Grays Peak

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 1/3/2021, By: FredX
Info: Hit Grays today from the winter TH at the I-70 Bakerville exit. Carried snowshoes, but never put them on. The only significant postholing was a wide detour around the bottom of the Kelso avy path; otherwise, just microspikes worked fine. Quite cold, and absurdly windy -- it's a winter 14er! Snowfield between Grays & Torreys is not filled in yet, which offers a convenient avy-safe option to bag both peaks, if only today didn't have wind that body-slammed us regularly. :-) 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 12/31/2020, By: SarahT
Info: Don't be tempted to follow the summer trail close to Kelso Mtn and known avalanche path. Veer left and give it a wide berth. Snowshoes needed from here to a few hundred feet below the summit. Trail was all blown in up high and, no hint of a track. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 12/26/2020, By: Clint the climber
Info: The road is completely covered in snow with the majority of tire tracks ending at the Junction about a mile up from I70. Lots of evidence of people getting stuck/trying to turn around, just park at the bottom. From the upper trailhead, the summer trail is well packed and does not require floatation. With the recent avalanche conditions, I trenched something close to the winter variation as the SE slopes off Kelso looked rather loaded. The trench takes off left, right around the first major curve in the summer trail, just over a half-mile from the summer trailhead. Snowshoes are a must for the winter variation. The rest of the mountain is hardpack and windblown. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 12/21/2020, By: J-Vance
Info: Steven's Gulch road is packed snow. I walked from the overflow lot off I-70 because of the previous peak condition posting. I felt a Jeep with mud tires or chains could have made it the entire way first thing in the morning before anything thawed, but would want traction mats or a winch just in case. By the afternoon the road was melted enough to be impassable and there were a few new tracks of cars that got stuck and had to back down the road. I only made it the 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the information sign before turning around for wind and low visibility. In that distance I was glad to have snow shoes, especially for sections where drifts had formed. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 12/11/2020, By: daniwaag
Info: Stevens Gulch Road is heavily snow packed. I attempted to take it to the Grays trailhead. I got stuck in the snow about a 20 minute walk from the trailhead. It took me 30 mins to get unstuck. I drove back down to the overflow lot and hiked up Stevens Gulch Road. This trek added 3 miles in each direction. Although the road was open, it did appear a lot of people struggled, even with a 4x4 (lots of stuck vehicle marks in the snow. A Toyota Tacoma was stuck near the beginning of the road upon my return. The hike itself was absolutely beautiful and amazing! I wore crampons for the entire trip. I did have a few spots with some post-holing and sliding, but definitely nothing to merit lugging my snowshoes along. I didn't see a soul for the entire trip, including not seeing any vehicles, until I encountered the stuck truck when I was almost back to my vehicle. The weather was amazing. Total distance: 13.36 miles duration: 8 hours 36 minutes 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 11/19/2020, By: tjagger
Info: Trail to summit is mostly broken out. Traction recommended. I used snow shoes from the bridge at the summer trailhead to about 11,700'. Snowshoes were not needed on the way down. I chose to take the southern ridge option instead of the main trail from 13,450' to summit since it had less snow on it and was in the sun. It was warm with summit temperatures about 25 F, and 20 mph winds. Because of the soft snow it took about 2 hours just to get from the I-70 parking lot to the summer trailhead. Form there it was another 1:40 to the sign and 2:20 to the summit. Start 7:40pm Summit 1:40 pm at car 5:10pm. The sun "sets" about 2:00 pm on the North Slopes, so an early start is recommended this time of year. I saw a group of 4 on snow shoes and one other wearing light foot ware near the summit. I used Sorrel boots and micro spikes. I was surprised to see the lack of snow above treeline. The pictures show the almost clear route to Torrey's, the shadows at 2:45pm looking at the Grays Torrey's saddle. Hope for more snow. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/16/2020, By: NathanLizard
Info: Very cold and windy day today. I was just about blown over in the saddle this morning. The trail itself has some icy spots but I didn't need traction anywhere. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/14/2020, By: 14er101
Info: Did Torreys before Grays. The trail was in summer conditions, with minimum snow on the entire route, the only section of snow was in the shade by the ridge. The weather was great, never had ANY wind for the whole day. Clear skies, and no smoke as well. Arrived at the trailhead at about 700AM and parked in one of the last 10 or so spots in the upper parking lot. We were on top of Torreys by 9 AM, and Grays by 10 AM. Walked by maybe 15 or 20 people all day. Great day. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/8/2020, By: supranihilest
Info: Summer conditions. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/6/2020, By: Lets Climb
Info: Started about 545, plenty of traffic (about 30 cars already, but a Sat.). Nice day, a bit chilly, thermals, beanie and gloves needed. Pretty windy as trail got steep (1.5 miles in). Still a great day to hike before snow hits. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/2/2020, By: nmnism
Info: Started the hike at 5:50am and saw a few cars in the lot. Beautiful, clear day with temperatures around freezing, especially a couple of miles into the hike. Both the Grays and Torreys peaks, as well as the saddle were VERY windy and cold. Would highly recommend wearing a few layers and winter gloves. There was some snow by the trails, but nothing that hindered the climb up. Some smoke in the distance, but other than that a bright, clear day throughout! 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/2/2020, By: lauradaughtry
Info: Took the standard Grays and Torreys loop, started at 5:15am on 10/01 (a Thursday). There was very, very little human traffic (we saw less than 20 other people the whole day). Ended up being a completely beautiful day with hardly a cloud in the sky. Visibility was great from both peaks, despite some nearby wildfire smoke. Absolutely no micro-spikes or any snow gear needed, though clothing layers for below freezing temperatures were needed. It was RIDICULOUSLY windy at the saddle and on the summit of Grays. (Not much wind at all on the summit of Torreys.) Recommend bundling way up, lots of layers, face protection from the wind, and thick gloves (hand warmers were a lifesaver during the windier gusts). 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/29/2020, By: jemthebrewer
Info: Headed up Grays and Torreys via the standard route today. Normal road approach disclaimer applies...4WD vehicle with tall clearance recommended but I did see a Toyota Camry at the trailhead(!). Mostly dry and a great day to be in the mountains. Some wind (20-30 mph) on Grays, over on Torreys, much calmer. Warmer day today than on 9/28. Good group of people with a lot of great energy up there today...I saw 6 people on Grays, 6 on Torreys and saw about another 20-30 people all day. Still some great days to be had up there before the next snowfall! 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/29/2020, By: flyefisher
Info: All clear, very little snow. Temp leaving the car at 7:30 was around 19 and 46 upon return at 2pm. Down jacket, long underwear and gloves were needed for most of the hike. Wind was sometimes harsh but at other times nonexistent. Still very hikeable but dress for winter temps. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/27/2020, By: alex_herbert
Info: Road to TH was totally clear, but pretty bumpy as usual. The route had a bit of snow and ice along it, but no traction or poles were needed as the Trail itself was pretty clear. Fairly windy throughout the morning climb (estimated 20-30 mph average wind speed with gusts 40-50 mph) with highs in the 40's.