Rito Alto
Eureka, Hermit, Rito Alto, Peak of the Clouds, Spread Eagle
Date: 6/20/2020
Start: Horseshoe Lake (Below Hermit Pass)
Summits: Eureka, Hermit, Rito Alto, Peak of the Clouds, Spread Eagle
Miles: 10.1
Vertical: 4900ft
Time: 7.5 Hours
Class 2
Partner: Solo
GPX
Hermit Pass Road was rough and tedious to drive. There was no real four wheelin fun... just baby head style rough. However I did feel fortunate to be able to drive to Horseshoe Lake as walking the road wouldhave been no fun at all.
I arrived at Horseshoe lake early... around 4pm... and found a great spot to sleep in the truck close to the lake. The weather was moody so I decided to hunker down for a couple of hours then go on a scouting mission when the weather was forecasted to clear up around 6pm. Over the next couple of hours it rained and snowed. It was pretty cozy in the back of the truck.
Sure enough it looked to be clearing at 6pm. So I geared up and headed towards the weakness in Eureka's NE flank on the S side of the lake. Although it was still cloudy I was starting to think that maybe I should attempt Eureka and Hermit that night. However as I reached the grassy area above the rocky weakness it started to thunder. Then lightning flashes above the clouds. Then snow and continued thunder and lightning. Run away... run away!!! I retreated and enjoyed the rest of the storm followed by a sunset in the comfort of the truck.
By the next morning the weather had cleared and I had a bluebird day to enjoy this classic group of peaks.
Eureka Peak 14ers.com Page
Hermit Peak 14ers.com Page
Rito Alto Peak 14ers.com Page
Peak of the Clouds 14ers.com Page
Spread Eagle Peak 14ers.com Page
10.1m - 4900ft - 7.5 Hrs
A Great Spot for Truck Camping Below Hermit Peak
Camp! Eureka Peak (upper left) & Hermit (right)
Eureka! Don't be so moody
Eureka's East Ridge from Camp
Horseshoe Lake - Hermit Pass Road - Peak of the Clouds (center) - Spread Eagle Peak (right)
Run Away... Run Away. Thunder Snow and Lightning
Hermit and Horseshoe Lake
Sunset on Westcliffe
Sunset on Westcliffe
Eureka: I climbed up through the cliff bans to the right of the snow field
Looking back to camp and Horseshoe Lake from Eureka's NE flank
Looking South to Eureka's summit
Kit Carson and the Crestones from Eureka
Looking North to Hermit, Rito Alto, Peak of the Clouds and Spread Eagle(far right)
Looking East from the Eureka - Hermit Saddle. I think this is Gibson
Looking South to the Crestone's and Blanca Group from Hermit
Looking South to the Crestone's and Blanca Group from Hermit
Looking North to the Electric to Cottonwood traverse I did two days earlier.
Approaching Rito Alto's summit. There was a flag and a plaque in remembrance of a fallen soldier. Spread Eagle on the right.
Peak of the Clouds and Spread Eagle from Rito Alto
Spread Eagle Looks Scrambley and Fun!
You could keep Spread Eagle to Class 2 or have some fun going up the ridge proper
Spread Eagle Selfie. R2L: Eureka, Hermit, Rito Alto, Peak of the Clouds
Instead of retracing my steps... I dropped into the basin to the south of Peak of the Clouds then climbed a pass up to Hermit Lake Road. I highly recommend this route.
After climbing the pass I hiked a path beside the road back to the truck at Horseshoe Lake.