Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
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Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Anybody know if the snow has melted out of the Ice Lake basin up to the ridgeline between Fuller and Vermillion Peaks?
- highpilgrim
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Not as of last week. I'll try to find a pic from then...
Last edited by highpilgrim on Thu Aug 07, 2014 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Good info. Can you give any more detail? Is Fuller Peak accessible? Ice axe required?
- Double Oh Seven
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
I was up there last tuesday 9 days ago and almost all snow was gone or appeared like it could be bypassed i didnt climb vermillion and there was some snow right at the ridgeline so i cant gurantee you can get passed it. I will post a picture when i get home tonight
- highpilgrim
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
The snow can be bypassed.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Wow, yeah. The snow is pretty clear all the way till just right at the ridgeline in that very steep grade where you'd come up against those towers and then you'd like to have an ice axe for about 50 feet. Amazing photo, High Pilgrim!
Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Is that Pilot Knob or Golden Horn on the far right? And did you take the picture from V2 ?highpilgrim wrote:Not as of last week. I'll try to find a pic from then...
Edit: And +1 on what ABQ wrote... GREAT picture!
I take the mountain climber's approach to housekeeping - don't look down
- SnowAlien
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
yep, I was sure glad to have an ax with me because I slipped right in that spot (i just had microspikes and snow balled under). It is a surprisingly steep section and I thought ice ax there was mandatory. I don't think snow is completely bypassable one way or another even now (unless you are coming from lake Hope side). There is another tricky section just before the summit that might require an ax or even an ice tool if the snow is too icy. Here is the TR that describes the conditions (with one of the party turning around at that spot):ABQbaldy wrote:Wow, yeah. The snow is pretty clear all the way till just right at the ridgeline in that very steep grade where you'd come up against those towers and then you'd like to have an ice axe for about 50 feet.
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=15244" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- highpilgrim
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Yep, Jay; the pic was taken from near the summit of V2 and that is Golden Horn on the far right. Pilot Knob is out of view...Jay521 wrote:Is that Pilot Knob or Golden Horn on the far right? And did you take the picture from V2 ?
Thanks for you and ABQ liking the pic. I'm going to do a TR from the basin to show some of the other shots I got up there, last fall and this summer.
Here's a better wide view from near the same area...
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
- 12ersRule
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
I summitted Vermillion a week or so after Natalie and the snow had melted quite a bit (7/26 I think?).
I brought microspikes and an axe but never really felt the need to use it. That top area is mostly loose dirt and small rocks. There's a good use trail that goes to the top from Fuller lake, but a good deal was still covered in snow. I ended up kicking steps and going straight up the snowfield.
Near the top was a cornice that I had to pull myself over. Basically just did a pullup over it, was about 5-6 feet high.
Note, snowfield a bit steeper than it appears in this pic.
I brought microspikes and an axe but never really felt the need to use it. That top area is mostly loose dirt and small rocks. There's a good use trail that goes to the top from Fuller lake, but a good deal was still covered in snow. I ended up kicking steps and going straight up the snowfield.
Near the top was a cornice that I had to pull myself over. Basically just did a pullup over it, was about 5-6 feet high.
Note, snowfield a bit steeper than it appears in this pic.
- Jon Frohlich
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Two of us climbing it on Saturday. Depends on when you need the info but I can post some pics after.ABQbaldy wrote:Anybody know if the snow has melted out of the Ice Lake basin up to the ridgeline between Fuller and Vermillion Peaks?
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Re: Vermillion Peak/Ice Lake snowmelt
Expect to be climbing it tomorrow a.m..