On Eureka’s summit, 13,507 ft., looking down to Eureka and Hermit lakes and the Wet Mountain Valley.
Continuing with our exploration of the Northern Sangre de Cristos, we backpacked up San Isabel Creek and climbed Eureka Mountain last weekend. Two years ago, Christy and I looked down on San Isabel Lake from the summit of Hermit Peak to the north, and knew we would have to camp there some day soon. It’s tucked away in a stunning mountain cirque just below treeline, and it offers an easy route to the top of Eureka.
In Upper San Isabel Creek en route to Eureka, which stands in the distance. We followed the easy ridge to the summit from the right.
Looking south from Eureka’s summit to the Sangre 14ers. North Crestone Lake (a destination last summer) is out in the valley ahead.
On the descent, with some weather out to the west. We decided to go for the summit right after we got to the lake and set up camp. It was a good call– the bad weather moved in overnight and wouldn’t have allowed us to get Eureka had we waited until the next morning.
It’s been really fun to log so many days down in this area in recent years. Every trip and every climb thus far has been via a different valley, allowing for new sights and awesome camping at all the high lakes. And as we’ve said before, it’s rare to see any other people.
Spread Eagle Peak, 13,423 ft., one of the remaining named 13ers in the area we still have yet to climb.
A pretty view of the San Luis Valley.
The camping at San Isabel Lake was worth a trip in itself, and the perch atop Eureka affords expansive views. After turning back on our two prior Sangre trips (on Electric Peak to the north) due to weather, and considering the recent pattern, we openly acknowledged how nice it was to get this easy summit. It just so happened that the foul weather returned by the next morning, and we were once again thoroughly soaked on the 6 mile hike out.
The lake is a camping destination in itself.
By the next morning the weather had reclaimed the situation.
The hike out varied between damp and cloudy and torrential rain.
And I think it was just a pleasant change from all the running we’ve been doing lately.
Eventually Christy grew tired of the sketchy creek crossings on wet logs and took more sure-footed approach.
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