Went up Missouri Mountain yesterday via the Northwest Ridge standard route.
Missouri Gulch TH: great shape up to the ranch, decent washboard from ranch to TH.
TH to Trail Junction (w/ Elkhead Pass Trail): the gulch (photo #1) is dry, excellent trail
Trail Junction to Ridge:
-minimal snow coverage on trail below the handful of switchbacks (photo #2), easily avoided, no route-finding issues
-three key snowfields to contend with below the ridge. First (photo#3, path shown very approximate) no issues, not steep, used poles for stability, keep eyes up for large cairns. Second (photo #4) short, not steep, again, keep eyes up for large cairns, regain trail. Third (photo #5, doesn't really do justice. Photo #6, as seen from summit), just below the ridge, most challenging, steeper than the other fields, we slowed down, kick stepped, and used trekking poles to get across.
Ridge to Summit: mostly dry (photo #7), two areas with snow. First (not pictured) is on the crux (photos #15/16 of route description), good boot-pack, no issues. Second (photo #8), along ridge, great boot-pack.
Overall, I'd highly recommend poles and gaiters for this route. We brought micro-spikes and did not use them because the snow was too slushy. Experienced some postholing on the edges of snowfields (on both ascent and descent, summited around noon). I would not quite give a "summer conditions" rating, but it's getting really close. I've got more pictures of the couloirs, but have no idea how helpful they are. PM if you want to see them.
|
