I hiked up the easy N Ridge, then traversed to Unnamed 13577 and Unnamed 13660, with a descent to Lily Lake. From there it was an easy hike back to the lower Huerfano trailhead. This route avoids an ascent of the loose talus on the S ridge.
miztflip - Jun 21, 2009 9:00 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2009
South Ridge to North Ridge
Climbed up from Lily Lake to 13,577 and then crossed to 13,660. I then climbed California and descended the N ridge. I also took in the 12er from the pass before going back down into the valley. I then hiked back up to camp at the upper TH.
SarahThompson - Jan 7, 2009 11:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2006
Twice, different routes
6/4/06 - Loop with UN 13577 & UN 13476 from Huerfano TH.
1/11/14 - Winter loop with UN 13577 & UN 13476 from Zapata TH.
Mots010 - Aug 7, 2008 2:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
North Ridge
Class 1 all the way, although VERY scenic. Lots of bighorn and elk along the way.
heather14 - Aug 5, 2008 5:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
North Ridge
A nice mellow hike after Lindsey, Huerfano and Iron Nipple the day before. The views were amazing the entire hike! Suprised by all the rolling false summits.
rpace - Jun 18, 2008 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2008
West ridge
What a great day! The views of the Blanca Massif are breathtaking from this vantage point!
Eric Holle - May 15, 2008 12:18 am Date Climbed: May 12, 2008
13er Trio
Ben L and I had climbed Ellingwood, Blanca and Little Bear Pk in the proir two days, so we decided to make it a nice long third day. We starting hiking from the Zapata Creek Trail and ascended the West Ridge to the summit of California continuing on to Pt 13,577 and on to Pt 13,660. 13 hours roundtrip left us feeling accomplished back at the trailhead. We investigated the plane wreckage in the North Fork Basin.
climbcolorado - Aug 18, 2007 9:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2007
North Ridge
Hiked with my two dogs.
Very long ridge hike with 6 false summits!
Solo climb, saw no one else the entire day. The length of time above treeline on the ridge surprised me, lots of false summits!
KyleR - Jun 12, 2007 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2006
North Ridge
Ascended via the North ridge route. Took my father (63 yrs) with me and had a great time on a beautiful summer day. The view from California Peak makes you feel so insignificant. Never saw another human...a great bang-for-the-buck outing!
Did California as part of a grand tour of the area which included 13660, 13577, and 12180. I would highly recommend this loop hike as it affords some of the most spectacular views in the Sangres!
csmcgranahan - Aug 7, 2006 3:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2006
Summit
Summited with two friends, Jake and Beth. A great hike through heavy cloud cover. Not too many views but the clouds moving to and fro was really interesting. We got a quick 10 minute peak of the Sand Dunes from around 12,500 before climbing into the clouds at about 8:00am.
Brian Kalet - Jul 17, 2006 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
South Ridge (ascent); North Ridge (descent)
From UN 13577. En route to UN 13476.
shanahan96 - Jun 30, 2006 11:12 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
California in Winter
calm, sunny winter day. the view of ellingwood point is jawdropping after switching trails. maybe i should climb that next week? #5 of top-100 in calendar winter.
Route Climbed: North Ridge *Classic* Date Climbed: June 4, 2005
It was incredibly windy with a steady 40+ mile per hour wind. The summit could not be seen due to the cloud cover although the valleys on either side were bathed in sunshine. The wind finally abated and a nice snow shower made the day even more enjoyable.
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: June 12, 2004
Erin and I hiked in on the Lily Lake Trail with Ken Nolan, and from Lily Lake, we ascended UN 13,577's grungy south slopes. At the summit, we had the privilege of meeting Ryan, this page's maintainer. He joined us for the detour traverse to UN 13,660. Erin and I then split for California Peak to try to catch Ken who had to pass on 660 due to a recovering shoulder injury. We joined Ken for the quick dash north to UN 12,180 before returning to the Huerfano Trailhead, completing a great loop hike. A trip report is available here.
utclimber - Jul 24, 2009 8:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2009
North Ridge, descended South RidgeI hiked up the easy N Ridge, then traversed to Unnamed 13577 and Unnamed 13660, with a descent to Lily Lake. From there it was an easy hike back to the lower Huerfano trailhead. This route avoids an ascent of the loose talus on the S ridge.
miztflip - Jun 21, 2009 9:00 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2009
South Ridge to North RidgeClimbed up from Lily Lake to 13,577 and then crossed to 13,660. I then climbed California and descended the N ridge. I also took in the 12er from the pass before going back down into the valley. I then hiked back up to camp at the upper TH.
SarahThompson - Jan 7, 2009 11:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2006
Twice, different routes6/4/06 - Loop with UN 13577 & UN 13476 from Huerfano TH.
1/11/14 - Winter loop with UN 13577 & UN 13476 from Zapata TH.
Mots010 - Aug 7, 2008 2:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
North RidgeClass 1 all the way, although VERY scenic. Lots of bighorn and elk along the way.
heather14 - Aug 5, 2008 5:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
North RidgeA nice mellow hike after Lindsey, Huerfano and Iron Nipple the day before. The views were amazing the entire hike! Suprised by all the rolling false summits.
rpace - Jun 18, 2008 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2008
West ridgeWhat a great day! The views of the Blanca Massif are breathtaking from this vantage point!
Eric Holle - May 15, 2008 12:18 am Date Climbed: May 12, 2008
13er TrioBen L and I had climbed Ellingwood, Blanca and Little Bear Pk in the proir two days, so we decided to make it a nice long third day. We starting hiking from the Zapata Creek Trail and ascended the West Ridge to the summit of California continuing on to Pt 13,577 and on to Pt 13,660. 13 hours roundtrip left us feeling accomplished back at the trailhead. We investigated the plane wreckage in the North Fork Basin.
climbcolorado - Aug 18, 2007 9:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2007
North RidgeHiked with my two dogs.
Very long ridge hike with 6 false summits!
chicagotransplant - Jul 2, 2007 10:40 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
North RidgeSolo climb, saw no one else the entire day. The length of time above treeline on the ridge surprised me, lots of false summits!
KyleR - Jun 12, 2007 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2006
North RidgeAscended via the North ridge route. Took my father (63 yrs) with me and had a great time on a beautiful summer day. The view from California Peak makes you feel so insignificant. Never saw another human...a great bang-for-the-buck outing!
shknbke - Sep 19, 2006 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2006
south ridge and down north ridgeDid California as part of a grand tour of the area which included 13660, 13577, and 12180. I would highly recommend this loop hike as it affords some of the most spectacular views in the Sangres!
csmcgranahan - Aug 7, 2006 3:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2006
SummitSummited with two friends, Jake and Beth. A great hike through heavy cloud cover. Not too many views but the clouds moving to and fro was really interesting. We got a quick 10 minute peak of the Sand Dunes from around 12,500 before climbing into the clouds at about 8:00am.
Brian Kalet - Jul 17, 2006 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
South Ridge (ascent); North Ridge (descent)From UN 13577. En route to UN 13476.
shanahan96 - Jun 30, 2006 11:12 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
California in Wintercalm, sunny winter day. the view of ellingwood point is jawdropping after switching trails. maybe i should climb that next week? #5 of top-100 in calendar winter.
jamie
km_donovan - Jun 5, 2005 4:13 pm
Route Climbed: North Ridge *Classic* Date Climbed: June 4, 2005It was incredibly windy with a steady 40+ mile per hour wind. The summit could not be seen due to the cloud cover although the valleys on either side were bathed in sunshine. The wind finally abated and a nice snow shower made the day even more enjoyable.
RyanS - Dec 31, 2004 8:49 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: June 12, 2004Erin and I hiked in on the Lily Lake Trail with Ken Nolan, and from Lily Lake, we ascended UN 13,577's grungy south slopes. At the summit, we had the privilege of meeting Ryan, this page's maintainer. He joined us for the detour traverse to UN 13,660. Erin and I then split for California Peak to try to catch Ken who had to pass on 660 due to a recovering shoulder injury. We joined Ken for the quick dash north to UN 12,180 before returning to the Huerfano Trailhead, completing a great loop hike. A trip report is available here.