Mount Shavano 14,229' and Tabeguache Peak 14,155'

This week we let the weather dictate which mountains we should hike/climb. Storms were sporadic in the state, and Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak were our best bets for today. These are both rated Class 2. Something we haven't done in a while. It was nice, because you could pretty much see a well worn trail the entire way. You can see me in red in the distance, and the trail on the grassy plain up to the ridge.

Looking back down the valley.

Here you can see the trail as I mentioned, and we are on a nice and wide ridge. We just have to go straight up to the top. Mount Shavano is first.

Here we are!

Many clouds! So, we must be quick to ensure we are done before any thunderstorms start brewing.

So, we just went down the other side of Mount Shavano, we are at the low point. Now, we must climb back up this ridge to Tabeguache Peak!

We made it! We had to be quick!

This picture is taken from Tabeguache Peak looking at Mount Shavano. The only way to get back to the main trail is to go back over Mount Shavano. And we have to be quick, as I said, looks like storms.

We are now back on the nice and wide ridge, and we see a herd of big horn sheep! COOL!!!

Shawn got a great action shot!!!

We quickly went back down as storms did end up brewing for a bit, but the sun came back out after that! All is well! A successful and safe trip!

Blanca Peak 14,345' and Ellingwood Point 14,042'

Finally, we get to do Blanca Peak! I have been wanting to do it ever since I learned there was a peak named after my Grandmother. She was a very beautiful and special women! It's a cloudy one today. Hopefully, it clears up. We saw some deer this morning too.
Nice picture of the early morning sky!

Getting out of the trees and into the rocky terrain. What a nice waterfall!

Still cloudy, but here I come. It actually rained last night while we were sleeping.

This is looking back at the valley where we started.

Here we are at the top of Blanca Peak!! Not many pictures because it is completely in clouds, and our hike was in clouds! Shawn said to me "...we have so many pictures of Blanca Peak from all angles from the other mountains we have climbed, now, that we are on Blanca Peak, we can't see anything!..." Oh, well... we made it! Thanks for watching over us Grandma Blanca!

It does try to clear up. This is Little Bear which is partly covered in clouds. You may recall we did that about a month ago!

Here is another picture of Blanca Peak. The top is still in the clouds, but now you can see a closer view of the ridge we had to hike/climb up.

This is a picture of Huerfano Peak (on left) and Lindsey Peak (on right). We did those last year.

Here I am at the top of Ellingwood Point! We have now done all the mountains in this area!

Here is Shawn and I at the top. See the valley below us.

As we head down Ellingwood Point, we see climbers in the distance heading to the Point. Do you see them?

And guess what, one of the climbers is Dave... He was supposed to hike with us, but decided to sleep in. He saw us coming down as he was heading up. Can you find us in the pic?

Now, the clouds have moved and we can see all of Little Bear.

Can you see all the lakes we passed? We passed like 5 lakes on our way to the top. Now, we get to go back and see them.

One last look at Ellingwood. As you can see we are back on the road and heading to camp.

We passed a pretty waterfall. When we came to this area a month ago, this was ALL covered in SNOW!!!

After about an hour nap, we packed up to head back to the car and go home.

I have been hiking since I was like 14, and never seen a bear in the wild. Shawn would say that is a good thing, which is probably true, but I have always wanted to see one. Well, I finally saw one. He was eating something (looked like he had grass), but probably looking for fish in the mountain stream. He was a good ways away, so I guess that's the best way to see one.

This is when I think he noticed we were watching him.

Here it looks like he might be yawning. Who knows?, but soon after this, he ran off up into the woods. I bet my Dad is reading this and wishing we had a 44 magnum just in case. No worries... Dad.

That's the end! What an adventure!

More really cool pics from Snowmass and Conundrum

I had to add more pics! Our friend Kim also took some pics, and they are included here. This was just so pretty with all the different colors. This was on the Snowmass trip. This is me on the ridge of snowmass just after we were coming down from the top. It was some fun climbing.

Almost at the bottom of this section!

I'm not sure if this is me or Shawn, but either way, it's a great side view of us sliding down the mountain!

We are almost done. One last break before getting back to the car. Here we are at the end. All three of us.

Now, we jump to Conundrum. This is a picture of where we camped out the night before. Shawn was happy he was able to build a fire.

Here I am taking the lead up the snow slope!

Here is Shawn almost at the top.

Kim and I on top of the ridge!

Just a little bit more up this ridge. This is Shawn and I.

Kim is an awesome yoga instructor! How cool is this? This is on the top of Conundrum with Castle in the background!

I'm a yoga wannabe, and she convinced me to do the tree pose!

Heading down.

The end! What a fun and challenging time!!