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McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:22 am
by d_baker
I don't see an option in the Peak Conditions Report section for 12ers, so I'll post here so maybe some will find it useful.
From Ute Creek TH, located near Tarryall off of County Hwy 77:
McCurdy Mtn (12,168')
~15 miles RT
~5600' elevation gain
Gear:
pack,
no need for snowshoes or microspikes
Very little snow down low. From the intersection of Ute/Brookside the snow got a little deeper (boot top deep), and after crossing Bison Shoulder en route to McCurdy we encountered slightly deeper snow but all was manageable without snowshoes.
- nearTreeline.JPG (192.4 KiB) Viewed 837 times
- ascendingToBisonShoulder.JPG (207.34 KiB) Viewed 837 times
- BisonShoulderViewto McCurdy.JPG (191.5 KiB) Viewed 837 times
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:23 am
by d_baker
One more picture & map:
- summitViewfromMcCurdy.JPG (199.31 KiB) Viewed 836 times
- map.JPG (210.25 KiB) Viewed 832 times
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:07 am
by Brian Thomas
d_baker wrote:I don't see an option in the Peak Conditions Report section for 12ers, so I'll post here so maybe some will find it useful.
Very useful! Planning to go up Bison this Saturday, so thanks for posting
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:39 pm
by d_baker
Brian Thomas wrote:d_baker wrote:I don't see an option in the Peak Conditions Report section for 12ers, so I'll post here so maybe some will find it useful.
Very useful! Planning to go up Bison this Saturday, so thanks for posting
BThom, please see
this for your prize.
(
I lost my sunglasses at the TH)
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:24 am
by d_baker
Brian, here's a picture of Bison from the Shoulder:
- Bison.JPG (201.42 KiB) Viewed 720 times
It might be snowier now with last night's snow.
We had fresh snow on the morning of our hike, but it had melted off down low by the time we descended. With the forecast for the remainder of the week, I don't think anything new will stick around, or at least at the lower elevations of the hike. Have a good time!
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:35 pm
by Brian Thomas
Our group went up Bison Peak today, even less snow than in the pics Darin posted. The last mile or so before treeline had up to 18 inches in some spots, but snowshoes or microspikes were not needed. And yes, I looked for your sunglasses in the trailhead parking lot but they were not to be found...
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:28 am
by d_baker
Brian Thomas wrote:Our group went up Bison Peak today, even less snow than in the pics Darin posted. The last mile or so before treeline had up to 18 inches in some spots, but snowshoes or microspikes were not needed.
The Tarryall area/lower LCW must have been missed from the storm earlier in the week. How many times up Bison does that make for you, Brian? Did you bring some never-evers up there?
Brian Thomas wrote: I looked for your sunglasses in the trailhead parking lot but they were not to be found...
....and I thank you, but I have moved on already anyway. I'm sporting a new pair of Smiths! (Note to self: do not tuck sunglasses into sternum strap or else accept the risk of them falling off when I take the pack off.)
Re: McCurdy/Ute trail conditions
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:19 pm
by climbing_rob
Brian Thomas wrote:Our group went up Bison Peak today, even less snow than in the pics Darin posted. The last mile or so before treeline had up to 18 inches in some spots, but snowshoes or microspikes were not needed. And yes, I looked for your sunglasses in the trailhead parking lot but they were not to be found...
Nice meeting you up there Saturday, Brian and party. We sure were glad to poach your trench! Personally, I would have hated to create that w/o snowshoes! Sharon and I were planning on including McCurdy on Sunday (we camped at 11,900 on Bison), but the snow in the saddle over to McCurdy was too deep for our taste w/o snowshoes, and we had to be back in Denver fairly early Sunday
I never tire of climbing Bison! Yousa, what a gorgeous place up there.