Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

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painless4u2
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Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by painless4u2 »

From the FS in Canon City: "Spring storms have blown down a wide swath of trees near Bear and Blue Lakes on the San Carlos Ranger District making the area very dangerous for forest visitors. Until further notice access to the campgrounds and the Indian Creek and Middle Creek trails leading into the recreation areas will be closed for the safety of the public." This would likely make the jeep road to Trinchera inaccessible, which is at Blue Lake campground.
I called their office and spoke with a FS representative who said the areas to Bear Lake are closed for the season and possibly indefinitely due to the hazards. She was very firm about not allowing any access. For a related story: https://www.facebook.com/Spring-Fire-Di ... 918301315/
Tree Damage.jpg
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by supranihilest »

Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by montanahiker »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Sounds like Purgatoire isn't included. Hopefully not as I'm planning to hike Maxwell/Cuatro tomorrow.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by ScottLovesRMNP »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Trinchera is a lonnnng way from Maxwell, as I found out last summer! But yes, if the standard Trinchera approach isn't open, at least it's still climbable!
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by SionaRW35 »

Much thanks for this post. I was headed to that area on Sunday. Will call an audible now I guess.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by supranihilest »

ScottLovesRMNP wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:43 am
supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Trinchera is a lonnnng way from Maxwell, as I found out last summer! But yes, if the standard Trinchera approach isn't open, at least it's still climbable!
Yeah, it's not super close, but it's not horrible either, especially if you're able to drive up the road. I did Trinchera to Cuatro and back plus the 12er just north of Trinchera from Blue Lakes campground and it was about 13.5 miles and 5,800 vert. Maxwell would be another ~2 miles and 800 vert. The road up Maxwell is a lot worse than the road up Trinchera though, both for hiking and driving...
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by CaptainSuburbia »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:01 am
ScottLovesRMNP wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:43 am
supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Trinchera is a lonnnng way from Maxwell, as I found out last summer! But yes, if the standard Trinchera approach isn't open, at least it's still climbable!
Yeah, it's not super close, but it's not horrible either, especially if you're able to drive up the road. I did Trinchera to Cuatro and back plus the 12er just north of Trinchera from Blue Lakes campground and it was about 13.5 miles and 5,800 vert. Maxwell would be another ~2 miles and 800 vert. The road up Maxwell is a lot worse than the road up Trinchera though, both for hiking and driving...
That road was a doozy. Did not enjoy that tire change.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by supranihilest »

CaptainSuburbia wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:47 am
supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:01 am
ScottLovesRMNP wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:43 am

Trinchera is a lonnnng way from Maxwell, as I found out last summer! But yes, if the standard Trinchera approach isn't open, at least it's still climbable!
Yeah, it's not super close, but it's not horrible either, especially if you're able to drive up the road. I did Trinchera to Cuatro and back plus the 12er just north of Trinchera from Blue Lakes campground and it was about 13.5 miles and 5,800 vert. Maxwell would be another ~2 miles and 800 vert. The road up Maxwell is a lot worse than the road up Trinchera though, both for hiking and driving...
That road was a doozy. Did not enjoy that tire change.
:lol: Yeah, changing a tire on a steep, single lane road covered in sharp talus was not fun. Still got our peaks though, and Leo still got to chase marmots, so overall not a bad day! I'd recommend most folks just hike the road, even if it sucks, just for that reason - a road that sucks is better to hike than drive.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by CaptainSuburbia »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 12:04 pm
CaptainSuburbia wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:47 am
supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:01 am

Yeah, it's not super close, but it's not horrible either, especially if you're able to drive up the road. I did Trinchera to Cuatro and back plus the 12er just north of Trinchera from Blue Lakes campground and it was about 13.5 miles and 5,800 vert. Maxwell would be another ~2 miles and 800 vert. The road up Maxwell is a lot worse than the road up Trinchera though, both for hiking and driving...
That road was a doozy. Did not enjoy that tire change.
:lol: Yeah, changing a tire on a steep, single lane road covered in sharp talus was not fun. Still got our peaks though, and Leo still got to chase marmots, so overall not a bad day! I'd recommend most folks just hike the road, even if it sucks, just for that reason - a road that sucks is better to hike than drive.
Yes, still a fabulous outing and lots of fun marmot activity! I will definitely walk that road next time.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by bdwyer »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Hiked Maxwell from the road (437) just shy of Purgatoire CG yesterday. NO SNOW. You can get to 11,000 up 437 (an easier 4WD road) before tree debris. End of road is 11,700, so not a huge deal. There is a trail up to treeline from the 11,700 top, due west, to peak. Yes, you can run the ridge to Trinchera from there, but then you need to come back...
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by bdwyer »

supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 11:01 am
ScottLovesRMNP wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:43 am
supranihilest wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 10:15 am Does this include Purgatoire campground and the road up Maxwell or just the immediate Blue Lakes area? Trinchera can be done as an out and back from Maxwell, if the latter's still open.
Trinchera is a lonnnng way from Maxwell, as I found out last summer! But yes, if the standard Trinchera approach isn't open, at least it's still climbable!
Yeah, it's not super close, but it's not horrible either, especially if you're able to drive up the road. I did Trinchera to Cuatro and back plus the 12er just north of Trinchera from Blue Lakes campground and it was about 13.5 miles and 5,800 vert. Maxwell would be another ~2 miles and 800 vert. The road up Maxwell is a lot worse than the road up Trinchera though, both for hiking and driving...
Already posted, but as of yesterday, the road up to Maxwell is a go to 11,000 ft. and actually not a bad 4WD to that point. And yes, it is a long haul from Maxwell to Trinchera...and return same.
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Re: Trinchera Peak Access May Be Closed

Post by denvermikey »

UPDATE from FS. This access will be closed through May 2023...

[url]chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 029484.pdf[/url]
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