Anyone interested in trying to summit Mt Sneffels via the standard route on Monday or Tuesday before the festival? I’m sure there will be plenty of snow still so I think crampons and an ice axe would be necessary. I’ve included a trip report from 2008 that shows the conditions of the standard route in mid June. I’m not sure how it will compare to this year though. I’ve also included the standard route description.
http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=snef1&peak=Mt.%20Sneffels
That would be a fun day! I can’t go but recommend it to anyone willing to take a daytrip out of Telluride. If you can make it in a 4WD all the way to the very top of the old mining roads it’s a relatively short (yet steep) ascent. There is almost always snow in Lavender Cull, so need at least an ice axe. I did it in regular hiking boots and no crampons but it’s been a late spring so far here so may have more snow than usual.
Pulling off a 14er on anyone’s trip to Colorado would be good bragging rights later!
I’d possibly be interested. I summited a few years ago via the sw ridge but I’ve never done the standard route from yankee boy basin. Is the road open to the trailhead? I’ve been trying to put together an attempt on El Diente or Mt Eolus before the festival but so far nobody has been interested in going with me. :huh
I did Eolus a few years ago with Sunlight and Windom. I haven’t done El Diente yet, but I have group that I climb with that want to do the Wilson-El Diente traverse so I will probably wait for them. I plan on starting Sneffels at the restroom parking area. Apparently someone made it 300 yards past that parking area over the weekend, but I don’t mind starting the hike from there.
My girlfriend and I are planning to hike Wetterhorn on Tuesday. I climbed Sneffels back in 2000 via the standard route I think. It was July 3rd and there was very little snow. I think we descended via a chute that had snow but was soft and I did it without and axe.
Do y’all think Wetterhorn will still be snowed in or require crampons/axe?
Are there any peaks that would be a better option if we just wanted to hike up if there is still a lot of snow?
Wetterhorn looked really fun with the scramble to the top but don’t want to do it in the snow.
We were probably going to go out again Wednesday and climb something closer in if possible. We’re going to First Grass as this is our first time to the Festival so we want to be back into camp, staying at Mary J., with enough time to relax, change and eat before heading to town.
I’ll have room for two maybe three in our rented Ford Freestyle which should get us over Ophir for sure and hopefully Engineer and Cinnamon passes as well. Did The later two in a rental stock Blazer back in 2000 without any problems.
Looking forward to meeting y’all next week.
Cheers,
Sean
Wetterhorn is a really fun climb. It is pretty exposed but not at all as scary as I had heard it made out to be. The view is spectacular, especially so on the way back when you are down climbing the “stairs”. I don’t know what it is like this season but usually the technical spots are pretty snow free. That said, an axe is always a pretty nice thing to have just in case. Check out the 14ers.com forum for some recent beta.
I am aiming to hit the north face of Diente on Monday if everything goes according to plan. Good luck!
Hi guys,
Just read a Wetterhorn trip report on 14ers.com last night and it looks like there standard SE Ridge route is almost completely free of snow. Check out a pick here taken three days ago:
http://gallery.kahstudios.com/plog-content/images/14ers/wetterhorn-peak---060810/p6081304_web.jpg
The two kids that climbed up stated no problems and no need for an axe.
So, with this knowledge we are going to head over to Wetterhorn on Tuesday. Let me know if y’all are interested. We want to go for another hike Wednesday morning but I don’t think I’m going to want to drive all the way out to Ouray and the Alpine loop again. How long should I expect it to take from Ilium to Ouray via Orphir Pass?
Are there any fun hikes/scrambles that are closer to Ilium that y’all could recommend.
Thanks,
Sean
There is snow possible Sunday night, so I’d check it again when you get here for updated conditions; that way you can decide what you should take.
Did you say you had done any climbing in the Wilson Range? Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak, El Diente, Sunshine Peak, and Lizard Head are all probably closer than Ouray, but maybe not by 4WD jeep roads. Those, however, could be in not the best condition due to the fact we are scheduled for some serious rain in the next couple of days. Gets pretty sloppy and takes a while to dry out.
Hi Cindy,
Dang, hadn’t counted on any new snow. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens over the weekend and adjust accordingly.
I have never done any climbing in the Wilson Range and from the looks of it won’t be heading out there this trip. Don’t have crampons and don’t feel like hauling out a bunch of gear on the plane. We may hike/jog up to the lake or base of the headwall just to get out and explore a little.
I’m sooooooooo looking forward to this trip. To be able to combine all this great music and some of best hiking/climbing in the country is just too much to take in.
Cheers,
Sean