Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak in the Sawatch Range. 3/10/2024

After reading daway8’s recent trip reports (that’s right, reports plural) I'd been wanting to give this classic combo a shot. Weather and work kept getting in the way until finally the stars aligned and a day off with good weather was on the way. I studied slope angles, checked avalanche conditions and read through trip reports. I mapped out the safest route I could find through avalanche territory. I spent two nights after work organizing my cumbrous winter pack, making sure I was prepared to spend a night out if, perish the thought, need be.

I started out at the Angel of Shavano campground a few hours before the sun came up, donned snow shoes straight out the gait and hopped on the continental divide trail. It took a surprisingly long hour and a half to reach the Mt. Shavano trail head and added about 5 miles to the standard route (round trip). My hopes of an actual summit (or two) were quite low. The deeper I got into the woods the deeper the snow got. No one had been on this trail for a while and breaking through the powder was a bear. Hoot owls were communicating with each other beautifully before the sun rose.

I knew this was going to be a grind and was hoping to find some sort of trench already set place. Obviously, a trench makes snow shoeing easier. But even more importantly, at least for me, it takes the massive challenge out of route finding. Directions aren’t my strength and getting lost is a more realistic danger for me than falling off a cliff. I’m constantly consulting my GPS and map in times of doubt which significantly slows my progress.

I was a bit bummed out, floating through the unbroken snow but had resigned myself to a pleasant day in the woods laying down a trench and maybe coming back in a week to try it again. A few hours into the climb, to my surprise and delight I saw someone coming up fast behind me. We exchanged pleasantries and he politely took over trail blazing duties. He was clearly in better condition than myself and seemed to know what he was doing so I happily fell in line. At one point he gave me a heads up that he was going off trail to avoid more dangerous terrain which sounded great to me. We met up again and I lent him some sunblock before he tore straight up a ridge, leaving behind a nice path and the perfect, safest route to the summit.

My expectations that morning were all over the map. Initially they went from very mild hopes of a summit to acceptance that this was going to simply be a nice relaxing day snow shoeing in the forest. After being passed by my new mountain friend my thoughts flipped again. A nervous burst of energy swept over me. Things just got real and this could happen. What an incredible opportunity I had trenched out in the snow ahead of me. Two more snowflakes this year would make me so happy and this dude’s incredible trail blazing opened the door to that possibility.

So much for an enjoyable day snow shoeing through the woods, I was dialed in, going as fast and far as I could without putting myself or someone else (SAR) in danger. I kept asking myself if I could do all of this in reverse with a sprained ankle if I had to, making sure the answer was always yes. The snow was overall stable. At no point was I too freaked out about an avalanche but some calculated risks were taken. It felt like an eternity to surface out of the timberland. I kept snow shoes on well past the trees and gazed up at Mount Shavano. It looked so incredibly high up there. There were times I thought it was too far and high and had to remind myself that this thought process commonly occurs around this point during a climb. There were about 3 or 4 false summits that I'm glad I had mentally prepared for. The forest was a brutal slog but nothing compared to the steep, never ending ridge sections filled with trap door snow. Micro-spikes were helpful and I shortened my trekking poles as much as possible on the exceptionally steep parts. I used my hands on occasion to pull myself over some of the bigger rocks. The views above tree line were awesome. The weather was great, in the teens and twenties. The wind up on the mountain was cold but bearable.

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Mount Shavano to the right and Tabeguache Peak on the left. If you look closely you can see Speed Walker on the top of Tabeguache Peak

I was hoping to get a good view of the Angel of Shavano but never did, unless it was the guy who laid down the path ahead of me? His tracks continued all the way up the mountain, making my ascent a bit easier. I thought to myself on multiple occasions that a summit of Shavano would be a total win and just forget about Tabeguache. This was a difficult under taking in these snowy conditions and the descent was going to be the most dangerous part. I took a lot of breaks. I've been dealing with some leg cramping on these winter climbs so I thought I would try to combat that by eating more snacks and slowing my pace. I brought and guzzled a lot of water and some gatorade. I also had warm tea in a thermos that wouldn't freeze. Thanks yet again daway8 for the advice to bring a lot of fluid and don’t eat snow. Eventually I made it to the summit of Shavano which was nice but I couldn’t really enjoy it because Tabeguache Peak was peaking at me. It looked like a really long way away and really high up. I guess because it was. The descent off Shavano to the saddle between was very steep and slow going. I knew it would be difficult getting back up but was still feeling good so I thought I would at least get to the base of Tabeguache in hopes it would look a little more inviting from that vantage point. I met the trail blazer again at the saddle. He was doing great and was headed home, he even tagged a nearby 13er! I told him I was Steep Slabs and he told me he was Speed Walker and I said of course you are! He was awesome and let me text my wife with his phone, letting her know I was doing good but going to be later than expected. This was the final boost I needed to get up and tag Tab. The ridge up to Tabeguache looked more gradual and less rocky than Shavano. I thought that was probably more of an optical illusion or my mind playing tricks on me but to my surprise it was an easier ascent than I expected. The views were nice but I had to go down Tab and back up that gnarly ridge to Shav before the true descent would begin.

It looks like there is a nice short cut at the saddle between the two mountains that would allow you to skip summiting Shavano a second time. This is absolutely not the case, you will end up in McCoy Gulch and stuck or cliffed-out. I can see how easy it would be for an exhausted hiker to think this was good idea but it would be a huge mistake to do so (thanks daway8 for more great info!).

I was relieved to make it back to the summit of Shavano and enjoyed the views for a bit. I did not linger for too long. I was tired, cold and a bit queasy. The entire descent was in slow motion, I kept slipping on snow covered rocks and falling through trap doors. I had a super cool view looking down on two hawks circling around the cliffs (can't beat birds eye views of birds). Somehow I walked right past my stashed snow shoes. Fortunately I had set a waypoint on my GPS while taking them off and was to locate them quickly. Usually I descend in about half to the time I ascend but not on this day. It took me 8 hours up and 7 hours down.

It was a day filled with beautiful moments of solitude set in the magnificent cathedral of nature. It was a difficult outing that has allowed me to appreciate everything more than before. I lucked out and couldn't have done it without Speed Walkers trail blazing and daway8s awesome trip reports. This would be a safer adventure with a hiking partner which I recommend in addition to a lot of research, preparation and physical conditioning. These mountains are awesome but filled with dangers. I would like to warn against summit fever (no one really cares if you summit or not, nor should you), dehydration, hypothermia, altitude sickness, getting lost, bad weather, not being able to locate your stashed gear and countless other hazards. Have fun but the main thing is stay safe. Thanks!

The descent took seven hours. Going to need new gaiters after today. Interesting info was posted on the top of Shavano (I should definitely support CFI)