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 Peak:  Castle Peak
 Route:  Northeast Ridge
 Range:  Elk
 Posted By:  Grant
 Date of Info:  6/29/2014
 Date Posted:  6/30/2014
Details

Snow just before the summit was probably the most challenging part of the day, but is melting out fast and may be gone by next weekend. The glissade at the saddle is very bumpy and I highly recommend an ice ax until it smoothes out better. Great glissade and there is snow all the way up to the saddle. Lower creek crossing is passable by normal 4x4 vehicles, but is still running fast. Can drive just above timberline before snow.


Comments or Questions
Roald
User
Microspikes needed?
7/1/2014 12:20am
Heading up Castle/Conundrum 7/4, so just wondering.


climber with a k
User
Castle Conundrum
7/1/2014 11:14pm
Was up there Sunday. Crampons were not essential but I would recommend them as they'd save a lot of energy. Conditions were pretty soft on the snow below the saddle, possibly too soft for the length of micro spikes to do much. But its also possible that if we were there before noon we'd have simply been able to kick steps.
Good luck, enjoy!


Grant
User
Was up there Sunday as well
7/1/2014 11:40pm
Were you the one that found the ice axe. Great day, great weather...


climber with a k
User
was up there sunday
7/2/2014 12:30am
Grant, I found, among other things, a Grivel Piolet and found it's owner, a friendly 12 year old girl on the way down. Was that your group?


Grant
User
Yes it was
7/2/2014 3:45pm
Yes it was, my daughter was the 12 yr old that dropped her axe on the glissade. Thanks again.


climber with a k
User
Sunday axe
7/3/2014 4:09am
You are welcome. Very cool that your 12 year old trooped through such a long day and was cheery and polite to strangers afterwards. Impressive.
I also managed to find the owner of the other axe I found Sunday before finding your daughters through this site and it is now back in his hands.
Happy adventuring.



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