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Trailhead: North Crestone Creek
April 15, 2011
~9.3 Miles, ~5,400 Gain
I met Al at our usual meeting spot Thursday evening at Trout Creek Pass and made the drive to North Crestone Campground where we camped. The alarm didn't go off too early at 6:00 AM and we packed up camp and made the short drive to the North Crestone Creek Tailhead where we were hiking at 7:30 AM. It was marvelous having a good trail as we made good time up the North Crestone Creek trail. After reaching the junction for the Venable Pass, we followed the Venable Pass trail for ~.3 miles and then our bushwhacking adventure began.
Neat ice.
Hiking up the North Crestone Trail. Photo by Al.
Near the Venable Pass Junction. Photo by Al.
13,054 from the Venable Pass Trail.
The thrashing didn't start out too bad but it certainly got worse the higher we climbed. From the Venable Pass trail, we headed west in a basin where we had several options to gain the southwest ridge of 13,054. We decided to take the shortest most direct path to the ridge. It was certainly a bushwhack and we were constantly discussing how we should have taken another drainage to gain the ridge. Realistically, they would have all been bushwhacks. On a plus note, we didn't have to use our snowshoes at all on the ascent.
Bushwhack! Photo by Al.
About to gain the southwest ridge of 13,054.
Goats checking us out.
Al just below the southwest ridge.
Once we gained the ridge, it was a gentle class 2 non-bushwhack hike up to the false summit at 12,817. The views of the true summit looked good as we continued up the southwest ridge, class 2 talus, to the summit arriving at 11:45 AM. The weather was forecasting "high" winds but it was rather calm on the summit with some breezes lower on the ridge.
Al working his way towards the false summit.
Al working his way towards the false summit.
Working my way up the false summit. Photo by Al.
True Summit.
Working my way to the summit. Photo by Al.
Al finish his way to the summit.
Crestones from the summit.
Rito Alto Peak from the summit.
We took a quick break and we discussed our options for returning to the car. Neither of us really wanted to experience the bushwhack that we did on the way up and figured that the southwest ridge back to the trailhead would be a good option.
It was "easier" going for the first part of the ridge but the solid bushwhacking was inevitable. At ~10,600 we headed directly south down steep slopes back to the North Crestone Trail which was another brutal bushwhack. The trail was welcomed and we hiked back to the car arriving at 2:30 PM. Almost as long going up and going down. Stupid aspens.
13,054 from low on the southwest ridge.
Route Map.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Those are sheep, not goats! Ain't no goats in the Sangres.
Nice report BTW.
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