Baldy Alto

Route: From Stewart
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: madmattd
Info: We had 2 vehicles, so did a Cebolla-Stewart Creek traverse of Baldy Chato, Stewart, and Baldy Alto. No issues between Stewart and Baldy Alto, the small bit of snow is avoidable and other than the slightly tedious descent off Column Ridge to the base of Baldy Alto, the whole traverse was essentially just tundra. Descended a steep grassy ridge SE of the summit to a small knob on the Stewart Creek Trail near 12.1k just East of it's crossing of a drainage coming off Baldy Alto, likely the same ridge dwoodward13 used a couple days before - made for a nice, fairly easy descent. 

Route: Stewart Creek
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: dwoodward13
Info: Left the San Luis summer trail at 12.1k and followed the obvious/prominent ridge up to Baldy Alto. Standard mix of grass and dirt/loose gravel up to the summit. No snow to contend with. Ran the ridge over to San Luis. Little bit annoying/loose the first 500 or so feet, but nothing too difficult. 

Route: from San Luis
Posted On: 6/18/2023, By: artemavovk
Info: Summer conditions; one patch of snow that you can go around; Path to Column Ridge/Other Baldy/Stewart also as inconsequential snow; Column ridge has a blob of snow on top, but it's supportive. 

Route: Cebolla TH
Posted On: 9/20/2022, By: dhagan
Info: Hiked Baldy Chato, Column Ridge, and Baldy Alto from the Cebolla TH. Hiked to Baldy Chato summit then followed ridge proper to Column Ridge. Then continued along ridge proper to Baldy Alto. For return, did traverse to east of large ridge bump north of Baldy Alto on way to Column Ridge-Stewart Peak saddle (this can easily be done going from saddle just north of Baldy Alto and staying approx 13K to 13.1K staying below the steeper talus and sticking to grassy slopes all the way to return to Column Ridge-Stewart Peak saddle). From the same saddle, did traverse to the east of all ridge bumps on return to Baldy Chato area staying on nice grassy slopes and keeping elevation approx 13K-13.1K. Continued traverse around Baldy Chato until the Cebolla trail came into view as it exits the upper portion of the willows. Then easy descent back to the Cebolla trail. Distance was 5.9 miles to Baldy Alto summit following ridgeline proper. Distance was 5.7 miles on return taking the lower traverse. The big advantage of following the ridge is the amazing views of the west facing portions of all the peaks. If one did the easier traverse both ways, all the views would be missed. In terms of dealing with the willows, the trail thru the willows is easy to follow. The large poles also help. Just make sure to persist thru the willows along the trail until you are clearly above the them, you can then head uphill towards Baldy Chato. If you cut off too soon, you'll be stuck in willow hell. 

Route: Nutras Creek
Posted On: 9/13/2021, By: gcook33
Info: Summitted Stewart first via standard route then traversed over to Baldy Alto. Descended its ridge to link back up with the Nutras Creek trail. Baldy Alto's ridge was a really nice descent, a small amount of bushwhack once you hit treeline. If you weave through the forest at the right spot, you'll hit a nice, stable boulder field that will take you down to and across the creek to the trail. 

Route: Nutras Creek
Posted On: 7/6/2020, By: angry
Info: From Stewart, summer conditions. 

Route: North face from Stewart
Posted On: 6/25/2020, By: Flyingfish
Info: Dry the whole way from Stewart and down the valley. 

Route: from Nutras Creek
Posted On: 6/21/2020, By: mtnkub
Info: Dry from Nutras Creek (and from Stewart Peak; some snow remaining on Stewart Peak east ridge). 

Route: via Stewart
Posted On: 6/23/2020, By: MC.Ikema
Info: Snow free ascent from Stewart/Nutras Creek. Snow free descent of north slopes to the Stewart Creek/San Luis trail. East ridge also appeared snow free. 

Route: from Nutras
Posted On: 10/11/2019, By: WildWanderer
Info: Creek Crossings on the drive in are negligible, the drive in is clear. Creek crossing at 2.2 miles is frozen. I added a few rocks so I could safely make it across. Light dusting of snow from yesterday, both below and above treeline, should be gone by tomorrow. No traction needed. I saw several large hunting camps in the area, so wearing bright colors is probably a good idea. Very windy and very cold on the summit. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/3/2019, By: supranihilest
Info: Excellent, easy Class 1 climbing on broad, grassy slopes to the summit of Baldy Alto. You can see this ridge from the San Luis standard northeast ridge trail. If combining with Organ Mountain's north slopes it's the very obvious ridge directly across from your route. 

Route: Stewart creek
Posted On: 6/23/2019, By: cottonmountaineering
Info: Both baldy Alto and organ mountain didn't require snowshoes or microspikes from the Stewart creek th 

Route: via San Luis Peak
Posted On: 7/23/2018, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Clear ridge from San Luis Peak. 

Route: From san luis
Posted On: 6/26/2017, By: Trotter
Info: Fairly easy ridge walk from san luis. Two small snowfields along way but can be bypassed. Once summited, went east along ridgeline until we got to the second shoulder of Baldy Alto, decended down it back to stewart creek trail. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/18/2014, By: TakeMeToYourSummit
Info: (continued from San Luis page) A fairly easy addition from San Luis. Some unavoidable snow patches will be crossed on the San Luis side of the ridge. The low point of the ridge to the Baldy Alto summit was almost entirely snow free. The cliff face near 13,400 can be easily bypassed on its right with a class 2+ gully. Plenty of class 3 & 4 options also existed along the ridge. The rocks on this end of the San Juans almost had a Sangre De Cristo feel to them. From the summit I could see a light use trail along the East Ridge that connected sections of game trails. I chose to stay the entire ridge to well below treeline before I rejoined the standard San Luis trail (roughly 11,000 - near the start of the aspen trees). You will add a couple hundred vertical feet onto your hike if you choose to stay along the ridge proper. The mileage on this loop is very similar to San Luis standard (≈14). Another option I considered was dropping the Southeast Face about a quarter mile past the summit (past all the big cliffs). Other sections farther down the ridge also definitely had some large cliffs & would not be the safest options to descend.