Snowshoes needed for Mt. Elbert?

[redawg98]

Hi All,

Would micro spikes suffice for Mt. Elbert tomorrow? Not sure how much snow is up there right now so wondering if I should bring snowshoes. Thanks for any insight!

[dustj]

I skied it on Monday from summit to treeline. Snow from 13,000' up was about knee deep but a lot had melted during the day below treeline. With as quick as it was melting on Monday and with the warm weather we've had here in Breck this week, my assumption is that snowshoes are not needed at this point.

[redawg98]

Thanks! That must've been a fun ride down from the summit.

[dustj]

There are much worse ways to make your way down a mountain. It helps that the conditions were a lot better than expected, especially for mid October. I only nicked my skis on 3 rocks as opposed to the 200 I anticipated

[Daniel Joder]

I just now posted a conditions report for Elbert that might help you out. There were very few people up there today (4 that I knew of), but the one couple did have YakTrax, judging from tracks. My winter boots were fine (but too warm) and I never put on my MicroSpikes I lugged all the way up and down. Beautiful day--virtually no wind!

[redawg98]

Thanks, Daniel. We made it up yesterday and it was a beautiful day! No micro spikes were needed although they may have been helpful in a couple areas that were still covered in snow.

[Trotter]

went yesterday, and no snowshoes needed. snow is only a few inches deep, and for the most part, hard crusted over.