| Peak(s): |
San Luis Peak - 14,023 feet |
| Date Posted: | 06/12/2012 |
| Date Climbed: | 06/08/2012 |
| Author: | BirdMan |
| Peak(s): |
San Luis Peak - 14,023 feet |
| Date Posted: | 06/12/2012 |
| Date Climbed: | 06/08/2012 |
| Author: | BirdMan |
| San Juan Suffer-Fest / Day 1: San Luis Peak from Stewart Creek |
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With my wife and daughters out of town (and not missing me) it was time again to head off into the mountains. Having done many of the peaks that are closer to home it was time to branch out into the San Juans. With such a long drive I figured I ought to make this trip worthwhile and planned to following: Day 1: San Luis Peak (from Stewart Creek TH) Day 2: Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn Peaks (from Matterhorn Creek TH) Day 3: Handies Peak (from Silver Creek / Grizzly Gulch TH) Day 4: Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks (also from Silver Creek / Grizzly Gulch TH) In planning an outing like this a few questions naturally came to mind, like: how would I hold up to back-to-back attempts like this, or how much training is enough training, and of course had I taken complete leave of my senses?!? Awake at 4 am, out of the house at 5 am, after a seemingly interminable (but good condition) dirt road I reached the Stewart Creek trail head at 9 am. Packed up and was stepping onto the trail at 10 am. Getting started.  I wasn't particularly worried about the late start as the weather reports forecasted bluebird days for the weekend and heading into the following week. The trail follows Stewart Creek for some time and was thankfully shady. A campsite along Stewart Creek.  A less modern "campsite" further along the trail.  As you progress you come to an open basin area. Below is the first look at what I thought was San Luis Peak. It turns out you gain the ridge to the left of the snowfield below, but San Luis Peak is actually what's poking out from behind the saddle.  I'm not sure if it's because it was early in the year or if being remote San Luis just gets that few of hikers, but the below is a photo of me from the only people I saw on the trail that day!  Another shot on the way up.  A poor photo below but I met a family of goats near the ridgeline.  Once on the ridgeline you can see the route to the true summit.  Having the summit to myself I was forced to snap my own pic - roughly 1 pm.  A look back down the valley from ridgeline.  Again, owing to the remoteness of this peak and that I was making little noise hiking with only my thoughts I encountered a moose back in the Stewart Creek Area!  San Luis is a beautiful peak in a remote area. There is a solid trail from the trailhead all the way to the summit, so this is perfect for solo hikers just looking to get away from it all. So long San Luis...  San Juan Suffer-Fest Day 1: San Luis Peak Day 2: Uncompahgre (and almost Wetterhorn) Peak - http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=12010 Day 3: Handies Peak - http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=12011 Day 4: Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks - http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=12012 Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow): 
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