Mt. Powell

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 9/29/2024, By: wintersage
Info: Hiked in via the Piney Lake approach to Kneeknocker Pass. I saw that the dirt on the east side of Kneeknocker was incredibly loose so I took the ridge across from Peak C (on the left hand side looking east). There were some cairns along the west side of the south ridge which we followed all the way to the first tower, about 0.5mi from the summit. From there we went to the east side of the ridge and gained the summit. The gulley that people usually ascend Powell from was what we chose for our descent. Entire route was dry, as if the snow storm never happened. 

Route: From piney
Posted On: 9/25/2024, By: Eaglejoe
Info: No snow, rock/dirt is VERY loose on East side of Kneeknocker pass. Ascend lighter colored rock field on south face of Powell for best stability 

Route: Kneeknocker Pass
Posted On: 7/29/2024, By: cloudkicker
Info: I did not climb Powell but thought I would share this pic of the mountain from Peak C yesterday. I believe it shows the entire route from the backside of Kneeknocker Pass. Looks like the snowfield is still there but it seems to be thinning out, and someone put a booter in. 

Route: Kneeknocker Saddle
Posted On: 7/1/2024, By: deepdarkseas
Info: Impassable due to huge steep snowfield on east side of Kneeknocker. Wait till August or September. See https://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=792902#p792902 

Route: Kneeknocker Pass
Posted On: 9/1/2023, By: desertdog
Info: No Snow to speak of. There are three gullies/slopes coming off Kneeknocker. The middle has snow. The one on the left has some snow that can be avoided. I came uo this one. The one on the right has no snow. Big giant carin at the turn for the upper basin. Easy to follow trail. Its a long way time wise from the start of Kneeknocker to the summit. About half way up the gully to the summit I got tired of the loose kitty litter and climbed the boulders to the right (class 3) It probably took me longer going this way, but I couldn't take it anymore. 

Route: Powell via Kneekocker Pass
Posted On: 8/21/2023, By: VanderMan
Info: Mt Powell is clear of snow for peak climbing! While still plenty of snow, there is a clear path down the steep descent east of Kneekocker Pass with only a 10 ft section still with snow. I crossed two snowfields, both mostly flat, one at the base of the gully between Kneeknocker and the final ascent to Powell, and one at a flat area 100 yds east of the peak. Both can be crossed without microspikes or avoided with short detours. 

Route: Piney Lake, Kneeknocker Pass
Posted On: 8/5/2023, By: cougar
Info: Still steep snow on east side of Kneeknocker Pass. Need axe and crampons for about 150ft, some mixed melted out sections, possible to avoid some snow with some scrambling. Crampons didn't bite well with the semi-slushy surface. Or stick to the ridge, I saw a cairn about 2/3 up Kneeknocker. Snow not an issue on rest of route, there is a snowfield near the top but can be crossed at a low angle. Trail is overgrown in many areas but still easy to follow.I had 11.75 miles and 5k gain RT. 

Route: Kneeknocker pass
Posted On: 7/9/2023, By: barnsy12
Info: Dry until Kneeknocker pass. Some snow coming up the pass. Lots of snow still from the pass to the summit, crampons ice axe required. I got to the party late and snow was soft so didnt summit, but ran into someone with an early start who did. Great route. 

Route: From Piney Lake
Posted On: 6/26/2023, By: LucasR
Info: From Piney Lake it is majority snow free / minor snow in shade. Once you get into the basin area to go up Kneeknocker pass, it is still full of snow. I did not attempt to go up the pass to Mt Powell. 

Route: Lost Lake TH/Kneeknocker Pass
Posted On: 10/23/2022, By: kwhit24
Info: This one didn't start as we had planned and note to self don't do squats a day beforehand. I had read that the road to Piney River Ranch was closed a few weeks back but it said it was supposed to open 10/14. Unfortunately it was closed at the intersection of FR 700 (Piney Lake Road) and FR 786 which is about 8 miles from the Piney River Ranch. We checked our Gaia and saw another TH (Lost Lake) with a trail that looked like it went to the Ranch. So we drove 4.3 miles on mostly 4WD road like 35 min away. From the TH it was .75 miles to Lost Lake which looked pretty awesome. Shortly after the lake we decided to bushwhack down the slope to cut out some milage. This cut out 3 miles (4 miles following trail or 1 mile down slope). Once we reached the "river" we found a spot to cross which there were many since the water was low. Once on trail it was easy going trail until the turnoff for Mt. Powell (marked by cairns). From here it gets steeper especially the push up to the pass and the push to the summit. Short summit since winds were howling pretty good. Took the main trail (1885) back to the ranch and then crossed the river below Piney Lake to join up with the Lost Lake to Piney trail (1894). The trail back to the car had quite a few downed trees (18.28 mi; 6,080' gain; 10:26:38 total time) Start at TH 7:50am; Mount Powell 1:10pm; Back to TH 6:15pm 

Route: From Piney River Ranch / South Slope
Posted On: 9/21/2022, By: sue personett
Info: Early Autumn conditions, leaves beginning to turn, very light dusting of snow, no snow on northeast side of Kneeknocker Pass. 

Route: Piney Lake to Kneeknocker Pass
Posted On: 8/31/2022, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. No snow or ice. Road to Piney Lake is in great shape and passable for any vehicle. 

Route: Via Piney River Ranch
Posted On: 10/23/2021, By: kempenjn
Info: Trail to Kneeknocker mostly snow free, but wet / muddy. East side of Kneeknocker has waist deep snow. Ankle deep to shin deep snow on south face of Powell. Maybe an inch overnight but supposed to be 6 inches on Tuesday. Get it while it's good. 

Route: from kneeknocker pass
Posted On: 9/6/2021, By: Laxer04
Info: This is definitely one of the harder class 2 13ers. We came in from Piney Lake and camped in the basin below Kneeknocker pass. The gulley is full of loose rocks and scree. Bring a helmet. The "side sloping" across the steep grassy slopes was both arduous and dangerous. The summit provides fantastic views of Bubble Lakes and the Gore Range. 

Route: via Piney Lake
Posted On: 8/29/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: Very crowded on the route today - I was very happy to have a helmet. The route is full of steep gullies filled with loose rocks that will sail down the slopes in an instant. I saw a rating of Class 2+ on this peak, but I was very happy to have my helmet. The steep climbing is also long and sustained, both above and below KneeKnocker Pass. Definitely one of the harder & more dangerous summits I've done in recent memory - even Thunder Pyramid last week where I was basically alone didn't have me as nervous as this, maybe because on Powell, I was in the shooting range below several climbers on loose rock and steep grass/talus at different points today. Recommend a helmet, even for this standard route.