Rito Alto

Eureka, Yahoo, Hermit, Rito Alto, Peak of the Clouds, Spread Eagle

Date: 6/20/2020
Start: Horseshoe Lake (Below Hermit Pass)
Summits: Eureka, Yahoo, 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.

Came back on 6/15/2024 with Kristi to summit the mighty Yahoo Mountain. We climbed Rito Alto then traversed south along the ridges to Eureka. When traveling south to north Yahoo doesn't seem significant... however going north to south it seems much more relevant.

Eureka Peak 14ers.com Page
Yahoo Mtn 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