Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
Pt 13,524 - Peak of the Clouds ranked Tri-Centennial Peak at 239th highest peak
Spread Eagle Peak - 13,423 feet ranked 305th highest peak
8 miles roundtrip
5200 vertical feet (with return over Spead Eagle Peak)
8 1/2 hours roundtrip
The Sangre de Cristos are still looking good so far as we head into calendar winter. This is a picture of Spead Eagle Peak with PT 13,524 in back and Rito Alto to the left.
I decided to make a direct assault on the east slopes up to Spread Eagle Peak. The standard route from the east would be to park at the Gibson Creek Trailhead and head north along the Rainbow Trail to the Swift Trail and then past the Lakes of the Clouds to the saddle between Spread Eagle Peak and PT 13,524. Reports I read indicate that it is a steep climb from the saddle to Spread Eagle Peak via the standard route, but that did not seem to be the case to me. If you want steep take the east slopes. There was not any reports from anyone taking this approach. No doubt someone has gone this way but since I did not see any mention of this I thought I would offer up this trip report. It appears to me this may be a good winter route despite the possibility of a lot of snow if you do not go all the way up the creek drainage.
The Gibson Creek Trailhead is west out of Westcliffe on Hermit Road. After about 6 miles the road forks where you will take the right fork (CR 172). The road switches back and forth a few times until it runs into the North Taylor Road. Take a left and follow the road straight through and past the forest service signs. Go past a small parking area and road on your left as you head west another 0.2 miles to the signed parking area.
The trail you want is to the left and west. You will go a few tenths of a mile to a sign that you will want to go just to the left and continue west. This is the Gibson Creek Trail which as you would suppose follows Gibson Creek.
There is a good trail for a ways, which starts to get fainter as you go. You will cross from the north side to the south side of the creek several times at 9800 feet and 10,000 feet.
First crossing.
The first mile or so is a gradual gain in elevation until you get to the end of the trail. Here you have a choice of following the creek or as I did leave the creek and start the steep climb up through the trees up and to the south of the creek drainage. There is less than two miles to go to Spread Eagle Peak and still 3200 vertical feet to go.
After slogging up through 12-18" of sugar snow (step, sink, slip a little, step, sink, slip a little) we started to clear the trees. This is at treeline, 11,700 feet and looking up the slopes to the left.
This is looking up the slope. The wind is really pushing the clouds east. I had read the weather report calling for high winds and I was anticipating that it would be blowing pretty good up there.
First look at the peaks to the southwest. The wind has to be gusting to 50 mph as my knock me over limit has been exceeded.
More steep slopes.
A brief moderation of the slope and a brief respite for Merlin.
Rito Alto and Hermit Peaks (left) and Hermit Pass Road left of center.
Spread Eagle Peak and the east ridge.
The last stretch to the summit.
This picture is taken on the summit looking at PT 13,524 (Peak of the Clouds on the right), Rito Alto and Hermit.
I don't think you can beat these views.
The middle and lower Lakes of the Clouds.
Mom I know you are watching from up there and I am doing just fine at this moment in time.
Okay now is decision time. The wind is howling like a jet engine and it is a mile or so to PT 13,524. WWKND? So off we go to 13,524.
This is look back at the ridge coming down from Spread Eagle Peak to the saddle.
The wind was really screaming now and I was barely able to stand on the ridge, which does get a little narrow in spots. I had read a report saying that this was Class 2 with some exposure. I did not really feel the exposure but getting blown off along here would not have been good. I dropped off the ridge on this slope below the notch left side of the picture. Some loose Class 3 or so but not as windy. I then contoured across to the saddle and west of 13,165.
I would also mention that it looks as though you could go on the east side of the ridge and avoid the rock. I noticed this on the way back over to Spread Eagle Peak.
This is looking up from below the notch.
This is the saddle that would come up from the Lakes of the Clouds and PT 13,524 ahead. The connecting traverse has a few ups and downs along the way. Rito Alto to the left, the peak in the cloud.
The roughest part of the ridge to PT 13,524.
This is looking back at Spread Eagle Peak.
This is another fine view of the Crestones.
This is looking northwest.
Merlin.
The Lakes of the Clouds.
Summit of the Peak of the Clouds, PT 13,524.
This is looking down the ridge before and below Spread Eagle Peak on the way back up and over.
You don't have to be a weather man to know which way the wind is blowing (just look at the ears).
All in all a good day.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
