An attempt on Tabeguache Peak (14,156 ft) and Mt. Antero (14,269 ft)

Our goal from the exciting drive over the shoulder of Mt. Antero (see the previous set of photos) was done for the purpose of camping and climbing three peaks: Tabaguache and Shavano in one day, and Antero the next. The weather, however, wasn't too cooperative.

It poured the first night, and the morning we were to do Tabeguache, the weather just didn't look so good, so we scrubbed it for the day - or so we thought. After sitting around camp all day fighting the mosquitos (and watching the weather do nothing) we decided at 2:45pm that Tabeguache just wasn't going to climb itself. Foolishly, we began to tackle the mountain. After a few hours, Lisa and I turned back - I didn't trust the clouds. Brad and Shari continued on, managing to summit in the early evening, returning to camp after dark.

The next day, we tackled Mt. Antero - a mountain known for its aquamarines - one of two places in the world where they can be found.

Shari has a unique log-bridge crossing style

Shari"s never been a fan of log bridges. This one was particularly bouncy and unsettling as you walked across, so Shari decided an alternative route was in order.

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-8-2008 2:47 pm

 

Brian opts for a slightly more traditional crossing technique

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-8-2008 2:49 pm

 

Brad and Lisa survey the campground below

 

8-8-2008 3:33 pm

 

Looking west from the slopes of Tabeguache

 

8-8-2008 3:33 pm

 

Our camp, in the wide meadow

 

8-8-2008 3:33 pm

 

Mt. White in the foreground, Antero in the distance

 

8-8-2008 4:13 pm

 

Looking east

 

8-8-2008 4:20 pm

 

Lisa hikes across some grassy slopes

 

8-8-2008 4:21 pm

 

Tabeguache from the lower portion of the route

 

8-8-2008 4:50 pm

 

The talus slopes of the route

 

Photo by Shari Post

8-8-2008 5:05 pm

 

Tabeguache on the right

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-8-2008 5:44 pm

 

Brad and Shari, near the summit of Tabeguache

We were shocked to be able to see Shari and Brad near the summit from camp - let alone get a photo!

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-8-2008 6:46 pm

 

Shari nears the summit of Tabeguache

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-8-2008 6:57 pm

 

Shari points to the camp from the summit of Tabeguache

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-8-2008 7:01 pm

 

glissading...

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-8-2008 7:28 pm

 

Lisa captures a small mountain stream on our ascent up Mt. Antero

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 8:07 am

 

Lisa, with Tabeguache in the background

 

8-9-2008 8:09 am

 

Shari, Lisa, and Brad

 

8-9-2008 8:27 am

 

Mt. White, with cris-crossing jeep roads

 

8-9-2008 9:16 am

 

"Lonny" finds some aquamarine!

Mt. Antero is one of two places in the world where you can find aquamarine - a blue gemstone.

 

8-9-2008 9:30 am

 

Prospectors

 

8-9-2008 9:57 am

 

Just a few vehicles parked at 13,700 ft!

All of these vehicles carted various rock hounds up to the mountain to search for aquamarines

 

8-9-2008 10:01 am

 

The summit ridge of Antero, from 13,700 ft

 

8-9-2008 10:03 am

 

The last push up to the summit on talus

 

8-9-2008 10:32 am

 

The chalk cliffs of Mt. Princeton

 

8-9-2008 10:50 am

 

Lisa on the summit of Mt. Antero

 

8-9-2008 10:50 am

 

Lisa and Brian

 

8-9-2008 10:50 am

 

Clouds drift over the connecting summit ridge

 

8-9-2008 10:50 am

 

The summit of Mt. Antero

 

8-9-2008 10:54 am

 

Shari and Brad arrive on the top

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 11:08 am

 

"Tracy" and "Lonny" on the summit of Antero

 

8-9-2008 11:23 am

 

Shari, Brad, Lisa, and Brian

 

8-9-2008 11:26 am

 

Shari and Brad

 

Photo by Brad Post

8-9-2008 11:26 am

 

Dozens of prospectors searching for gemstones on the side of Pt. 13,800

 

8-9-2008 11:40 am

 

Brian

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 11:53 am

 

Brian

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 11:54 am

 

Lisa, Antero in the background

 

8-9-2008 11:55 am

 

Brian on the scrambling portion of the ridgeline

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 11:59 am

 

Lisa and Shari, looking like they stepped straight out of an REI or Go-Lite ad

 

8-9-2008 11:59 am

 

Brian

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 12:03 pm

 

A marmot watches all the prospectors

 

8-9-2008 12:12 pm

 

The jeep road leading down the side of the mountain

 

8-9-2008 12:14 pm

 

Brad, Lisa, and Shari look for gems on the hike

 

8-9-2008 12:36 pm

 

Wildflowers

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 12:56 pm

 

An "old man on the mountain" flower

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 12:57 pm

 

Brad and Shari

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 12:58 pm

 

Pt. 13,800 in sunlight

 

8-9-2008 1:00 pm

 

Looking down the gully we climbed up

 

8-9-2008 1:07 pm

 

A high alpine moth

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 1:30 pm

 

Mt. Shavano gets swallowed up by clouds in the distance

 

8-9-2008 1:32 pm

 

Lisa (Tabeguache in the backdrop)

 

8-9-2008 1:35 pm

 

A columbine

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 1:36 pm

 

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 1:48 pm

 

 

Photo by Lisa Davis

8-9-2008 1:57 pm

 

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