Back home, we hunt in water.
– A luckless Louisiana hunter high in the Rockies |
Lakes Peak – 13,375 feet
Nestled between higher neighbors, this fine peak paitiently waits for visitors on the north-central crest of the Sangre de Cristo. |
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Lakes Peak seen from the southwest across upper Major Creek
“Electric Pass” is on the right, and the south ridge leads from there to the summit
Gerry took this photo from near Mount Niedhardt on 10/16/04 |
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Lakes Peak seen from “Electric Pass”
Gerry took this photo on 3/5/06 |
USGS 7.5’ Quadrangles: Electric Peak, Valley View Hot Springs
South Ridge – 12 miles RT, 4,755 feet net, 5,275 feet total, Class 2 |
| While not the shortest or easiest peak in the Sangres, Lakes Peak provides a simple, robust outing.
Start at the Major Creek Trailhead
and follow the Major Creek Trail south to a shoulder overlooking the lower Major Creek drainage.
Since private property blocks access directly up Major Creek, you must now descend a series of switchbacks
to reach Major Creek at a point east of the private property. This obtuse beginning to your hike adds 2 miles
and 520 feet of gain to your roundtrip. Once in the Major Creek Drainage, simply follow the trail,
which stays on the creek’s north side. Busy beavers make your up-valley hike more difficult
with their fresh cut aspens which criss-cross the trail and their overflowing dams which flood the trail.
Additionallty, the horse trains that frequent this trail churn the wet spots into bigger bogs.
At treeline, continue east up the switchbacking trail to reach 12,460-foot “Electric Pass.”
Your long Class 1+ trail approach is over. Now for the short Class 2 climb. From the pass turn north (left),
and climb 915 feet up talus on Lakes’ rounded south ridge to reach the summit. |
