The 14ers: Mount Shavano 14,229 ft and Tabeguache Peak 14,155 ft
Trailhead: Shavano (Blank Cabin)
Start Time: 6:12 am
Finish Time: 2:40 pm
Climbing Time (round trip): 3 hours 4 minutes
Elevation Gain: 5,600 ft
Distance Traveled: 11.25 miles
Jeff and I returned to Shavano after being there six weeks earlier for a training climb in preparation for Mt. Rainier. This time instead of carrying large and heavy backpacks, we traveled light. I donned a 12 lbs Camelback M.U.L.E. Our goal was to climb both Shavano and Tabeguach in combination.
I left for the trailhead Saturday, the day before our climb, to camp and get a better night's sleep as opposed to waking in the wee hours to leave Denver. Jeff on the other hand had to take care of his dogs and wasn't able to leave until 2 am Sunday morning- ouch! It was nice and relaxing to get out of town leisurely. After stopping for some food and a Sonic Peanut Butter and Fudge shake in Conifer I cruised to the trailhead. I encountered some wild animals free grazing on the range during my drive on Forest Rd 252.
Wild Animals
More wild animals causing a traffic jam
I reached the trailhead shortly after 7 pm and continued up the road 252 to an open meadow that offered exceptional dispersed camping. I set up my tent and kicked back to watch the sunset over Shavano.
Camp amongst the aspen groove (and some wild flowers)
Sunset view from my camp chair (Shavano looms above- second hump from the left)
I slept well and woke to my alarm at 4:30 am. Just as I woke, Jeff texted me saying he was in Fairplay and having a tough drive due to sleepiness. He had to pull over on Kenosha Pass to catch a few z's. We oringinally were planing to meet at the trailhead around 5 am, which would now be later. So I slept in until 5, got up, packed up and drove to the trailhead where I set up my camp table and stove to make some oatmeal and tea for breakfast. There were already a few hikers getting an early start.
Jeff arrived around six safely and we were on the trail by 6:12 am. Our climbing route differed from our last trip as we took the standard route up Shavano instead of the Angel route.
The Angel has melted away
Climbing the trail with Shavano's summit above us.
Jeff on the South Saddle of Shavano
We made it to the top of Shavano in three and a half hours, 9:40 am. This was quite a bit faster than our last climb on this mountain with 40lbs on our backs, which took us five hours to summit. We continued over Shavano's summit without stopping and headed down it's North ridge toward Tabeguache. The weather looked agreeable for heading over to Tab. The ridge was a bunch of large talus blocks which made the down stepping easy. We reached the saddle between Shavano and Tab, grabbed some energy food and spied the route up Tab. The route looked steep and loose.
Tabeguache's East Ridge seen from Shavano's North Ridge
We ascended Tab's East ridge where the trail was faint and a mixture of loose dirt/scree and talus. Once on the first false summit, the route was more enjoyable and you could see the true summit. We reached the top of Tab fifty-four minutes after being on Shavano's summit, 10:34am.
Antero in the background of Jeff and I
After hanging out on Tab's summit enjoying nutrients, the view and perfect conditions, we departed at 11 am. Coming down the false summit toward the saddle, Jeff twisted his foot on talus which caused significant foot pain. I gave him my trekking poles to ease the going.
Back up Shavano's North Ridge
The climb back up Shavano was much more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Jeff was slower and I kept him insight to make sure he was going to make it up. I got to the summit of Shavano by 11:45 am, ate more food, chatted with another couple who were heading over to Tab (which I cautioned as the clouds were building). I had them snap a picture of me and my GO BLUE flag. Jeff made it up and we decided to follow the standard trail as it would be better for Jeff to negotiate considering his foot.
Second time on Shavano this day(4th time in my 14er climbing log)
The hike down was pretty smooth until we hit treeline, where my IT Bands started to scream at me. Without my poles it was difficult and painful with each step. My legs were clumsy and it took a good effort not to trip and crash. In the forest, we heard thunder rumble up high on the mountains. It was a great relief to be safe in the trees. There is an area along the trail where numerous trees had been blown down by fierce wind a couple years ago. My head was on a swivel noting which trees looked suspect to toppling over if the wind should have picked up on us. Thank goodness it didn't.
We signed out on the trail register and made it back to the parking area of the trailhead with tired legs. A successful day of a long climb of two 14ers. I have one more 14er to climb to finish the Sawatch Range, Antero (one of our training climbs for Rainier that we were so close to completing if it was not for unstable snow on the final ridge to the summit). I have now completed 34 of Colorado's 54 14ers and I have climbed 6 of them more than once.
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