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With the relatively mild conditions this winter, I was considering a winter hike to Antero. Since I absolutely hate hiking up roads, I've wanted to do an ascent from Raspberry Gulch (which also allows me to hit Point 11038 - completing the Quad!). I have plenty of cold weather/winter gear, but relatively little experience hiking in Alpine conditions in winter (I generally hike local summits <11,000 feet in winter). My primary concern is avalanche danger. A few questions:

1. Is the Raspberry Gulch trailhead generally accessible in winter? (Bonus points for anyone who's been up there recently with current conditions!)

2. Is there significant avalanche danger on the East ridge? Or significant concerns with cornices, etc.?

3. Anyone have recent conditions along this ridge (or maybe a pic of it)?

Thanks!

-Kent

Yikes might have been up there this weekend. Try sending him a PM.

http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 7&p=470761

I've hiked up in summer, but not in winter. Straightforward route, but there is a little steep section from the saddle that could be annoying with snow.

1) usually drivable to the split in winter (274 forks off 272)
2) doubt it
3) recent snow on 1/26, but will probably melt pretty quickly

Great info... Thanks! I figured the Raspberry Gulch approach followed a ridge most of the way so it would be easy to avoid Avalanche danger... and it looks like I won't be heading up there until Feb 9th... So I'll just have to monitor snowfall between now and then.

I am planning on being in that area either tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll let you know what the conditions are. That area is getting quite a bit of snow right now. I'll try to get some pics.

Dumb question, but is this the same route as Little Brown Creek?

edit: nevermind found the answer

TommyF wrote:I am planning on being in that area either tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll let you know what the conditions are. That area is getting quite a bit of snow right now. I'll try to get some pics.

Yep, I noticed on the CAIC web site that the avy danger went up to "considerable" just today. Still, I'm hoping it will be reasonably safe being on a ridge.

Lemmiwinks wrote:Dumb question, but is this the same route as Little Brown Creek?

edit: nevermind found the answer

Just in case others are wondering....

Both approach from the east, but Raspberry Gulch is a separate gully to the north of Little Browns Creek.

Yikes wrote:I've hiked up in summer, but not in winter. Straightforward route, but there is a little steep section from the saddle that could be annoying with snow.

1) usually drivable to the split in winter (274 forks off 272)
2) doubt it
3) recent snow on 1/26, but will probably melt pretty quickly

Having done this route in summer, I would agree with Yikes. Anything below treeline would be the worst in snow - the bedding on the hill is inches and inches of deep pine needle rot, which is slick enough in summer.

Raspberry Gulch Trip Report

wildlobo71 wrote:Having done this route in summer, I would agree with Yikes. Anything below treeline would be the worst in snow - the bedding on the hill is inches and inches of deep pine needle rot, which is slick enough in summer.

If that's the case, I think I'd rather do it in snow! LOL I've got a little ascent bar on my Snowshoes... I usually find it's almost easier going uphill in snow on those than on solid ground (depending on the consistency of the snow).

Great trip report by the way! I actually came across it last summer as I was looking at options for Antero. My climbing partner, however, got himself a new Rubicon so we drove it to 13,800'... Which felt way too much like cheating and is why I'm looking to redeem myself this winter!

KentonB wrote:

wildlobo71 wrote:Having done this route in summer, I would agree with Yikes. Anything below treeline would be the worst in snow - the bedding on the hill is inches and inches of deep pine needle rot, which is slick enough in summer.

If that's the case, I think I'd rather do it in snow! LOL I've got a little ascent bar on my Snowshoes... I usually find it's almost easier going uphill in snow on those than on solid ground (depending on the consistency of the snow).

Great trip report by the way! I actually came across it last summer as I was looking at options for Antero. My climbing partner, however, got himself a new Rubicon so we drove it to 13,800'... Which felt way too much like cheating and is why I'm looking to redeem myself this winter!

I, myself, have a Rubicon... and it knows to stay far away from 13,800' when I want to climb mountains...

It's damn fun to have one at all other times, though...

Snowshoed up Raspberry Gulch today. Got a late start so I only went to the end of the road. Parked at the winter closure at the intersection of 272/274. The flats leading up to the road heading up the gulch ranged from bare ground to 2 to 3 feet deep. Hard crust on top, powder/soft snow underneath. The road up the gulch had a fair amount of snow, some areas with drifts 3 feet plus deep. The south slope below the mine to the north of the gulch was pretty much dry. Even with the amount of snow that fell this past weekend, Antero and even Princeton still had a lot of bare spots visible with most of the snow in couloirs and troughs. I didn't get an pics as I forgot my camera in the Jeep.