Gore conditions?

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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JeffR
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Gore conditions?

Post by JeffR »

Thinking about Valhalla/Snow soon. Anyone been up there or anywhere nearby lately? Thanks.
To recognize the beauty in sadness, without playing host to the pain...
- Under the Sun, "Reflections"
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Aug_Dog
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by Aug_Dog »

I'd also love some beta
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jeremy27
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by jeremy27 »

I climbed Red Peak on Saturday. Here is my best guess: We hit snow around treeline and did a little postholing but it firmed up nicely overnight. I expect less snow on that side of the range except where there is dense forest cover. Most ridges and slopes above treeline looked generally snow-free. I've never climbed Snow or Vahalla but I'd take gaiters for sure and an axe in case you need to cross a snowfield - there were plenty around. I probably have pics of the east-side of Snow/Vahalla if you think that will help. PM me if you are interested.
PaliKona
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by PaliKona »

any pics from Red Peak looking north?
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by jeremy27 »

PaliKona wrote:any pics from Red Peak looking north?
Highly likely. I take a ton of pics. I'll look tonight.
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Aug_Dog
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by Aug_Dog »

If you could post some pics that would be GREAT!
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ATOMEMT
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by ATOMEMT »

Taken yesterday 6.24
Sorry for the poor res
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GORE RANGE 7.3.jpg
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boudreaux
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by boudreaux »

Nice picture, that was my favorite view when I lived in Vail in the early 90's

I think Kevin Baker has a TR in here somewhere on these two peaks?
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Steve Gio
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by Steve Gio »

So thinking about backpacking the Gore range trail from Copper to Wildernest. Going over Uneva Pass and Ecless Pass. Doable for the 5 July weekend or postholing hell?
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by ekviatnie »

I live in Vail. The snow has receded significantly in the Gore this week- it was 90 in Vail on Thursday and Friday- YUCK! There is a whee bit of snow still hidden at 11000+ beneath shaded trees, in some of the above tree-line basins, and in a few colouirs. Anything exposed to the sun is dry. As for Snow Peak and Valhalla, it will be dry on the Deluge Lake trail to Deluge Lake. Around Deluge Lake there will be some snow-filled basins, but you can cross these easily without any flotation or traction. Once climbing above the lower basin, you will find spots of snow in a colouir or underneath a rock, but nothing that will necessitate an ax or crampons.

As for Red Peak, I climbed Rain Peak three weeks ago from the Mesa Cortina -> Gore Range Trail -> Salmon Lake trail. Red Peak had snow in colouirs, but the summit ridge looked mostly clear. For sure there were some cornices, but the ridge is wide enough that they could be avoided. Again, this was three weeks ago and it has been BLOODY hot so there will be even less snow now.

Your major problem in the Gore will be thunderstorms. Our monsoon season appears to have started in that the past few days have had afternoon thunderstorms and they are predicted to continue this week.
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JeffR
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by JeffR »

Thanks for the info, ekviatnie.
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Re: Gore conditions?

Post by ekviatnie »

I hiked-up Bald Mountain yesterday and assessed Valhalla and Snow Peaks for you. Both are 99pc free of snow. The basin between Snow and Valhalla is now entirely melted. I tried taking pictures, but with the smoke from the south, pollen from the pine trees, and the poor lighting- my pictures did not turn out.

Again, our thunderstorms are starting about 1300. It got cloudy yesterday at 1130 and started raining about 1300.
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