Date: 2/26/2012
Who: Sammy and myself
Length: 4 miles
Time: 4.25 hours
Weather: 30 degrees, sunny, windy
Almagre is a Spanish name for “red earth”. The City of Colorado Springs web site states that before Pikes Peak was named Pikes Peak, it was called Almagre by the Spanish settlers. Almagre Mountain is the second-highest peak seen from Colorado Springs, to the left/south of Pikes Peak.
For today’s hike we drove up Old Stage Road, to Gold Camp Road, and up Forest Road 376 (90 minute drive from Colorado Springs). The hiking route approaches Almagre from the West. We made it to the summit of Almagre South (12,349′), also known as Mount Baldy, where an antenna farm is located. Total elevation gain from our parking spot was only about 1,550′, but the snow made this a challenge. The trail was snow-covered, so I had to use map skills and snowshoes to make my way. I struggled mightily hiking through deep snow in snowshoes with no trekking poles, falling a bunch of times. It was really rewarding to make the summit! I did not think that we had enough time before sundown to make it over to explore the north/primary summit.
Lessons/Reminders:
– Hiking in snowshoes without trekking poles is possible, but challenging to the point of frustration. Get some poles, man!
– When hiking a big mountain, an early start is almost always better.
– When going off trail, refer to the topo map often to avoid unnecessary detours.
This hike followed the BLUE line:
View Colorado Chris Hikes in a larger map