Peak Condition Update | Mt. Princeton

Peak:	Mt. Princeton
Route:	East Slopes
Range:	Sawatch
Posted By:	thurs
Date of Info:	6/3/2015
Date Posted:	6/3/2015

Details
Summary: Drive up to radio tower, dry road almost all the way to the Princeton trail, then deep wet snow immediately thereafter all the way to the summit. Trail Info: Doesn't look like anyone has been up in awhile. Old ski tracks all covered in avy debris. Remains of a trench going up "Tigger Peak." We put a trench up to Tigger if you are attempting Princeton. We parked at the radio tower (though you could go a little further to the campsites), but immediately after the campsites 3/4ths of road is covered in deep snow. It was generally dry up to the last switchback before the standard summer trail leaves the road, but we departed the road at the switchback following boot and skin tracks. We followed the ridge up to where it joins the standard trail so we could avoid crossing an avalanche gulley for a second time. From there we put on snowshoes and put a trench directly up the ridge to "Tigger," removing snowshoes at about ~13,000' for a rocky section (and then bootpack to the summit). Snow Conditions: Sketchy snow conditions, I don't know if I would traverse across "Tigger Peak" like the standard trail has, almost everything on Princeton has run except that face so take that as you will. Avalanches in just about every gulley, chute, and bowl above 11,500 feet, including debris burying several different sets of ski tracks coming off Tigger and Princeton (as always, don't be fooled). I don't think anything below 13,000 feet has gotten a serious freeze in a couple days, but there were parts above 13,000 feet that were a lot more supportive. However, with 50 degree temperatures at the summit of Tigger.... Anything you would want to ski is in right now, but either do it very early in the morning or wait for a more stable date in the future. Snowshoes were somewhat useful for about 1,000 vertical feet (would have rather had skis) but debatedly so. Fun sections of post hole hell no matter the time of day. We didn't push our luck continuing on to Princeton although the ridge seemed safe enough. Maybe if it was four hours earlier in the day. Seemed quite doable.

Details

Summary: Drive up to radio tower, dry road almost all the way to the Princeton trail, then deep wet snow immediately thereafter all the way to the summit.

Trail Info: Doesn't look like anyone has been up in awhile. Old ski tracks all covered in avy debris. Remains of a trench going up "Tigger Peak." We put a trench up to Tigger if you are attempting Princeton. We parked at the radio tower (though you could go a little further to the campsites), but immediately after the campsites 3/4ths of road is covered in deep snow. It was generally dry up to the last switchback before the standard summer trail leaves the road, but we departed the road at the switchback following boot and skin tracks. We followed the ridge up to where it joins the standard trail so we could avoid crossing an avalanche gulley for a second time. From there we put on snowshoes and put a trench directly up the ridge to "Tigger," removing snowshoes at about ~13,000' for a rocky section (and then bootpack to the summit).

Snow Conditions:
Sketchy snow conditions, I don't know if I would traverse across "Tigger Peak" like the standard trail has, almost everything on Princeton has run except that face so take that as you will. Avalanches in just about every gulley, chute, and bowl above 11,500 feet, including debris burying several different sets of ski tracks coming off Tigger and Princeton (as always, don't be fooled).

I don't think anything below 13,000 feet has gotten a serious freeze in a couple days, but there were parts above 13,000 feet that were a lot more supportive. However, with 50 degree temperatures at the summit of Tigger....

Anything you would want to ski is in right now, but either do it very early in the morning or wait for a more stable date in the future. Snowshoes were somewhat useful for about 1,000 vertical feet (would have rather had skis) but debatedly so. Fun sections of post hole hell no matter the time of day.

We didn't push our luck continuing on to Princeton although the ridge seemed safe enough. Maybe if it was four hours earlier in the day. Seemed quite doable.

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