El Camino de Oveja

This is the standard walk-up route up the NE face from Lower Sand Creek Lake. It is probably the most commonly climbed route on the mountain.

The only difficulty is getting past a cliff band near the bottom. According to legend, a team of intrepid

OLTS

students (a Colorado organization similar to Outward Bound) was challenged by their instructor to find a route past this obstacle. As the team discussed possible routes, they observed a herd of mountain sheep making their way up a steep ramp through the cliff band. Knowing that these sturdy pioneers would use the optimal route, the students ascended the "way of the sheep".

2003 Trip Report

by Erin Burr & Ryan Schilling (link fails in 2018).

Climb SW from Lower Sand Creek Lake, directly toward the summit. If you are lucky, a helpful mountain sheep may point the way up the ramp through the cliff band. Otherwise, you will have to find it yourself. It is approximately in the center of the cliff band.

Cairns mark the route when descending from above, as the passage through the cliff band is not so easy to spot from above.

None.