#367 / 13,333' Venable Peak

From the SW end of the roomy parking area, walk up the trail #1345. The trail skirts the upper campground before turning more westward to cross the Rainbow Trail in a short distance. Continue on the Comanche trail. The trail leads through the drier, lower forest region and gradually ascends toward Comanche Lake, leading through forest all the way. The trail crosses a minor drainage that comes off Spring Mountain, turns south and ascends for a while much more steeply on a series of switchbacks up to a dividing ridge a little above 11,000 ft. From the ridge, it was well over another mile before reaching the lake at 11,640 ft. Dwarf conifers and willows provide some windbreak around the lake as morning winds sweep down from the pass. We took the side trail over to the lake to take some photos, mostly of the lake and the more dramatic, rocky NE face of Comanche Peak in the distance. It took us at least an hour and a half to reach the lake.

Back on the main trail and continuing SW from the lake, head on up the valley with the trail still being quite evident as it gains the SE facing slope through willows and switchbacks a few times to gain the final 1,200 feet to the pass. This last section is mainly open tundra hiking. From the pass, Comanche Peak is a short half mile south with another 500 feet of gain. Walk up staying near the ridge line and following various paths to the summit through mostly tundra with embedded rocks. It is easy hiking, though a little steeper than the trail further down. We arrived at the summit in about 3:15 from the TH. Admire the typical Sangre view of tilted, conglomerate beds sweeping in different directions and of the more rugged terrain to the south around the Crestones. From the summit, either retrace your route back to the trailhead or continue on to Spring Mountain.

Spring Mountain is part of a three-summit sequence with Comanche first, then Spring, then Venable. One-way mileage and elevation gain to Spring Mtn. are measured from the summit of Comanche Peak. Round trip mileage and elevation gain assumes completion of the sequence.

Depart the Comanche summit by heading back down the north ridge. In short order, you will hike back down that ridge back to the pass and then begin the ascent up to the high point of Spring Mountain. This is another easy 545 feet of gain on similar terrain. Tundra flowers are abundant in this area. The traverse should take under a half hour. There is a trail on the west side of Spring that skirts below the summit and then also skirts below the Venable summit on the east side of that peak. From the summit of Spring, enjoy more of the astounding views of this tilted range. Spring Mountain, extends NE as a long ridge for nearly two miles. Fortunately, the high point is right along the high, central ridge crest of the Sangre range so you do not have to navigate away from the logical route over to Venable. Take a long rest break here and soak in the heavenly view.