So Robin and I drove up to the south end of the Sawatch range in Colorado in an attempt to climb Tabeguache and Shavano. The book said that the trailhead we wanted was posted with a sign asking hikers not to use a particular route. We were planning on using the same trailhead but a different route. In the morning we drove around looking for the sign and couldn't find any signs at all. But we did find a trailhead with two sign posts, and assumed this to be the right place.

The hike proceeded well until we got to the ridgeline above the first saddle, which was really loose rock and class 3 difficulty. The guide book indicated that the route would be easy class 2. Once above the class 3 bits we made our way over to the summit via a second saddle which seemed longer than it had looked on the map in the book (which we did not bring with us).

Robin got to the summit about 10 minutes before me, and when I was approaching it I found him sitting there laughing. The following conversation ensued:

R: "Let me ask you a question, what peak do you think we're climbing?"

M: "This isn't Tabeguache? What is this?"

R: "I'll let you find out from the summit register."

M: "Am I going to be pissed?"

R: "No."

M: "Is this Shavano?" (Robin is laughing)

R: "No."

M: "And it's not Tabeguache?"

R: "No."

M: "Am I going to get a 14er for this hike?"

R: "No."

M: "Are we in Colorado?" (more laughing)

Anyway, it turns out the trailhead we started at was one valley up from the one we wanted (the trailhead we were looking for had been removed entirely and there was no sign of a sign). Consequently, we were one ridge north of Tabeguache--on the centennial 13er North Carbonate (13,870').

All of the small (and large) inconsistancies between what we had climbed and seen vs. the guidebook became much more understandable. The list-driven peakbagger in me was somewhat disappointed at the lack of a 14er, but the hike was still great and we had good weather luck. Not at all a day wasted. And hey, my first centennial 13er!

Oops... we felt a little dumb. But on the way out we made an inspection of the correct trailhead and found it to be totally invisible. So it was hardly our fault. But, then again, a map might have come in handy there...

Pictures.