San Luis Peak Trip Report 06/29/2016

Peak(s):	San Luis Peak - 14,023 feet
Date Posted:	06/29/2016
Date Climbed:	06/25/2016
Author:	arianna2

Beautiful spring day on San Luis Peak
We begin our 2016 14er season with San Luis Peak. It took a good 3 and a half hours to get to the trailhead from Grand Junction. The two stream crossings are easily doable in any car. They are going pretty fast but are also pretty shallow. There is plenty of car camping spots at the two trailhead areas. We have a small pop up camper so we went just past the main trailhead a quarter mile to the next one and there was a good spot there. Since there is not too much to tell about this hike I will be mentioning my 2 year old black lab a bit as this was his first 14er. I know some folks don't like to hear about the dogs so sorry about that. Benny could hardly wait to get on the trail at 5 am, wondering why we were such slow pokes. Little did he know how far he had to go today. The first 4 or 5 miles was a nice gradual climb, really not too difficult as 14ers go but I was feeling the fact that was the season opener. The stream was beautiful to hear all along the way. We couldn't find a real safe way to cross without taking off our socks and shoes although there was probably a good log or two lower down. We had brought crocks since they are so light. The mosquitos mauled us (well me mostly) on the other side while we were drying off our feet and putting everything back on. I would suggest that you remember to take everything with you when you cross the stream so that you don't have to go back and do it all over again. That water is quite cold! The bugs were bad all through up to tree line really so don't forget your bug spray in the camper either Seems like Benny did twice the mountain as he got way ahead and then wondered where we were and comes running back just to walk the same distance again. Didn't seem to bother him though. The 800 feet up to the saddle wasn't bad. There was no snow to walk through anywhere on the trail. Here is where Benny's day got a little more interesting. We let him walk on the talus for just a little while so that possibly he would somehow understand that we really were being good parents putting on those sporty shoes. He had only tried them on at home for a brief time and was quite glad when I gave up and took them off. Here, he was stuck-he would have to figure it out and luckily he did. He even picked up the pace again. He was a trooper. Seemed pretty darn quick getting up to the summit. I had definitely gained my second wind. There were some nice folks up there soaking up the sun. Wonder what that dog was thinking looking off the edge. After eating half my lunch because it smelled better than his dog food, he either decided to take a nap or was trying to gain up enough energy and will to get up and walk with those dang boots again. We had a great time introducing Benny to glissading. The snow was a little soft but still was a fun treat and a much easier way to get down. Clouds came in at the expected time and we worried about some of those people that were still heading up or probably just ready to come back down. We had nice cloud cover to walk back in though and had a wonderful time. Always great to be back in the 14er season. We were all very sad to leave the nice 50 degree weather and go back to the 95 degree weather in Grand Junction (including the black dog!). Can't wait for the next one. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Beautiful spring day on San Luis Peak

We begin our 2016 14er season with San Luis Peak. It took a good 3 and a half hours to get to the trailhead from Grand Junction. The two stream crossings are easily doable in any car. They are going pretty fast but are also pretty shallow. There is plenty of car camping spots at the two trailhead areas. We have a small pop up camper so we went just past the main trailhead a quarter mile to the next one and there was a good spot there. Since there is not too much to tell about this hike I will be mentioning my 2 year old black lab a bit as this was his first 14er. I know some folks don't like to hear about the dogs so sorry about that.

Benny could hardly wait to get on the trail at 5 am, wondering why we were such slow pokes. Little did he know how far he had to go today.

The first 4 or 5 miles was a nice gradual climb, really not too difficult as 14ers go but I was feeling the fact that was the season opener.

The stream was beautiful to hear all along the way. We couldn't find a real safe way to cross without taking off our socks and shoes although there was probably a good log or two lower down. We had brought crocks since they are so light. The mosquitos mauled us (well me mostly) on the other side while we were drying off our feet and putting everything back on.

I would suggest that you remember to take everything with you when you cross the stream so that you don't have to go back and do it all over again.

That water is quite cold! The bugs were bad all through up to tree line really so don't forget your bug spray in the camper either

Seems like Benny did twice the mountain as he got way ahead and then wondered where we were and comes running back just to walk the same distance again. Didn't seem to bother him though. The 800 feet up to the saddle wasn't bad. There was no snow to walk through anywhere on the trail.

Here is where Benny's day got a little more interesting. We let him walk on the talus for just a little while so that possibly he would somehow understand that we really were being good parents putting on those sporty shoes. He had only tried them on at home for a brief time and was quite glad when I gave up and took them off. Here, he was stuck-he would have to figure it out and luckily he did. He even picked up the pace again. He was a trooper.

Seemed pretty darn quick getting up to the summit. I had definitely gained my second wind. There were some nice folks up there soaking up the sun. Wonder what that dog was thinking looking off the edge.

After eating half my lunch because it smelled better than his dog food, he either decided to take a nap or was trying to gain up enough energy and will to get up and walk with those dang boots again.

We had a great time introducing Benny to glissading. The snow was a little soft but still was a fun treat and a much easier way to get down.

Clouds came in at the expected time and we worried about some of those people that were still heading up or probably just ready to come back down. We had nice cloud cover to walk back in though and had a wonderful time. Always great to be back in the 14er season. We were all very sad to leave the nice 50 degree weather and go back to the 95 degree weather in Grand Junction (including the black dog!). Can't wait for the next one.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

zombiewolf	We Were There Too 6/29/2016 2:16pm Nice TR and photos. My buddy and I spent Wednesday the 22nd in the woods about 3 miles up the trail. Woke up and summited on the 23rd, but barely. Just as we left the saddle at 13,100 for the final push the weather came in, but we made it. Less than 5 minutes on the summit and we were beating feet for the trees. The flowers were amazing and the mosquitos were brutal. Pulled out my backpacking bug spray at camp and it was empty!!! YIKES. Climb on.
kivadiva1	Very helpful! 6/30/2016 10:57am Thanks so much for the trip report! We're heading up this Saturday and were wondering about start time, snow, and bugs! Appreciate the information you provided, as well as the great pics!

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