Trinchera Peak to Cuatro Peak Traverse in San Isabel National Forest, CO

Hike Trinchera Peak to Cuatro Peak Traverse San Isabel National Forest, CO

Class 3 16.2 miles 7400 gain 9-12 hrs Loop Oct 5, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Trinchera Peak to Cuatro Peak Traverse GPX Track

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This was a great traverse of a few peaks in an area of Colorado I'd never been: Peak 12955, Trinchera Peak, Leaning Peak North, Leaning Peak South, Cuatro Peak, and Mount Maxwell. I met up with a new friend, Whiley, who is among the most badass people I've had the pleasure of adventuring with. She kept me feeling inspired during my injury recovery this summer. We have similar peakbagging goals/interests (even though she's faster and stronger than I am), but we were finally able to get together to do our mutual favorite thing: Colorado ridge traverses, complete with a loop to make the route feel more clean. Fortunately for me, she was recovering from the flu so I was able to keep up. The wind today was so strong we both actually got blown over a few times.

Starting from the North Fork Trailhead, we headed up the North Fork Trail, crossing a few streams and gaining elevation slowly until we made it to the base of Trinchera Peak's east ridge. We picked up a dirt road here and followed it to the saddle just north of Trinchera Peak. Peak 12955 was a quick Class 2 jaunt away, so we bagged that to the north before starting south along the ridgeline. We encountered some light Class 3 on the way up to Trinchera Peak and some Class 2 elsewhere along the ridge, but it's pretty much just a grassy stroll over bumps on the ridgeline. Once on Cuatro Peak, we headed over one Class 3 section going from Trinchera Peak to Mount Maxwell, but it was short and otherwise just steep Class 2. Once on Mount Maxwell, we headed down the ridge until we encountered a dirt road at around 11,600 feet and followed this back to the North Fork Trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 12955
12955 ft
315 rise
2
Trinchera Peak
13517 ft
957 rise
3
Leaning Peak North
13100 ft
140 rise
4
Leaning Peak South
13203 ft
283 rise
5
Cuatro Peak
13487 ft
687 rise
6
Mount Maxwell
13360 ft
280 rise

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North Fork Trailhead.
North Fork Trailhead.
Along the North Fork of Purgatory River.
Along the North Fork of Purgatory River.
Image 2 from gallery
Making progress up to Trinchera Peak's east ridge.
Making progress up to Trinchera Peak's east ridge.
Through a meadow. You can see the saddle we're heading to above Whiley.
Through a meadow. You can see the saddle we're heading to above Whiley.
At the upper North Fork Trailhead, where we picked up a dirt road and followed it west toward Trinchera Peak.
At the upper North Fork Trailhead, where we picked up a dirt road and followed it west toward Trinchera Peak.
Along the road.
Along the road.
A view of the saddle between Peak 12955 and Trinchera Peak. The road to the saddle.
A view of the saddle between Peak 12955 and Trinchera Peak. The road to the saddle.
On the saddle, first heading to Peak 12955, seen ahead.
On the saddle, first heading to Peak 12955, seen ahead.
View toward Trinchera Peak as we head up to Peak 12955.
View toward Trinchera Peak as we head up to Peak 12955.
Peak 12955, view north.
Peak 12955, view north.
View back toward Peak 12955 as we hike up Trinchera Peak.
View back toward Peak 12955 as we hike up Trinchera Peak.
Trinchera PEak ahead.
Trinchera PEak ahead.
Class 3 section on the way up to Trinchera Peak.
Class 3 section on the way up to Trinchera Peak.
View back at the Class 2/3 stuff on the way up to Trinchera Peak, Peak 12955 visible top left. West Spanish Peak visible top right.
View back at the Class 2/3 stuff on the way up to Trinchera Peak, Peak 12955 visible top left. West Spanish Peak visible top right.
Along the ridge to Trinchera Peak.
Along the ridge to Trinchera Peak.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Heading south down from Trinchera Peak. Leaning Peak North (far left) and Leaning Peak South (left of center) visible. We went to the high point of the unnamed bump above Whiley's head because why not?
Heading south down from Trinchera Peak. Leaning Peak North (far left) and Leaning Peak South (left of center) visible. We went to the high point of the unnamed bump above Whiley's head because why not?
Descending to the saddle with Leaning Peak North.
Descending to the saddle with Leaning Peak North.
After Leaning Peak North, we headed down to its saddle with Leaning Peak South, some rockiness.
After Leaning Peak North, we headed down to its saddle with Leaning Peak South, some rockiness.
View back as we ascend to Leaning Peak South. Trinchera Peak visible top center.
View back as we ascend to Leaning Peak South. Trinchera Peak visible top center.
Descending from Leaning Peak South. Cuatro Peak visible top center.
Descending from Leaning Peak South. Cuatro Peak visible top center.
Making our way across the ridge to Cuatro Peak.
Making our way across the ridge to Cuatro Peak.
Ascending to Cuatro Peak, view back along the ridge, Trinchera Peak poking out up there.
Ascending to Cuatro Peak, view back along the ridge, Trinchera Peak poking out up there.
View south from Cuatro Peak.
View south from Cuatro Peak.
View northeast from Cuatro Peak. Trinchera Peak top left, West Spanish Peak top right.
View northeast from Cuatro Peak. Trinchera Peak top left, West Spanish Peak top right.
The rocky and only technical-ish section of the traverse is from Cuatro Peak to Mount Maxwell, seen here.
The rocky and only technical-ish section of the traverse is from Cuatro Peak to Mount Maxwell, seen here.
View back at the descent from Cuantro Peak. It's mostly just steep and loose.
View back at the descent from Cuantro Peak. It's mostly just steep and loose.
Along the traverse.
Along the traverse.
Avoiding some rock outcrops. Maximum we encountered was Class 3.
Avoiding some rock outcrops. Maximum we encountered was Class 3.
Past the rocky traverse, view back toward Cuantro Peak.
Past the rocky traverse, view back toward Cuantro Peak.
Summit of Mount Maxwell, view back toward Cuantro Peak.
Summit of Mount Maxwell, view back toward Cuantro Peak.
Mount Maxwell, view south toward Mariquita Peak. I'll be back for you another day!
Mount Maxwell, view south toward Mariquita Peak. I'll be back for you another day!
We descended from Mount Maxwell via its east ridge.
We descended from Mount Maxwell via its east ridge.
View back toward Mount Maxwell (left) and Cuantro Peak (top right).
View back toward Mount Maxwell (left) and Cuantro Peak (top right).
After following the ridge for a bit, we encountered a road. We took it down back to the trailhead.
After following the ridge for a bit, we encountered a road. We took it down back to the trailhead.
Image 36 from gallery

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!