Log In 
 Peak:  Mt. Shavano
 Route:  Angel of Shavano
 Range:  Sawatch
 Posted By:  chrisoconnor
 Date of Info:  2/25/2012
 Date Posted:  2/29/2012
Details

VERY windy, 50 knots sustained with 70 knot gusts. We were aware that the summer trail head would be unreachable by vehicle because of snow however it turns out that even the winter trail head is well snowed in. Ended up getting two vehicles stuck and parked about a mile from the winter trail head before heading out with snowshoes and all terrain skis. The road is under enough snow that it is hard to find and/or follow; this along with powdery snow about 3 feet deep in places made the walk in and out of the summer TH very strenuous. Along the East Slopes trail up to 11k', the trail is hard or impossible to follow because of (again) very deep and powdery snow (snowshoes and skis had a lot of trouble getting through/breaking trail). Micro-bursts of wind have fallen several trees along the trail which make passage extremely difficult. We finally lost the trail at 10,900' and climbed to a ridge to see the "angel" before we had wasted enough time that we could not summit. Bailed at 11k and took another 1 - 1.5 hours to descend back to camp.


Comments or Questions

   Not registered?