Stewart Peak Trip Report 06/22/2008

Peak(s):	Stewart Peak - 13,983 feet Baldy Alto - 13,698 feet Baldy Chato - 13,401 feet
Date Posted:	06/22/2008
Date Climbed:	06/21/2008
Author:	Gahugafuga

Tour de Stewart Peak Quadrangle
Stewart Peak has the distinction of being the highest thirteener in the San Juans. Together with its nearest neighbors Baldy Alto and Baldy Chato, Stewart marks the northern edge of the La Garita range. Like San Luis Peak just to the south, these peaks are very gentle when compared to the rest of the San Juans, presumably due to the lack of prior glaciation in the area. Aside from San Luis, the La Garitas are very sparsely traveled, so I was unable to locate much beta on the north slopes route up Stewart. Gerry Roach has (correctly) bestowed a classic rating on this route, so I thought I'd share some extra details for those seeking solitude. First, the Cebolla trailhead is reachable in a low-clearance 2WD. It's pretty wild that such remote roads are so well maintained. Second, the Cebolla trail that is supposed to take one to treeline is pretty much gone. This is a class 2 adventure from the start. Third, this route stays above 13k' for a very long time. Roach claims 2800' for the roundtrip to Stewart, but that doesn't account for uphills on the return or sidetrips to either of the Baldys. To get all 3 peaks in the area, I did about 4500' of climbing (plus an extra 500 due to a modest route-finding error below treeline). Check it out: Left to right is Baldy Alto, Stewart and Baldy Chato (far right). The North Slopes route pretty much traverses from one point to the next. Lots of minor ups and downs add up and the peaks are nearly 3 miles from end to end. Add a thunderstorm and you've got yourself a nightmare. The trailhead is at 11,500' and a quick bushwack brought me to treeline before sunrise. I located a faint remnant of the Cebolla trail at treeline and found a few marker poles through the willows above treeline, but for the most part I just headed straight for Baldy Chato. The willows weren't too swampy and have numerous alleys through them. Cochetopa Hills before sunrise Once past the willows, the climb to Baldy Chato was simple. From there I followed the rolling ridgeline to the high west shoulder of Stewart, then traversed out to Baldy Alto. This summit has probably the most commanding view in the La Garitas, surrounded by Stewart, San Luis, Organ, Phoenix and the main ranges of the San Juans beyond. The gentle slopes of Stewart Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre, still snowy Rio Grande Pyramid, still snowy too From Baldy Alto, I retraced my steps to the shoulder of Stewart and bagged the summit. I took a while to enjoy the summit knowing that I'd have several hundred feet of climbing on the descent. Luckily the terrain is gentle so it was never particularly taxing. Nonetheless, the route kept me above 13k for nearly six hours. Glad the skies were still clear. Organ (fore) and Phoenix (rear) from Stewart Baldy Chato and the rolling ridge from Stewart One final note - the Cebolla trail is really hard to follow on the way down. I lost track of the trail and bushwacked back to the road. When I popped out of the woods, I was nearly a mile from my car. Without a map and a clear head, it could've been much worse. Make a good mental note of where the trail transitions from trees to willows on your way up, or better yet, set a GPS track. Wildlife report: Newlywed ptarmigans Mother elk and child Cows, uncomfortably close to the road and displeased with my Ipod's shuffled selection Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Tour de Stewart Peak Quadrangle

Stewart Peak has the distinction of being the highest thirteener in the San Juans. Together with its nearest neighbors Baldy Alto and Baldy Chato, Stewart marks the northern edge of the La Garita range. Like San Luis Peak just to the south, these peaks are very gentle when compared to the rest of the San Juans, presumably due to the lack of prior glaciation in the area. Aside from San Luis, the La Garitas are very sparsely traveled, so I was unable to locate much beta on the north slopes route up Stewart. Gerry Roach has (correctly) bestowed a classic rating on this route, so I thought I'd share some extra details for those seeking solitude.

First, the Cebolla trailhead is reachable in a low-clearance 2WD. It's pretty wild that such remote roads are so well maintained. Second, the Cebolla trail that is supposed to take one to treeline is pretty much gone. This is a class 2 adventure from the start. Third, this route stays above 13k' for a very long time. Roach claims 2800' for the roundtrip to Stewart, but that doesn't account for uphills on the return or sidetrips to either of the Baldys. To get all 3 peaks in the area, I did about 4500' of climbing (plus an extra 500 due to a modest route-finding error below treeline). Check it out:

Left to right is Baldy Alto, Stewart and Baldy Chato (far right). The North Slopes route pretty much traverses from one point to the next. Lots of minor ups and downs add up and the peaks are nearly 3 miles from end to end. Add a thunderstorm and you've got yourself a nightmare.

The trailhead is at 11,500' and a quick bushwack brought me to treeline before sunrise. I located a faint remnant of the Cebolla trail at treeline and found a few marker poles through the willows above treeline, but for the most part I just headed straight for Baldy Chato. The willows weren't too swampy and have numerous alleys through them.

Cochetopa Hills before sunrise

Once past the willows, the climb to Baldy Chato was simple. From there I followed the rolling ridgeline to the high west shoulder of Stewart, then traversed out to Baldy Alto. This summit has probably the most commanding view in the La Garitas, surrounded by Stewart, San Luis, Organ, Phoenix and the main ranges of the San Juans beyond.

The gentle slopes of Stewart

Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre, still snowy

Rio Grande Pyramid, still snowy too

From Baldy Alto, I retraced my steps to the shoulder of Stewart and bagged the summit. I took a while to enjoy the summit knowing that I'd have several hundred feet of climbing on the descent. Luckily the terrain is gentle so it was never particularly taxing. Nonetheless, the route kept me above 13k for nearly six hours. Glad the skies were still clear.

Organ (fore) and Phoenix (rear) from Stewart

Baldy Chato and the rolling ridge from Stewart

One final note - the Cebolla trail is really hard to follow on the way down. I lost track of the trail and bushwacked back to the road. When I popped out of the woods, I was nearly a mile from my car. Without a map and a clear head, it could've been much worse. Make a good mental note of where the trail transitions from trees to willows on your way up, or better yet, set a GPS track.

Wildlife report:

Newlywed ptarmigans

Mother elk and child

Cows, uncomfortably close to the road and displeased with my Ipod's shuffled selection

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Gahugafuga	The cows were right 06/23/2008 01:20 The track was ”Heavy Metal Machine” by Smashing Pumpkins. I think that song sucks too, so I can‘t blame the cows for looking peeved.
scotthsu	trail from Cebolla TH is in good condition 07/13/2009 00:23 We climbed Stewart Pk and Baldy Alto on July 11, 2009, and the trail from the Cebolla TH is in good condition all the way to treeline, where the poles through the willows begin.
Matt	Bovine musical taste? 01/19/2011 03:38 What was your Ipod playing? Nice report and pics. Thanks.

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