| Peak: | Pyramid Peak |
| Route: | Northeast Ridge |
| Range: | Elk |
| Posted By: | Hobbes301 |
| Date of Info: | 6/15/2013 |
| Date Posted: | 6/16/2013 |
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My first post! I'll get around to writing a TR eventually... Trail is dry until the last few switchbacks before the amphitheater. Passed some switchbacks and headed straight up to the amphitheater which had a good amount of snow (photo 1). I put on my spikes about halfway through, but my 2 partners made it up easily without them. The snow was firm and there was no post-holing (even though we didn't leave the parking lot until 9:30am). The NE slope past the amphitheater took a little careful navigation since the entire standard trail was pretty much covered in snow. With crampons and axe, it'd be easier to climb straight up the 1000' gain. We didn't have those tools so we took our time finding the safest and easiest way up. Hardly any snow on the green rock, just a careful and technical climb. Very few snow patches as you reach the summit. A few places here and there we needed to traverse/kick step across snow patches to reach stable rock, but no tools were needed. I had never really glissaded before, and starting at the steep 1000' slope above the amphitheater was a terrifying first experience. But as we got further down the mountain and the slopes were less steep, you could actually see me smiling a bit. An axe is definitely the next item on my hiking wishlist. Summary: Crampons and an axe might have been useful for the climb just above the amphitheater, but not necessary. Axe would have been useful for glissading, but not necessary. Bring gaiters and gloves! The camera on my phone is pretty poor quality, but I'll take more pictures next time anyways! |
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