Days 6 & 7 of Lupe’s 1st Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Colorado & New Mexico!
6-12-23, 8:53 AM, N Blue Lake off USFS Road No. 369 – Got cold last night! Lupe woke early to ice on the RAV4. After a 10 minute dawn patrol, the Carolina Dog had returned to her pink blanket. SPHP worked on the trip journal while she snoozed. Outside, thunder heralded the onset of rain and fog, followed shortly by hail and enough snow pellets to turn the ground white.
Sunny now, though. The American Dingo had already enjoyed a short romp through the forest to an ancient corral at the end of USFS Road No. 369.1Q, and was now busy dividing her time between a chipmunk hiding underneath the RAV4 and sniffing around near scenic N Blue Lake.
I love it here, SPHP! So beautiful, and so much fun!
Enjoy it while you can, Loopster. Half an hour, and we’ll be on our way.
6-12-23, 1:06 PM, Hwy 12 NE of La Veta –
There they are, Loop. Site of your next adventure – the Spanish Peaks!
Which one are we going to climb, SPHP? Or will we be climbing both?
Only the biggest one, Looper. Third highest mountain you will have ever been on, if we make it. West Spanish Peak is also the Las Animas county, Colorado high point, too.
Wow! Looks pretty big, SPHP.
Yeah, I’ve read there’s a long steep talus climb that I’m kind of worried about. We’ll just have to see how it goes. Greenhorn Mountain was a gimme compared to West Spanish.
6-12-23, 4:27 PM, USFS Road No. 46, S of La Veta – Today was just a rest and positioning day. After scouting out Cordova Pass, the trailhead for West Spanish Peak (13,626 ft.) located 6 miles from Cuchara Pass on USFS Road No. 46, SPHP drove clear back to the more sheltered John B. Farley Memorial Wildflower Overlook.
The terrain around the wildflower overlook was steep, but by exploring back up USFS Road No. 46 a little way, Lupe managed to find a beautiful level field of dandelions in which to enjoy a sunny late afternoon romp. Evening, however, brought a cold, dense fog.
6-13-23, 6:42 AM, 40ºF, John Farley Memorial Wildflower Overlook – Blue skies! Last evening’s fog was but a memory. SPHP fired up the RAV4. 20 minutes later, Lupe was at Cordova Pass. West Spanish Peak was a go!
6-13-23, 7:28 AM, 37ºF, Cordova Pass – The pack was ready. Despite a certain degree of trepidation after seeing how steep West Spanish Peak was yesterday, it was now or never.
Onward! Puppy, ho!
Certainly nothing to worry about at the start. West Peak trail No. 1390 began flat as a pancake as Lupe left the trailhead trotting into a forest. After a quick 0.25 mile, the Salazar trail branched off to the L. Just past this fork, Lupe emerged from the forest, entering a huge meadow. On the far side, a more extensive forest stretched all the way to the base of mighty West Spanish Peak (13,626 ft.).
Hmm. West Spanish Peak’s not looking any easier from here, Looper.
Won’t know what it’s really like until we get there, SPHP.
Lupe kept going, quickly crossing the meadow. Shortly after entering the next forest, Levi Krier trail No. 1392 split off to the L. West Peak trail No. 1390 now began a long, gradual descent.
For a while, the American Dingo came to no more side trails, except an unmarked one that went 50 feet up onto a ridge to the L. Sticking with what appeared to be the main West Peak trail, it continued slowly losing elevation before finally bottoming out.
6-13-23, 8:12 AM – Still in forest, Lupe reached a junction with Apishapa trail No. 1324. By now, West Peak trail No. 1390 had turned SE for a little way, and regained a fair amount of the elevation that had been slowly lost. The West Peak trail made a nearly 180º turn back to the NW here, while the Apishapa trail continued straight. Wouldn’t be that hard to miss this turn due to the way the signage was oriented, except that the Apishapa trail was not as well traveled.
Beyond this junction, West Peak trail No. 1390 began a steady climb made easier by a series of switchbacks. So far, there had been virtually no clearings in the forest, but within minutes, Lupe came to an opening with a view back to the SW of the big meadow she’d crossed with snowy Trinchera Peak (13,517 ft.) lined up behind it.
20 minutes later, the switchbacks ended as Lupe reached a small, flat meadow with gritty soil. A short water and beef jerky break was taken here while admiring and studying the view of West Spanish Peak, which was now much closer. A new worry presented itself. Although it was still early, clouds were already spreading across much of the sky.
We better not dilly-dally here too long, Looper.
Ready when you are, SPHP!
Beyond the small meadow, the West Peak trail returned to the forest, and began climbing again at a gradually increasing pace. Another series of switchbacks appeared as the slope steepened. Lupe soon came upon a snowbank several feet high over the trail.
Crossing the snowbank was easy. Just past it, the Carolina Dog reached another switchback. This turn was out in the open, providing the first big view to the N.
Impressive view already, SPHP!
It is, Loop! That must be Blanca Peak (14,345 ft.) on the NW horizon, and Mount Mestas (11,569 ft.) sitting out there alone on the R.
What about that distant range between them, SPHP? Can you pick out Greenhorn Mountain from here?
No, not really. That area is so far away, that I can’t tell what’s what.
Ever consider investing in binoculars, SPHP?
Some fine day, Loopster.
From this viewpoint, the trail once again turned sharply back to the SE, re-entering the forest before quickly leaving it again. Ahead, the next turn, a big curve completely out in the open, provided another grand view of Trinchera Peak (13,517 ft.), plus a long string of peaks farther S extending all the way to Culebra Peak (14,047 ft.).
Lupe was now at treeline. The trail made one more jog back to the N, where the American Dingo reached an enormous cairn.
6-13-23, 9:06 AM – This was it, the crux of the matter. No more forests, meadows or switchbacks. Beyond the cairn, which apparently marked the official end of West Peak trail No. 1390, the SW face of West Spanish Peak soared toward an as yet unseen summit less than a mile away.
Shoot! No worries, SPHP! Steep enough, but doesn’t look that bad, except maybe close to the top. We’ve done slopes like this plenty of times before. This one’s just super long. The talus isn’t even very big.
Got to agree, Looper. I’m encouraged! Like you say, looks like the crucial area is the region just below that upper rim. Appears it all depends on how steep and loose it gets up there. Heck of a trudge, though, so we best get started. We’re still a good 1,700 to 1,800 feet below the summit.
As Lupe started up the mountain, there was another favorable sign. The general cloudiness which had been building rapidly not so long ago, was now actually burning away to some degree.
Following a use path, Lupe went up a series of several humps partially covered with low green vegetation. Beyond them, the slope steepened some more as the American Dingo entered a world of nothing but rock.
Lupe really seemed into it! The Carolina Dog climbed and climbed. Meanwhile, laggard SPHP huffed and puffed, frequently pausing for breathers. The use trail became braided, offering a variety of routes. In some places, the talus was so small that SPHP would have considered it scree, but then, what did SPHP know about such things? In other places, short sections of the trails were simply hard-packed grit.
A few little patches of snow were ahead. Happy to reach them, Lupe chomped away at the snow. Numerous tiny frozen waterfalls among the rocks were just starting to drip in the morning sun. Toward the L, bands of exposed bedrock formed lines of small cliffs and ledges. Looked like Lupe would soon be above them, but more kept appearing above.
The enormous slope was very steep, but uniform. Nothing scary at all. No super tough scrambles higher, edges of precipices, etc. For the most part, the talus was pretty stable. Even SPHP caused surprisingly little rock slide. Bigger chunks were nearly always firmly anchored.
Lupe did fantastic! SPHP kept stopping to gasp for air, sometimes even sitting down for a few minutes. Chocolate peanut butter bars and beef jerky were often shared during these short breaks to keep energy levels from crashing.
It was a long way up. Yet, bit by bit, despite more terrain continuing to appear above, even SPHP was getting there.
Lupe was still 300 feet from the top when a line of snowbanks along the S side of the West Spanish Peak’s summit ridge first came into view. The steepest part of the climb that came near the end, just before gaining the ridgeline, really wasn’t any worse than the rest of the ascent.
Suddenly Lupe was there, up on a broad, almost level region near the W end of the summit ridge. Still some elevation yet to be gained from here, but it was basically a romp. Turning E, Lupe crossed a big snowfield, then started the final part of her ascent in search of the true summit.
6-13-23, 11:30 AM, 52ºF, West Spanish Peak (13,626 ft.) – The highest part of the summit ridge was several hundred feet long. Arriving at the W end, Lupe discovered a cairn. Whether this cairn was actually at the true summit or not wasn’t completely clear. A couple more minor high points farther E were at least in contention. Hardly mattered, since any elevation differences along the entire upper ridge were minimal.
SPHP examined the cairn.
Well, shucks!
What’s wrong, SPHP?
This is a day to remember, Loop! West Spanish Peak is the 3rd highest mountain you’ve ever summited. Haven’t been this high since you climbed Mount Massive nearly 8 years ago. Wanted to enter your name in the registry, but there doesn’t seem to be one.
You can still shake my paw and congratulate me, SPHP.
Why, of course. Congratulations, Loopster! Well done, sweet puppy! We actually made it.
Thank you, SPHP! Can we take a break now? It’s been quite a climb.
Sure, but let’s go over to the E end of the ridge first, Looper. We can tag the other high points along the way.
A long snowbank clung to the S side of the summit ridge. Lupe had to go over part of it on her way to the E end, which she didn’t mind at all.
You somehow managed to forget to bring the chocolate coconut bars on this Dingo Vacation, SPHP. What else have you got in that pack?
Well now, let’s see. How does a Full Moon Savory Stick or a chocolate peanut butter bar sound, Looper?
How about both, SPHP? And Taste of the Wild and water, too.
Your wish is my command, oh famished one! Coming right up.
The sky was quite cloudy now. Although Lupe was usually in sunshine, rain showers were in all directions, especially dark and a little ominous off to the W. SPHP kept an eye on developments in that direction. So far, no cause for alarm.
The 2 Spanish Peaks being somewhat isolated from others, views were tremendous in all directions. East Spanish Peak (12,683 ft.), less than 5 miles ENE, was a big mountain, yet nearly 1,000 feet lower.
Other than East Spanish Peak, nothing anywhere toward the E was even remotely close to being as high as West Spanish Peak. The green plains of eastern Colorado stretched away to a murky horizon. Only lowlands existed toward the S, too. Lupe could see some high mountains to the N, but they were very far away. Only significantly lower ones, the highest of which was Mount Mestas (11,569 ft.), were relatively nearby.
Thousands of feet below, several long, thin lines of rock radiated away to the N from the base of West Spanish Peak.
Mighty Blanca Peak (14,345 ft.) dominated an impressive group near the NW horizon. Somewhat closer, a long line of partially snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Range peaks ran all the way from the WNW clear down to Culebra Peak (14,047 ft.) on the SSW horizon.
By the time only 15 minutes remained of Lupe’s traditional summit hour, numerous cumulus clouds were sailing over West Spanish Peak. Dark showers off to the W had already advanced to the nearest line of snowy mountains, and were still coming this way. Abandoning the E end of the summit ridge, Loopster headed back toward the cairn.
Hanging out by the cairn, the Carolina Dog watched conditions steadily deteriorate as what was left of her summit hour slipped away. Either fog or a cloudburst made it past the snowy peaks, apparently now destined straight for West Spanish Peak.
6-13-23, 12:29 PM, West Spanish Peak summit – Lupe stood by the cairn, East Spanish Peak beyond her beneath an increasingly dramatic sky.
Is our hour up yet, SPHP?
One more minute, Loopster! Hate to abandon such a glorious perch, but we may have already overstayed our welcome.
Haven’t heard any thunder yet, SPHP. Why don’t you start down first? I’ll linger here a bit longer, then catch up.
Loathe to leave, SPHP stuck around a few more minutes, praising Lupe on her successful ascent while watching the darkening sky amid rain showers all around. SPHP finally set off back down the W ridge while the Carolina Dog remained, now poised alone atop West Spanish Peak.
Ever faithful, Lupe couldn’t stand to let SPHP get too far away. Before long, she came streaking across the snow, overtaking SPHP in nothing flat. Passing by a collection of boulders, the biggest rocks she’d seen on West Spanish Peak, Lupe paused long enough to scramble up onto them.
Looks like we’re in for it, SPHP!
Afraid so, Loopster.
How long before the storm hits, SPHP?
15, maybe 20 minutes. No more than that. Let’s hope it’s just a squall.
Nothing happened. Shortly after Lupe started down that very long steep SW slope, the weather changed. The storm began breaking up. Drifting off to the N, its remnants missed West Spanish Peak entirely. By the time the American Dingo made it back to West Peak trail No. 1390, it was a beautiful day.
The return was easy. Never tiring, Lupe led the way. On the other paw, SPHP sometimes had to take rest breaks even on minor inclines. Lupe paused now and then, too, glancing wistfully back at West Spanish Peak.
6-13-23, 3:30 PM – It was sunny, breezy, and cool when Lupe made it back to Cordova Pass. The Carolina Dog did seem happy to leap into the RAV4 and curl up on her pink blanket. SPHP somehow summoned the energy required to provide food and water before passing out. A 3 hour joint nap ensued.
When SPHP finally came to again, it was cold and windy. Returning to the much lower John B. Farley Memorial Wildflower Overlook 0.5 mile from Cuchara Pass suddenly seemed like a terrific idea.
6-13-23, 7:00 PM, John B. Farley Memorial Wildflower Overlook – The sky was full of clouds when Lupe arrived. 5 minutes later, a combination of rain and sleet set in. Rained and sleeted the rest of the evening, at times quite hard. By the time the light began to dim, a thick fog had moved in.
No matter. What a grand and glorious day! The day before she turned 12.5 years old, Lupe had been to West Spanish Peak (13,626 ft.)!
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacations to Colorado, New Mexico, Canada & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.
