Alpine Jaunts and Willow Slaloms

Alpine Jaunts and Willow Slaloms

Frosty willows along upper West Willow Creek, alpenglow over distant peaks.

There is something special about the vast alpine expanses of the LaGarita Wilderness area in the eastern San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Vast plateaus vibrant with wildflowers and rocky peaks give way to cliff shrouded drainages filled with lush aspen and conifer forests. Moose, elk, ptarmigan, and mule deer abound. On Sunday, May 31st 2026, Cody Geringer and I completed a loop through this landscape, spending only about ½ mile below tree line the entire route.

Route trace and elevation profile for the day.

Cody and I had planned a loop in the preceding two days that encompassed 6 obscure summits west of San Luis peak (one of Colorado’s 53 14,000’+ summits), plus a re-summit or two. We met at 4:00 am in a parking lot in Pagosa Springs then headed off. I was feeling grateful for the ride in Cody’s more capable truck; we cut off about 4 miles of the route that we would have had to hike if we had taken my vehicle. Fully carb loaded on mini muffins, we quickly started off. Within 45 minutes we were standing atop a fun short class 3 scramble on a 12,500’ bump just west of the climber’s trail cutting over to San Luis, watching the sun rise over unnamed 13308.

Cody ascending the ridge on San Luis Pass Peak, 13308 in the background behind a broad false summit.

The air was calm and crisp, a bit of frost coated the willows, and the sky clear as we started up the false ridge to the false summit of 13308. Two ptarmigan in summer plumage stood still as we passed within 10 feet of them. Once on the ridge, this was a beautiful peak, with expansive views to the craggy north cirques of 13308 and 13166, with the towering San Luis directly across the valley. We made good time along the ridge, summiting our first thirteener for the day at about 7:30. Looking across to Unnamed 13166, our next target, I think was giving Cody some anxiety. The ridge is about 900’ of drop and ascent, and some fairly loose looking class 4(?) scrambling. After discussing the options, and Cody explaining he hasn’t had much experience scrambling, I decided the best course of action was to head back the way we had come to the saddle below the rocky San Luis Pass Peak we had climbed earlier.

Smooth rocks descending off the north face of the ridge of Unknown 13308.

Ptarmigan on the ridge to Unknown 13308’s false summit and the trail to San Luis peak in the valley below (l). Lanky figures on the broad summit of Unknown 13308 (r)

We jogged down to San Luis Pass, settled our gear and fueled up, then headed northwest across the willow filled bowl towards Unnamed 13005. Below an optional short scramble up a rocky knob, we nearly walked right into an elk calf that was bedded on a grassy bench surrounded by talus. We had seen a cow elk trot off 5 minutes earlier, and it was then apparent she was trying to lead us away from the calf.

Elk calf we stumbled upon below Unknown 13005 (l). Cody on the return over 13005 surveying San Luis Peak across the valley (r).

We scrambled up a little class 3 rock to help bolser Cody’s comfort level, then cruised easy alpine tundra to the summit of 13005. From here, Baldy Lejos lie about a mile north; our farthest point of the route. We descended to a grassy saddle, then up several benches and false summits to the top of “Far Baldy.” We saw 6 big horn sheep with large curls, and a cow elk that was bedded 30 feet from them get up and head around the grassy slopes to the east. From the top, we were rewarded with views of the entire route for the day, with San Luis peak and its 13ers to the east, and the next three 13,000’ points on our route to the south, including a re-summit of 13005. To the north, the West Elk, Elk, and Sawatch ranges revealed themselves with snow still clinging to their summits, and to the West, the Uncompaghre, Wetterhorn, Grenadiers, Needles, and Rio Grande Pyramid were all visible to the west. The linkup Brodie and I completed from Baldy no es Cinco to Un 13505 lie just across the basin to the west as well, heading the north end of the expansive Table Mountain plateau. A herd of elk crossed a saddle south of us where we had passed 45 minutes earlier.

Summit panorama from Baldy Lejos.

We jogged down Baldy Lejos when we had our fill of the scenery, back up Un 13005 and the rocky points below 13115. It was becoming apparent to Cody that his old ankle injury was acting up, and he opted to descend the road from just below here to his truck at the trailhead. Kindly, he offered to drive up over the 4wd pass and pick me up at the bottom of the last point of the day 2 miles away across the basin, Unnamed 13030.

I jogged across the tundra towards the saddle below the impressive north face and ridge. Gaining elevation, I arrived at the start of the scramble, and progressed over class 3 gendarmes up the arête. Occasionally, light was visible through cracks below my feet, reminding me to be aware of the loose overhanging blocks on the north face and to keep a bit to the south. The summit was beautiful, with direct lines of sight over every peak in the route, Table Mountain, and several stunning valleys.

Unknown 13030 across a long ridge (r). The east ridge of Unknown 13030 with its overhanging blocks and (r)

In the distance, I saw Cody’s Tacoma crest the pass. After a quick discussion on the phone, we decided to meet at the water crossing 1.5 miles and 1400’ below in the basin. I scree glissaded down a chute, along an alpine ridge, and engaged in a slalom with a slope of steep willows before passing through a small stand of trees. I emerged from the timber, crossed Rat Creek just upstream of some beaver ponds, and headed to the meeting spot. I covered the distance in 15 minutes, just a minute or so after Cody arrived.

Un 13030. The descent route was the scree slope left of the rocky summit, down the left trending ridge with willows, then down the side of the timbered gulch left of center.

Debrief: My body was feeling the cumulative effects from 2 recent large peak linkup days and the Snowdon-N2 trip. Improving my recovery time will be necessary

Only 1.75l of the 3l carried and 3 packs of 12 energy chews were consumed, resulting in excessive weight. This occurred due to shortening the day 3 separate times. It probably would have been valuable to dump a liter as soon as I realized the day would be significantly shorter

My shoes are on their last legs; I need to find a replacement for these discontinued Dynafits and stockpile them before they too get discontinued.

I need to streamline my pre-route mapping. I ended up bouncing between two maps which wasted time.

Gear List and Debrief:

• Black Diamond Distance 22 Backpack (Great lightweight pack, recommended)
• 3L CamelBak bladder (the most reliable I have found across many brands)
• Sun glasses (always critical) *Quarter zip merino fleece (worn in the morning before sun hit)
• Arc’teryx Squamish wind breaker (Invaluable)
• Baseball cap
• Ski Trab gloves with wind mitts (perfectly adequate in the morning cold)
• Dynafit Sky Pro GTX gaitered mountain runners (excellent for keeping scree and snow out)
• Mammut pants (Adequate. the search continues)

**Unused: *** Black Diamond Ghost Whisperer Down hooded jacket (safety item)

• Crazy Idea ultralight ski mountaineering wind pants (2-ounce insurance policy)
• Pared down first aid/survival kit w gear repair items and Katadyn Aqua Tabs (these have proven to be very valuable)

Consumables: 3l water w/ 16 scoops of Skratch Super-High Carb 12 packs of Skratch energy chews in baggies (only 3 consumed). Palate fatigue!