Something Pig Glissading Gazelle Side Stepping the Slope We waited until 1:30 and then drove up the upper trailhead to see if the Wisconsins made it down yet. No sign of them but the last hikers that were leaving the upper trailhead said they saw them on the mountain and they were about an hour behind. We scoured the hillside looking for them but couldn't see them. I hated to leave them with a 4.5 mile walk to their car but I had to go. We signed out at the office and drove back to Denver. All in all it was a good day, never rained on us, the weather was never too hot or too cold. With #40 notched in my belt I think my next climb will be the Blanca/Little Bear group next month. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Culebra In the Clouds

Summit: Culebra Peak (Elevation 14,047 ft)
Trailhead: Taylor Ranch Trailhead
Elevation: 2,830 ft
Distance: 7 miles
Date: June 29, 2008
Hike time: ~2:45 hour to the summit, ~2 hours back to Four Way

Overall Impression: Climbing Culebra was much nicer than I expected. I guess I expected a gravel pile with a 'Shermanesque' walk up but it was more than that. The area feels very pristine with no major trails up the mountain. Still weird paying money to access a mountain, last time I did that I was riding the Matterhorn at Disneyland. Also, it felt very strange starting out on a climb with so many people all at the same time.

Description: We drove down from Denver and stopped in San Luis for dinner. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was nice, last place on the right hand side of town. Had the smothered chicken burrito which was good. Glad I was solo in the tent because anyone would have been suffering if they were in there with me. It took a total of 4 hours from I-25 / C470 to the Taylor Ranch gates including the stop for dinner.

Gazelle setting up at the Ranch Gate Look East in Culebra's Direction

The Gazelle and I got to the ranch gate at 7 or so and there were a few groups already there. Some had staked out camp sites while others were camping in the back of SUVs and pick-ups. We hopped the gate and setup our tents. Plenty of flat ground to setup tents and there is a porta potty about 100 yards away from the two ranch gates. Met Marsha and her friend from www.14ers.com which was fun. We talked about the weather, climbs and my most recent escapade on Kit Carson. It had snowed on the peaks in the area earlier that day and the peaks were still shrouded in clouds. Occasionally we saw lightning in the distance. We were hoping the sky would clear for tomorrow.

Sunset Looking West

Woke up after 5am and broke down camp. Carlos was prompt at 6am and all the cars piled through the south ranch gate to the office where we paid. Carlos recommended all those with cars leave their cars at the office and catch rides with people that had 4-wheel drive. I'm not sure you need 4-wheel drive but I would definitely recommend a high clearance vehicle. I would never take my Honda Accord on that road unless I didn't want to bring it back home. We took two people from Wisconsin up to the Four Way trailhead. All the other hikers went on the higher tail head. I started from Four Way at 7am thinking it would make the 3,000 ft rule but found out after the fact it is was 170 feet short. Close enough for me.

Four Way Sign

Starting to Hike From Four Way

We hiked up ~1 mile to the higher trailhead where the 4-wheel road dead ends. We then hiked up the north side of the stream for � mile and then crossed the tiny stream. We followed the general direction of the other hikers which looked like ants climbing up the large grassy hillside. The hillside was filled with small yellow flowers (buttercups?) and some other small flowers. We stayed to the right of the snowfields and crossed several granite boulder heaps. Marmots were all over the place and way too friendly.

Hiker Climbing the Hillside

Marmot in My Face

We continued up the hillside until we hit the ridgeline and the infamous monster cairn. I practiced a hand stand for Sunlight but more importantly to earn another nickel from the Professor.

How much do you owe me now Professor?

Handstand at the Infamous Cairn

The ridge to our left and right were completely shrouded in the clouds at this point. We resorted to a map and compass to determine we needed to follow the ridge to our right. We headed in that general direction and every now and then we would get a glimpse of other hikers climbing the ridge or even a summit shot. Once you are on the ridge there is a faint climbers trail because it is hard to scatter all the climbers on the ridge. Carlos, and the owners, ask all the hikers to not walk single file and take a different path to minimize the impact on the area. You continue along the ridge line to a false summit. From there it is a fairly easy climb to the summit. The peak was shrouded in clouds most of the day so I didn't get any great summit shots.

Momentary Break in the Clouds on Ridgeline to the False Summit

Break in the Clouds Looking Back at the Ridgeline with the Cairn

Today the summit held about an inch of fresh snow/hail from yesterday. It was pretty cool at the summit so we didn't hang long. I ate some of the Professor's 'tuna-in-a-bag' and the Gazelle displayed a get well sign for the Professor.

We Miss You, Get Well Professor

#40 in the Bag

We started hiking back and hooked up with three guys. I can't remember their names (old age) but one had over 50 peaks under his belt and the other had a nickname 'something pig'. Apparently he must have eaten more than one smothered burrito in the last 24 hours. We also ran into the Wisconsin duo as they were ascending the false summit. They were doing a great job for having low-altitude lungs. We continued on with "50 peaks guy" until we got to the large cairn. We then parted ways but saw each other as we descended the large slope. We both decided to traverse the hill to a large snowfield and glissade down a stretch. The snow was soft and deep enough to hide the rocks below. We continued to hike down on the north side of the snowfields until we encountered the upper trailhead. We then headed down the road to Four Way where I drank my only cold beer at 12:15, tasty.

Snow Near the Summit Burying the Flowers

50 Peak Guy and Something Pig Glissading

Gazelle Side Stepping the Slope

We waited until 1:30 and then drove up the upper trailhead to see if the Wisconsins made it down yet. No sign of them but the last hikers that were leaving the upper trailhead said they saw them on the mountain and they were about an hour behind. We scoured the hillside looking for them but couldn't see them. I hated to leave them with a 4.5 mile walk to their car but I had to go.

We signed out at the office and drove back to Denver. All in all it was a good day, never rained on us, the weather was never too hot or too cold. With #40 notched in my belt I think my next climb will be the Blanca/Little Bear group next month.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

nickadams	something pig here 6/30/2008 8:40pm nice report and thanks for waiting as long as you did for the wisconsiners, i hope they made it out alright. when are you planning on doing the blanca/little bear group?
Marcia	Cloudy 6/30/2008 10:23pm Kzar, fun to meet you and Gazelle. (it‘s Marcia...not ‘sha‘) but thanks for mentioning my name in your report. The summit was cloudy for us and we saw Red Mountain for 30 seconds and then it disappeared. We saw you glissading from the cars on our exit. Was surprised the Volvo duo hadn‘t left yet since they were well ahead of all of us. Was the restaurant the ‘oldest‘ place in town, near the mercantile, with the NY Times article on the wall? Emma‘s? We too, had stomach aches!
Kzar	Little Bear 7/4/2008 3:02am I‘m not sure about Little Bear. I was under the impression that the mountain was clear of snow but I think just the route you took was. When I checked out the latest trips reports the standard route was still blanketed in snow. We were hoping for the 3rd week in July. Marcia sorry for screwing up your name. I was rushing to get the trip report done before I headed off to Florida. I figured I would forgot everything if I waited. The restaurant we ventured into wasn‘t Emma‘s and there wasn‘t a NY Times article on the wall I saw. It was across the street from a Bar.
Kzar	Blanca / Little Bear 7/7/2008 3:26am Just saw a TR that showed the route and mountains are clear. I was thinking of going maybe next weekend and coming back Monday. Saturday drive down and hike in. Sunday do Blanca and Ellingwood. Little Bear for Monday since there will be fewer climbers and that should minimize the rock hazards in the hour glass. Interested? Have other dates that are better for U?
nickadams	blanca/little bear 7/7/2008 8:38pm i would be interested in going, but i was hoping next month meant august as i need to get wife approval well in advance to not abandon her with our wee ones. i am thinking of doing these around august 24th/25th.
ROCK HOPPER	Red Tape? 7/9/2008 4:15pm What kind of red tape do you have to go thru to hike Culebra? I remember hearing that you need to go on certain weekends, pay a fee, have 50 or so 14ers under your belt & belong to a club of sorts. Does this still hold true? Thanks.
Kzar	Piece of Cake 7/10/2008 5:52pm I didn‘t actually get the reservation to climb Culebra from the Taylor Ranch. That being said the guy that did get it bailed and the ranch called me to make sure I was still going. They never inquired about physical ability, belonging to any clubs, etc.. There is a $100 fee to climb Culebra or $150 if you want to climb Culebra and Red Mountain. Taylor Ranch has an upper limit on the number of people who can climb in a day, 25. You need to call and make reservations, once you have the reservations they send you 4 forms, one of which is a liability waiver. You need to sign and bring this with you along with your cash. They open the gate promptly at 6am so you need to be there then if you want to hike. They lock the gate up after everyone has entered the property. Hope this helps.

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