1/5/2020 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 1/6/2020, By: Yikes Info: Not much snow in the region (down low). Didn't need snowshoes until heading up California Gulch. Ridge to treeline was pretty steep but very straightforward. ~50mph winds above treeline made it less than enjoyable. Sections that had snow were unsupportive, so there was a bit of wallowing. -15 in the San Luis valley, but a toasty +15 at the trailhead. Typical cold January summit. |
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11/16/2019 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 11/16/2019, By: benbrow1234 Info: Road to TH has some icy patches but made it all the way without trouble with 4wd and all season tires. On the trail to Lily Lake there are patches of ice and snow up to 6 inches. Left snowshoes in the car and brought microspikes but did not need them. Above Lily Lake the route was bone dry apart from easily avoidable snow patches. Descended back to the trailhead off the north side of California. More of the same conditions except slightly more snow in drainage basin. |
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10/19/2019 Route: West Ridge Posted On: 10/19/2019, By: osprey Info: The Zapata Trail and the trail up to the West Ridge was dry. There was very little old snow on the talus below the summit. The Sangre range looked like the recent snow storm missed it. The Crestones were frosted in the morning but most of the snow had melted off by afternoon. |
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9/6/2019 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 9/7/2019, By: durkan Info: Approached from Lily Lakes and the south ridge and descended from California's north ridge and then the eastern slopes. Somewhat occasionally, an actual trail presents itself up on the ridges. There does seem to be a trail on the southern slopes after Lily Lakes, but I found it best to avoid that slopfest and stay on larger talus. Had to evacuate California as soon as I touched it due to incoming storms. All in all: great day in the Sangres! |
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6/23/2019 Route: West Ridge from Zapata Posted On: 6/24/2019, By: SurfNTurf Info: Road to the TH is entirely dry and 2WD accessible, but know that it's about as rough as 2WD roads get. Take it slow unless you're wearing a mouthpiece. Trail was snow-free to treeline, then we were on a dusting of snow all the way to the top. It'll melt well before next weekend. The only significant snow you should plan was on the final 200 feet of the summit ridge; beware the east-facing cornices on the far side of the summit. No traction, axes or snowshoes necessary. We descended a snow gully on the north side of the peak to avoid about 1,000 feet of loose talus. This short detour saved a huge chunk of time, not to mention our ankles. Spikes and/or an ax wouldn't have hurt here, especially if you're less comfortable on snow. |
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6/15/2019 Route: West Ridge Posted On: 6/16/2019, By: angry Info: Completely dry from TH to above 12K. Two very small snowfields to cross and then dry again until the last 50ft to summit. Felt like summer. Do not need flotation or traction. Blanca group looked bare too. |
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3/4/2019 Route: West face Posted On: 3/4/2019, By: Hjelmstadlt Info: It's a rare opportunity when there is enough snow in the Sangres to ski a peak car to car without ever taking your skis off. With avy danger as bad as it was California Peak was the obvious choice due to its gentle nature compared to the rest of the range. I started at 9:00 about half a mile below the standard parking lot because my little car couldn't get through the fresh 6 inches of snow that fell the night before. Trail was completely covered with snow and didn't look as though anyone had been up there for a while so I punched in a nice skin track all the way to the top. Snow was thin on south facing slopes and had to avoid a couple rocks but other then that it was deep enough to ski up and down the trail without much concern of scraping up the skis. Snow was VERY deep and soft from around 10,000 to Treeline and was probably the most difficult part of the route. Once above treeline everything was wind scoured or well packed and the only issue was navigating around all the rocks on the West ridge. The west face had about a foot of fresh surfy powder and wasn't thick enough to form a dangerous storm slab, just sloughed from time to time. At the bottom of the California Gulch drainage I did witness two natural slab avalanches on a northwest slope but it is easy to stay well clear of any terrain traps or avalanche terrain. Got back to the car at 5:00 making it a 8 hour day and was just over 8 miles round trip. |
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7/22/2018 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/22/2018, By: dwoodward13 Info: Summer conditions. Trail became thin in the meadow as mentioned in various trip reports, but not horrible even in the dark. There are several cairns here to help guide you back into the trees. Otherwise no navigation issues if you are remotely paying attention. Once on the ridge, just a long grassy stroll to the summit. Awesome views of the Dunes and the rest of the Sangres complete with a heard of Bighorns! |
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6/14/2018 Route: Zapata Falls Posted On: 6/16/2018, By: JasonKline Info: Summer conditions. Ice axe and microspikes unnecessary. |
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4/15/2018 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 4/15/2018, By: LetsGoMets Info: Ascended the North Ridge of California from Lower Huerfano TH as described by Roach in his 13ers guide. Route is not on the dot com. Trail to the pond clear of snow. Minimal snow on the bushwack from the pond to the ridge around 11,700 feet. Intermittent snow on the entire ridge to the summit. Did not use flotation or traction all day. |
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1/6/2018 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 1/7/2018, By: mike14 Info: A lot of ice along the trail below tree line. Wore micro spikes most of the way. Above tree line was mostly clear. No flotation required in the snowy spots. |
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10/20/2017 Route: North Slopes Posted On: 10/22/2017, By: Grover Info: Great route. Very straightforward. No issues at this time. There is hardly any snow on this route, and, where there is snow - on the broad grassy slopes - is easily avoidable. The snow storm that just hit the Elk & Sawatch mountains was not a factor in the Sangre's. |
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6/24/2017 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/26/2017, By: zdero1 Info: Summer conditions |
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6/18/2017 Route: Zapata Posted On: 6/19/2017, By: csprang Info: Summer conditions from Zapata to California summit. |
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5/28/2017 Route: west ridge Posted On: 5/31/2017, By: wondering_hough Info: The west ridge route from Zapata falls is dry until just above treeline. I and my two buddies completed the route in 8 hours and got a few short glissades in. |
