Wednesday, August 28, 2013

San Luis Peak trip report

San Luis Peak (14,014 feet)
Northeast Ridge from Stewart Creek
Monday, August 28, 2013
Elevation gain: 3,600 feet
13.0 miles


on the road to nowhere
San Luis Peak is said to be the least climbed 14er in Colorado due to it's isolated location. I first drove to Lake City and then made my way to the Stewart Creek trail head which is about a two hour drive from the nearest paved road. The mountain resides in the Eastern section of the San Juan mountain range in the La Garita Wilderness. I left after work on Sunday afternoon and arrived at the trail head just as it got dark and woke up the next morning to mostly blue skies with some lingering clouds. The climb was very straight forward, just followed a trail next to Stewart Creek while passing several beaver dams. Once reaching treeline a steep climbers trail traversed towards a rounded saddle leading to the peak. My knee began bothering me again on the climb up so was eager to make it back to my car without inflicting too much pain on myself. Then made the long haul back to Ridgway. It was a worthwhile adventure into a beautiful and vast wilderness.





approaching the saddle

San Luis Peak on left