Page 1 of 1

Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:07 pm
by jmanner
What do you good people thing the conditions on Pyramid and Maroon are? Too wet to climb/to snowy?

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:17 pm
by Scott P
Those peaks have been climbed year round, so there really is no such thing as too snowy.

Yes, there will be snow and you will need experience to do it safely. Avalanche danger should still be low and snow probably isn't consolidated enough to self arrest. Expect icy and hazardous conditions in places. If you aren't used to technical terrain in icy conditions, skip it.

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:53 pm
by jmanner
Scott P wrote:Those peaks have been climbed year round, so there really is no such thing as too snowy.

Yes, there will be snow and you will need experience to do it safely. Avalanche danger should still be low and snow probably isn't consolidated enough to self arrest. Expect icy and hazardous conditions in places. If you aren't used to technical terrain in icy conditions, skip it.
Wow... what a great response... good thing you provided your advice. ](*,)

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:57 pm
by Crusty
Okay, I'll bite. What did you want to hear? Mr. Manners, you're good to go! Have a swell time. \:D/

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:39 pm
by Scott P
Wow... what a great response... good thing you provided your advice. ](*,)
The post wasn't meant to be rude. I have no idea as to your experience is (other than what is on your profile, which I didn't look at before posting).

The post was meant to provide a good answer to the question describing what conditions to expect and the need for experience in icy conditions (which we don't know if you have or not). I would have said the same thing to someone I knew well, was a friend, etc.

What part did you find offense with or how would you have like to see it phrased?

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:58 pm
by cheeseburglar
Much to wet and icy for you to climb.

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:26 am
by jmanner
... I was looking for some actual beta. Not a statement on the experience required to climb in mid-fall. Its been warm and dry for over a week; I was curious what the conditions would be like. For instance, loose snow with wet loose rock? or dry-ish rock with patches of Ice?, etc. etc. See: these are questions on the current conditions. Mostly, after reading Iman's trip report on Thunder Pyramid, I wondering if it was still like that or if the sun had done its work on these mountains.


Regardless, I apologize for my annoyed response. :oops: It was not necessary considering your obvious good intentions.

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:48 am
by Scott P
I was looking for some actual beta. Not a statement on the experience required to climb in mid-fall. Its been warm and dry for over a week; I was curious what the conditions would be like. For instance, loose snow with wet loose rock? or dry-ish rock with patches of Ice?, etc. etc. See: these are questions on the current conditions
I'm not sure why what I posted wasn't beta. It may have been somewhat general beta, but I had a good look at Capitol and Snowmass Tuesday, but I did not climb them so couldn't be more specific. Even in the town of Aspen, there is some snow (and there still is this morning on the webcam), so it's a good bet that conditions on the peaks are icy and hazardous. It's a good bet that there will be loose, unconsolidated snow on rocks (which as mentioned you can't self arrest on), ice where there has been any melting, and some bare rock. If you are looking for something more specific than that, it will probably be hard to find as there probably haven't been any 14ers.com members who have climbed the peaks in the last couple days. If there were any very recent climbs, hopefully someone will post, but if not, a general statement such as the above is probably the best beta to be hoped for (without climbing the peaks yourself and reporting back to the rest of us).

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:55 am
by I Man
Scott P wrote:
I was looking for some actual beta. Not a statement on the experience required to climb in mid-fall. Its been warm and dry for over a week; I was curious what the conditions would be like. For instance, loose snow with wet loose rock? or dry-ish rock with patches of Ice?, etc. etc. See: these are questions on the current conditions
I'm not sure why what I posted wasn't beta. It may have been somewhat general beta, but I had a good look at Capitol and Snowmass Tuesday, but I did not climb them so couldn't be more specific. Even in the town of Aspen, there is some snow (and there still is this morning on the webcam), so it's a good bet that conditions on the peaks are icy and hazardous. It's a good bet that there will be loose, unconsolidated snow on rocks (which as mentioned you can't self arrest on), ice where there has been any melting, and some bare rock. If you are looking for something more specific than that, it will probably be hard to find as there probably haven't been any 14ers.com members who have climbed the peaks in the last couple days. If there were any very recent climbs, hopefully someone will post, but if not, a general statement such as the above is probably the best beta to be hoped for (without climbing the peaks yourself and reporting back to the rest of us).
I have to agree with Scott here - he gave useful advice (as he always does).

I am glad you found my TR useful - I would expect the same conditions now as I found on Sunday. The Bells and Pyramid will be VERY serious climbs. Expect more class 3 and 4 climbing than usual, on slick powder coated rock and nothing frozen in place. I.e. expect the worst conditions of the year sans Avy danger.

Re: Maroon/Pyramid

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:05 pm
by Winter8000m
Yes there going to be snowy and wet. Most likely scary sugar snow. In other words, don't take offense to this, if you're asking this question if it's wet up there, you might want to rethink going up there. But I'm not going to tell anyone what to do. There is always going to be snow up high at this time of year. Good luck