| Peak: | San Luis Peak - 14,014 feet |
Start Time: 6:45 AM
Summit Time: Approx. 10:45AM
Car time: Approx 2 PM
Elevation Gain: Approx 3,400'
Weather: Slightly Windy
Hikers: Mountainmicah83, Cre, Baz Agastus
Due to an unfortunate circumstance, my brother-in-law Cre, was home for the week on Emergency Leave from the military in Germany. I wanted to take him on Castle and Conondrum this weekend for some snow climbing and some good skiing. Making our way through the week, we noticed the weather bumped from NOAA to 70% chance of rain, snow, and thunderstorms. While I may be one to sometimes push the limits in life, 70% is not something I wish to purposely go out in. Thus we changed our plans on the day and peak to San Luis with a weather percentage of 10% chance. Departing Colorado Springs at around 5PM, we arrived at the trailhead in a little under five hours, just before 10 PM. After setting up the tent and readying our gear for the following day, we were in bed by 11 at the Stewart Creek Trailhead. Yes, if you drive a porche, you can drive your car to the TH. Crazy that you can drive your car this far on remote roads and they are so well maintained. So this is where all our tax money is going?
The next morning we were on the trail by 6:45 AM.
After carrying a full winter camping pack and skiing gear adding up to about 70lbs all winter, shorts and a tee shirt starting with a small day backpack weighing less than 20lbs was amazing. I also did the entire peak in approach shoes without getting wet feet. The first few miles hiking on the gentle trail, we passed several beaver dams.
I didn't use the GPS or a watch pretty much all day so all of my elevations, distances, and times are all going to be pretty relative. It seems that around 2 miles, we came through this old wood fence.
At around mile 3, we came to the first river crossing which seems to be a bit swelled due to the time of year.
I found the best way to get past was to walk just farther than the obvious area and walking down a log behind some willows and making a stretch jump across to keep dry feet. Up until this point and really treeline, there was no snow on the trail and everything was dry. There was just a few sections that the trail was a bit muddy.
To eat or to smell the elk duds, that is the question. Are they fresh enough that there could be elk in the area?
In no time, we made our second crossing of Stewart creek. With a hop, skip and jump, we were across still with dry feet.
Nearing treeline, I had Cre snap a pic of me so they weren't all of him.
And then I got one of Baz. He wanted me to do this since he wasn't going to get to write this TR.
Getting our first views of San Luis in the background behind the Organ Mtn. and Baldy Alta saddle, we continued our journey up the most mellow 14er trail in the state. The red line was something similar to our ascent. On the ascent and descent, we found the snow to be mostly hard and a bit soft around the edges.
Getting closer to that point, we had to walk on a bit of snow that covered the trail along the creek. As you can see, there are no more ski lines connecting all of the way down. Bill Middlebrook scored the last chance last weekend.
Hopping over the final creek crossing around 12K, we were finally officially above treeline.
There were some nice flowers near the water,
Another look at the rest of the 900' gain to the saddle.
And cre making the few "switchbacks" if you can call them that. At this point, the altitude was getting him. Although he ran a half marathon in Iraq this year and is training for a marathon in Germany, the trudging was slow but steady. With only one rest, we continued on.
A look back into the valley.
I guess this would be a good time to mention that we did see an elk making it's way up to the saddle. It was a young cow and was never close enough for a photo. Making the saddle, we finally got a view of San Luis in the background.
Looking left on the saddle, you can see the guardian ridge to Organ Mtn. I think you would go left of the cliffs.
A little higher, Organ Mtn. came to view.
Farther up, you can really get a view of the gentle summit. The trail through this portion is on the other side of the ridge.
The red line is the easy to follow trail to the sumit.
And a closer shot
Once we could finally see west to the rest of the San Juans, we could see Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre.
Ten minutes later, we were standing on the summit looking South East.
The USGS Marker…
Although a bit breezy, we managed to get our summit pic shirtless with the beers in hand!
Looking Northeast, you could see Baldy Alta to the right and Stewart Peak in the Center. A little over 30' shorter and probably way less hiked! After a 30 min snooze and some lunch below the summit, we were on our way back down.
Some purple alpine flowers
Although it was getting late, I managed to break my only 14er rule and make a glissade down some 15 or 20 degree snow for a couple of hundred feet.
Finally, we made it to treeline and I snapped this beautiful pic on the trail. All in all, it was a great day with beautiful weather. In perspective, things seem so easy in summer conditions on a day trip compared to winter slogs with heavy packs in waist deep sugar snow. It was a great time with my bro and another check in the box on one of the most remote and least climbed peaks in CO.
See you at the top!
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