August 2004: Sangre De Cristo Mountains

In August 2004 my brother Mike and I returned to the Wet Mountain Valley and Sangre de Cristo mountains in southern Colorado, where we spent much of our youth. Our family had a summer cabin in the area, and we spent many summers hiking through these mountains. Our goal was to revisit some of the locations we hiked to as kids.

We started our hike by spending 4 days hiking from the Horsethief Basin area (northwest of Gibbs peak) to Comanche Lake. We started at the end of Verdemont Road (where our cabin was located), and hiked up the South Brush (aka Horsethief Basin) trail to the 12,800 foot saddle that separates the east and west watersheds of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. From there we followed the Cotton Creek and Rito Alto trails south along the western side of the mountains to the base of Venable Pass. After climbing up Venable Pass to the saddle separating the east/west watersheds, we walked along the ridge to the saddle above Comanche Lake via the Phantom Terrace, a trail carved into the cliffs above lower Venable lake.

After returning to Westcliffe on the Comanche Lake trail, our older brother Drew drove us up the old (and very rough) jeep road to South Colony lakes (the road is now closed to motorized vehicles). South Colony lakes sit at the base of the Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak. These mountains, along with Kit Carson Peak, are the most dramitc mountains in the range. Their spectacular cliffs attract rock climbers from all over Colorado.

We stayed at South colony lakes for 2 nights, which provided an opportunity to attemp a climb of Kit Carson Peak. Climbing Kit Carson peak from South Colony lakes makes for a long day. The route ascends the shoulder of Humboldt mountain, traverses a rocky ridge (class 2 scramble per the Yosemite Decimal System ), crosses a wide open alpine meadow called the Bear's Playground, then ends in the class 3 scramble up Kit Karson Peak. The weather deteriorated in the afternoon and we were moving slowly, so we turned back before we made the summit. We were able to return to camp before lightning and hail rolled in during the evening.

While we didn't cover as much ground as we would have liked, it was great to see the trails we hiked when we were young. We hope to return again to bag some of the peaks in the area.

The following links provide some additional information.

Conquistador Ski Area
A defunct ski area in the Wet Mountain Valley outside Westcliffe
Facts about Westcliffe

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Sangre de Cristo Mountains: August, 2004

Horn Peak Horn Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Gibbs Peak Gibbs Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Starting Out Starting out from the end of Verdemont Road. Gibbs Peak, as seen from our childhood cabin, dominates the skyline

South Brush Trail The aspen forest along the lower portion of the South Brush (aka Horsethief Basin) trail

Gibbs Peak Nearing the 12,800 foot saddle at the top of the South Brush trail. The summit of Gibbs peak is visible in the background.

View from the Saddle Looking south from the saddle at the top of South Brush trail. The prominant peak left of center is Rito Alto peak

West of the Saddle The Cotton Creek valley (west of Gibbs Peak)

Descending the West Side Descending into the Cotton Creek valley

First Campsite Bad photo of our first campsight, next to a beaver pond in the Cotton Creak valley.

Cotton Lake Cotton Lake and Mount Owen seen from the south end of the Cotton Creek valley

Mountain Thistle Mountain thistle found at high elevation

Rito Alto Peak Rito Alto Peak from the summit of the pass at the south end of Cotton Creek valley (12,550 feet)

Elk Elk on the western slope of Rito Alto Peak

Cotton Creek Trail Descending the Cotton Creek trail toward Rito Alto Creek

The old Hermit Lake road can be seen on the side of Rito Alto Peak above Rito Alto Lake. It is a pack trail on this side of the pass - the jeep road ends at the saddle to the right of center.

Hermit Lake Road The old Hermit Lake road can be seen on the side of Rito Alto Peak above Rito Alto Lake. It is a pack trail on this side of the pass - the jeep road ends at the saddle to the right of center.

Rito Alto Lake (Second Campsite) Rito Alto Lake on the morning of our third day. Our second campsite was in the trees at the other end of the lake.

Old Hermit Lake Road The old Hermit Lake road on the shoulder of Rito Alto peak.

Eureka Mountain Eureka Mountain above the San Isabel Creek valley; seen from the 12,200 foot saddle above Rito Alto lake.

Below Venable Pass An interesting group of dead trees below our third campsite (west of Venable Pass)

Third Campsite Our third campsite at 12,100 feet on the west side of Venable Pass. We awoke to frost in the morning of our fourth day.

One of MANY marmots that inhabit this high valley. A constant vigil was required to protect our food and equipment until the marmots retired at dusk.

Agressive Marmot One of MANY marmots that inhabit this high valley. A constant vigil was required to protect our food and equipment until the marmots retired at dusk.

Upper Venable Lakes Venable Lakes (just east of the summit of Venable Pass)

Phantom Terrace (1) On the east side of Venable pass, the trail traverses the Phantom Terrace (the cliff on the right) to the saddle left of center.

Phantom Terrace (2) This section of the Phantom Terrace trail traverses the cliff. The top of the Phantom Terrace

Phantom Terrace (3) The top of the Phantom Terrace

Phantom Terrace (4) Mike arrives at the top of the Phantom Terrace

Above Comanche Lake MIke at the saddle above Comanche lake.

Kit Carson Peak Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point on the horizon right of center; seen from the top of the Phantom Terrace.

Descending Descending into the forest on the Comanche lake trail.

Avalanche Site Damage to the forest from a avalanche several years ago.

Wild Rose Hip A wild rose hip - common in the forests on the Sangre de Cristo mountains. My mother made jelly from these. An afternoon thunderstorm in the Wet Mountain Valley

Thunderstorm An afternoon thunderstorm in the Wet Mountain Valley

Indian Paintbrush Indian Paintbrush - common in the wet mountain valley

Storm at the Crestone Needle A summer storm passes over the Crestone Needle at sunset. Photo taken from South Colony Lake.

The Crestone Needle The Crestone Needle in early morning sunlight.

Broken Hand Peak Broken Hand Peak and South Colony Lake

The High Saddle Broken Hand Peak and the Crestone Needle (right) from the saddle between North and South Colony lakes

Crestone Needle & Peak Crestone Needle (left) and Crestone Peak as seen from the saddle between South and North Colony lakes. (Panorama)

Crestone Peak Crestone Peak seen from the Bears Playground.

Entering the Bear's Playground after traversing the ridge separating South Colony and North Colony Lakes. Kit Carson Peak is just right of center.

Bear's Playground Entering the Bear's Playground after traversing the ridge separating South Colony and North Colony Lakes. Kit Carson Peak is just right of center.