Not-a-Hut-Trip, La Veta, Colorado, Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2013

Update July 27: A few vacancies have opened for this trip.
In lieu of a 10th Mountain hut trip, we are going to take up the comfort level a notch for the Labor Day weekend in 2014. I have found an isolated mountain house, just east of La Veta pass, that can serve as the base for day outings to the Spanish Peaks and to the Sangre de Cristos from the Wet Valley side. The house is on a 600 acre piece of land and has 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 5200 square feet. The fireplace soars 25 feet to the ceiling of the great room with views out to the mountains. More information can be found at http://www.vrbo.com/418916. The overall price is significantly less than one of the 10th Mountain huts. I’ve rented the house for four nights, from Thursday August 28, to Monday (Labor Day) September 1.  The drive from Los Alamos is about 3 ½ hours, which should make it easy to reach the house even after a day of work on the 28th.
Hiking possibilities include the Wahatoya Trail, a 8 mile round trip, which climbs from 8,400 feet at the trailhead to the 11,100 foot saddle between East and West Spanish Peaks. The Newlin Creek trail, 12.7 miles if one travels the full length, “wanders past several volcanic dikes on the south side of West Spanish Peak. The dikes are fascinating and the views into New Mexico go forever on a clear day.” The Mosca Pass trail, is “an easy climb to a high pass on the crest of the range, with views of the San Luis and Wet Mountain Valleys.” Sangre de Cristo peaks include Trinchera, a 13.5er accessible from the east (Cuchara Pass) side, 6-8 miles round trip and 3000 foot climb. The Grand Sand Dunes National Park is less than 70 miles away. A non-hiking day outing is the train that runs from La Veta over the pass to Alamosa. I can send interested parties some of the hiking guides.
There are four bedrooms with king beds that would work well for couples, and other spaces – a bunk room, a game room, a family room – with queen beds, singles, air beds, and futons – that would work well for singles. The per person price for the single spaces will be 2/3 the per person price of the king bedrooms. If we have 14 participants, I’m estimating a per person cost of $210 for the bedrooms and $140 for the other spaces.
To reserve a spot, please contact Bill at bill@priedhorsky.net, and make your deposit of $150 per person (bedroom or other spaces).

The non-hut

View from the house to the Spanish Peaks

View to the north - Mt. Mestas