Yale Northeast Ridge

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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falcon568
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Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by falcon568 »

Looking through pictures of Mt Yale, pretty much anything taken from Horn Fork Basin or Mt Columbia shows the prominent Northeast Ridge. It looks like a beautiful line, especially as a winter/spring climb, but there's absolutely nothing out there I can find on this route. Am I missing something, why is there not more info on this route?
"Of course, inside each one of us is the ambition to reach the summit, to realize that you are stronger than obstacles, that it is within your power to do something uncommon and indeed impossible for most people. But one must be prepared to face those obstacles..."-Ed Viesturs

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GeezerClimber
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by GeezerClimber »

I live near Mt Yale and eye balled the ridge countless times. I've put it on my "would like to try someday" list. I think the ticket would be to begin at the Silver Creek TH on 365 and follow the CT until it flattens out at about 11K in a big meadow with abandoned beaver ponds. There is a big view of Yale from there. It looks like a simple matter to climb to the ridge through open forest from there and follow the ridge. There aren't any obvious obstacles though the last pitch looks steep and is probably crumbly. With a car shuttle, one could descend the standard or west ridge route for a nice tour.

Dave
ajd2352
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by ajd2352 »

what about something like this (Yellow route)?
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by GeezerClimber »

That is more or less the route but I would stay on the CT until the trees thin out and then go up to the ridge to avoid unnecessary bushwhacking.

DAve
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by ajd2352 »

There's "less" avalanche danger if you follow the ridge the whole way though.
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by GeezerClimber »

ajd2352 wrote:There's "less" avalanche danger if you follow the ridge the whole way though.
The terrain is not very steep.
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by ajd2352 »

GeezerClimber wrote:
ajd2352 wrote:There's "less" avalanche danger if you follow the ridge the whole way though.
The terrain is not very steep.
On average I'd say that's true but there are pockets in that bowl that are above the 30 degree magic marker that you would have to hike below to get up to the ridge.

Slightly related question: CAIC shows heightened or a higher probably of avalanche conditions for the sawatch to be N to E to SE slopes; how much should this be taken into consideration if you are traveling on a ridge - say the east ridge of Yale? Also, when they give weather directions, like WSW, that's the direction the wind is going to and not from correct?
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Re: Yale Northeast Ridge

Post by GeezerClimber »

ajd2352 wrote:
GeezerClimber wrote:
ajd2352 wrote:There's "less" avalanche danger if you follow the ridge the whole way though.
The terrain is not very steep.
On average I'd say that's true but there are pockets in that bowl that are above the 30 degree magic marker that you would have to hike below to get up to the ridge.

Slightly related question: CAIC shows heightened or a higher probably of avalanche conditions for the sawatch to be N to E to SE slopes; how much should this be taken into consideration if you are traveling on a ridge - say the east ridge of Yale? Also, when they give weather directions, like WSW, that's the direction the wind is going to and not from correct?
I don't think there is any avy danger anywhere on the CT. There aren't any avalanche chutes along the way. The bottom part of the ridge is very steep and likely rocky. Could be a royal pain. The ridge can be reached higher up without climbing anything very steep. The ridge could be corniced above timber. North winds are coming FROM the north, etc.

Dave
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