The steepness of this route is fairly unrelenting...anywhere from 30 to 50 degrees, and it generally does not let up. We picked our way up the side of drainage and eventually worked our way into the couloir, where the snow was thick enough and steep enough to require snowshoes. The going was slow, thanks to the slope and the rather nasty, whipping winds. The wind was blowing in all directions (including spectacular snow-devils), literally knocking us off our feet from time to time, which complicated the steep ascent, especially above treeline.

Anyways, once you do get above treeline, aim for the top or just to the east (climber's right) of the top of the ridgeline. This point, right at 13,000 ft., is NOT the false summit "Espirit" that you might see named in some of the guides. That point (which is right around 13,600') lies beyond. Once you hit the ridgeline, climb the ridge (or if the winds are really nasty, stay just below on the east side) over 3 small humps to the subpeak "Espirit". From there, it's just over half a mile to Shavano's summit, which includes a drop of several hundred feet to the low point of the saddle, and then back up to the 14,229' summit.

Doesn't sound very hard, does it? Well, it's no walk in the park, that's for sure. Fighting the winds and slope to 13,000' really tore Chris and I up. We departed from the trailhead at 7:00am, and it was noon before we reached 13,000', and 3:00pm before we hit the summit, completely exhausted. Unfortunately, the clouds that had been gathering to the west all morning had decided to make a break for the Arkansas Valley, and we found ourselves rather quickly in near-zero visibility as we made the summit. We plopped down in a protected spot for a few minutes of carb-loading and wheezing. Despite being the shortest route (trailhead to summit) on Shavano, it was one of the longest (in duration, that is) ascents I can remember.

There was no way we would be able to get back to the trailhead before dark by returning on the same route. It was our intention to descend the Angel of Shavano (an almost human-looking snow-filled gully on the east side of Shavano) to the Blank Gulch Trailhead, and then hike the Colorado Trail for 2 flat miles back to our point of departure. Chris donned skis (can't believe he carried those things all the way) and I chose the time-honored technique of glissading (that's the technical term for sliding downhill on your butt, for you rookies out there). We made our way back to treeline in record time...15-20 minutes, I'd say. I quickly strapped on the snowshoes, while Chris was able to navigate through the trees with the skies. Presently, we came to the Blank Gulch trailhead, and made the right turn onto the Colorado Trail. By that time, it was approaching 5:00pm, but still daylight. The snow cover at this point was thick and slushy, so Chris had to stop and swap skis for snowshoes as well. The last two miles from the one trailhead back to our starting point were done in "death march" mode...no talking, no looking around, head and shoulders slumped forward in exhaustion. It was finally 6:15 as we pulled within sight of the trail register at the Angel of Shavano Trailhead, and it was a heck of a welcome sight!!

So, after a nearly 12 hour hike, it was back home to Denver...not an easy drive after a day like that, but the sense of accomplishment was just enough to overcome the physical exhaustion, luckily!