
The Sangres are an area of wild contrasts. A linear range running from Salida all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the mountains are characterized by prominent, jagged conglomerate masses, rising straight out of the San Luis Valley. Much has been mentioned throughout this site of the intimidating nature of its mountains, and long, arduous approaches to the alpine. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a nice change of pace from this and is the perfect place to exercise your inner child for a weekend, or longer. Keep reading…

Still trying to get caught up on TRs from last year. In November Brian, Dillon, and I loaded up into the Jeep and made our way down to the Sangres with a less-than-stellar weather forecast looming over our heads. A more sensible group may have pushed the trip to a later date, but for some reason we got a wild hair and decided to try to stick it to Mother Nature on this particular weekend. Well as you may have guessed, the joke wound up being on us, kind of. Keep reading…

This loop is a great way to experience the Northern Sangre de Cristos without getting yourself in to too much trouble as you would on peaks like the Crestones or Little Bear. The 13ers in this area are more reminiscent of their Southern Sawatch neighbors than they are to the conglomerate monoliths that signify the range. Keep reading…
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Dillon. I grew up in New Jersey and moved to Colorado at the end of 2010. I like chicken, diet soda, beer, and greek yogurt. I’m an accountant, but still think taxes are evil. I didn’t find my mountain wife on top of one of these 14er’s, but am still holding out hope. AND I really hate my snowshoes. That’s probably all of the pertinent information you need on me. I figured the best way to give you my perspective into this 14er journey would be to take you all along for the ride. Enjoy! Keep reading…