Little Bear, April-May
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Good luck. Photos of upper Ellingwood and Blanca (including s face) from LB summit would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Are you climbing it Saturday from a high camp or Sunday?KyleS wrote:I slept in and my skiing buddies left without me, so I took a trip over to the Blanca massif today for a little recon. The Zapata Falls parking lot (9,000ft) had about and inch when I arrived at 1pm and it had melted to spotty 1/2 inch by the time I left around 3pm. I hiked up to about 10,000ft and there was generally 2 inches of new snow with spots up to 4 inches - far less than what NWS was predicting. Furthermore, temps were much warmer than the predicted high and things seemed to be settling quickly. With this in mind, we're going ahead with our planned attempt on Little Bear this weekend. Since we're local, we won't mind turning back if we don't like what we find above treeline.
If you (or anyone else for that matter) are climbing solo, we'd be happy to team up! I think that 3 is a much safer number than 2 or 1.
"When I go out, I become more alive. I just love skiing. The gravitational pull. When you ski steep terrain... you can almost get a feeling of flying." -Doug Coombs
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
A buddy and I are planning on climbing Little Bear this weekend as well. It sounds like there will be at least a few more people up there. We'll be hiking up to the lake on Saturday and climbing Sunday morning. More than willing to join up with any other parties. We're coming down from Leadville on Saturday if anyone wants to carpool.
Re: Little Bear, April-May
Hike in and camp on Saturday, then summit and hike out on Sunday.BillMiddlebrook wrote:Are you climbing it Saturday from a high camp or Sunday?
I'll see what I can get with my point and shoot.lodgling wrote:Photos of upper Ellingwood and Blanca (including s face) from LB summit would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Lodgling, I would be happy to email you the pictures I have of Ellingwood from LB from 04-15. I just still can't figure out how to include them in a reply...
Mareshah
Mareshah
Re: Little Bear, April-May
As ETA mentioned, I have decided not to attempt Little Bear this weekend. With the storm that came through on Wednesday and temperatures remaining below freezing, this weekend will resemble a winter climb instead of the spring couloir climb I was hoping for. I think whenever we get 2-3 days of sunny 40 degree weather, the snowpack will settle down and conditions will be ideal but until then, I don't feel comfortable with the conditions.
For those of you heading out this weekend, please be safe and I hope you have a great trip.
For those of you heading out this weekend, please be safe and I hope you have a great trip.
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Hi everyone,
A party of 3, including myself are planning to go to LB this weekend. I'm trying to get a gauge of how many others are planning the attempt as well. I just want to be as safe as possible and want to avoid a lot of traffic on the peak! Hope everyone will be able to enjoy the weekend weather, if it comes in as forecasted.
A party of 3, including myself are planning to go to LB this weekend. I'm trying to get a gauge of how many others are planning the attempt as well. I just want to be as safe as possible and want to avoid a lot of traffic on the peak! Hope everyone will be able to enjoy the weekend weather, if it comes in as forecasted.
Re: Little Bear, April-May
FWIW, I don't think 1 rock dislodged while we were in the hour glass, or upper portion of the hourglass.....big_red_pride wrote:Hi everyone,
A party of 3, including myself are planning to go to LB this weekend. I'm trying to get a gauge of how many others are planning the attempt as well. I just want to be as safe as possible and want to avoid a lot of traffic on the peak! Hope everyone will be able to enjoy the weekend weather, if it comes in as forecasted.
Good luck,
Seth
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Thanks Seth. I received a message from someone who is going up to tackle the peak on Saturday. My group will be hiking in on Saturday and going for it on Sunday. The weather is looking great, I hope it holds!seth0687 wrote:FWIW, I don't think 1 rock dislodged while we were in the hour glass, or upper portion of the hourglass.....big_red_pride wrote:Hi everyone,
A party of 3, including myself are planning to go to LB this weekend. I'm trying to get a gauge of how many others are planning the attempt as well. I just want to be as safe as possible and want to avoid a lot of traffic on the peak! Hope everyone will be able to enjoy the weekend weather, if it comes in as forecasted.
Good luck,
Seth
Steve
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Hey Bill. I will try and get some pictures of Blanca when going for LB on Sunday and post them when I return.BillMiddlebrook wrote:Are you climbing it Saturday from a high camp or Sunday?KyleS wrote:I slept in and my skiing buddies left without me, so I took a trip over to the Blanca massif today for a little recon. The Zapata Falls parking lot (9,000ft) had about and inch when I arrived at 1pm and it had melted to spotty 1/2 inch by the time I left around 3pm. I hiked up to about 10,000ft and there was generally 2 inches of new snow with spots up to 4 inches - far less than what NWS was predicting. Furthermore, temps were much warmer than the predicted high and things seemed to be settling quickly. With this in mind, we're going ahead with our planned attempt on Little Bear this weekend. Since we're local, we won't mind turning back if we don't like what we find above treeline.
If you (or anyone else for that matter) are climbing solo, we'd be happy to team up! I think that 3 is a much safer number than 2 or 1.
Steve
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
Thanks!
"When I go out, I become more alive. I just love skiing. The gravitational pull. When you ski steep terrain... you can almost get a feeling of flying." -Doug Coombs
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Re: Little Bear, April-May
big_red_pride, I won't be there this weekend...hopefully soon!big_red_pride wrote:Hi everyone,
A party of 3, including myself are planning to go to LB this weekend. I'm trying to get a gauge of how many others are planning the attempt as well.