An attempt on Tabeguache Peak (14,156 ft) and Mt. Antero (14,269 ft)
Our goal from the exciting drive over the shoulder of Mt. Antero (see the previous set of photos) was done for the
purpose of camping and climbing three peaks: Tabaguache and Shavano in one day, and Antero the next. The
weather, however, wasn't too cooperative. It poured the first night, and the morning we were to do
Tabeguache, the weather just didn't look so good, so we scrubbed it for the day - or so we thought. After
sitting around camp all day fighting the mosquitos (and watching the weather do nothing) we decided at 2:45pm
that Tabeguache just wasn't going to climb itself. Foolishly, we began to tackle the mountain. After a few
hours, Lisa and I turned back - I didn't trust the clouds. Brad and Shari continued on, managing to summit in
the early evening, returning to camp after dark. The next day, we tackled Mt. Antero - a mountain known
for its aquamarines - one of two places in the world where they can be found.
Shari has a unique log-bridge crossing style Shari"s never been a fan of log bridges. This one was particularly bouncy and unsettling as you walked across, so Shari decided an alternative route was in order. Brian opts for a slightly more traditional crossing technique Brad and Lisa survey the campground below Looking west from the slopes of Tabeguache Our camp, in the wide meadow Mt. White in the foreground, Antero in the distance Looking east Lisa hikes across some grassy slopes Tabeguache from the lower portion of the route The talus slopes of the route Tabeguache on the right Brad and Shari, near the summit of Tabeguache We were shocked to be able to see Shari and Brad near the summit from camp - let alone get a photo! Shari nears the summit of Tabeguache Shari points to the camp from the summit of Tabeguache glissading... Lisa captures a small mountain stream on our ascent up Mt. Antero Lisa, with Tabeguache in the background Shari, Lisa, and Brad Mt. White, with cris-crossing jeep roads "Lonny" finds some aquamarine! Mt. Antero is one of two places in the world where you can find aquamarine - a blue gemstone. Prospectors Just a few vehicles parked at 13,700 ft! All of these vehicles carted various rock hounds up to the mountain to search for aquamarines The summit ridge of Antero, from 13,700 ft The last push up to the summit on talus The chalk cliffs of Mt. Princeton Lisa on the summit of Mt. Antero Lisa and Brian Clouds drift over the connecting summit ridge The summit of Mt. Antero Shari and Brad arrive on the top "Tracy" and "Lonny" on the summit of Antero Shari, Brad, Lisa, and Brian Shari and Brad Dozens of prospectors searching for gemstones on the side of Pt. 13,800 Brian Brian Lisa, Antero in the background Brian on the scrambling portion of the ridgeline Lisa and Shari, looking like they stepped straight out of an REI or Go-Lite ad Brian A marmot watches all the prospectors The jeep road leading down the side of the mountain Brad, Lisa, and Shari look for gems on the hike Wildflowers An "old man on the mountain" flower Brad and Shari Pt. 13,800 in sunlight Looking down the gully we climbed up A high alpine moth Mt. Shavano gets swallowed up by clouds in the distance Lisa (Tabeguache in the backdrop) A columbine
