Current Lindsey Gully Conditions?

[CCofCO]

Does anyone have any intel from this past weekend on the current state of the NW Gully on Lindsey? The most recent conditions report is from nearly a week ago and I'm curious if there's been any additional melt to some of the ice/snow over last few days?

Thank you kindly!

[9patrickmurphy]

Don't take the gully. The gully is only safe with plenty of snow, which there most likely is not right now. The ridge is much safer and very fun. The exposure isn't that bad and the climbing is pretty easy. The gully is a bowling alley and something to avoid if it's not winter or spring conditions.

[Snow_Dog_frassati]

Don't take the gully. The gully is only safe with plenty of snow, which there most likely is not right now. The ridge is much safer and very fun. The exposure isn't that bad and the climbing is pretty easy. The gully is a bowling alley and something to avoid if it's not winter or spring conditions.

+1
The gully is awful.

[JChitwood]

Beware the ridge. I’ve never done it only the gully 20 yrs ago and thought it was no big deal other than the usual rockfall potential. But one of my climbing partners who has stood on major summits all over the world said the most scared she’s ever been on a mountain was climbing the ridge on Lindsey.

[geg86]

Highly recommend the ridge this time of year from a safety standpoint. I wouldn't want to do the gully unless it's springtime, but if you do insist on the gully you can keep to climber's right for more stable rock (at that point, may as well stick to the ridge...)

[CCofCO]

Thanks for your comments thus far. While I don't plan on climbing the gully, out of curiosity, how would you say it compares to:
A) Gully approaching Challenger summit
B) C3 couloir on Ellingwood (S Zapata approach)
C) Sneffels scree slopes

Appreciate your thoughts!

[Snow_Dog_frassati]

Thanks for your comments thus far. While I don't plan on climbing the gully, out of curiosity, how would you say it compares to:
A) Gully approaching Challenger summit
B) C3 couloir on Ellingwood (S Zapata approach)
C) Sneffels scree slopes

Appreciate your thoughts!

I think it's maybe steeper than Challenger? - I did Challenger in the summer and Lindsey when the the gully had snow and still thought it was sketchy. I did Sneffles in the snow and thought it was fun but I can imagine it being awful if it was melted out.

In general I'd just always choose solid rock over loose rock even if the solid stuff is a little more exposed. I think its easier to manage exposure than loose rock.

[Hooray187]

Thanks for your comments thus far. While I don't plan on climbing the gully, out of curiosity, how would you say it compares to:
A) Gully approaching Challenger summit
B) C3 couloir on Ellingwood (S Zapata approach)
C) Sneffels scree slopes

Appreciate your thoughts!

I haven't done B or C, but the gully on Lindsey is way worse than the "gully" on Challenger. The rockfall potential is much worse with very little place to hide as anything coming off the ridge will head down into the gully as will the rocks from above. Personally, I thought the crux on Lindsey was really fun and not as bad as I was expecting. We went up the ridge and down the gully. I will never be in that gully again.

[mtree]

I'd say Lindsey's gully is similar to Sneffel's Lavender col... but far different than the scree slope (which is no big deal other than a slog). However, Lavender col has plenty of "hiding" places along the sides when rocks come a tumbling down. You can also avoid launching rocks by staying to the edges. Challenger's gully is not really a gully at all, more of a steep slope/hillside. It gets narrow near the top, but that's not the dangerous area. The issue I had with Challenger is the randomness of the rockfall and how quiet they can be. Silent killers on the loose.

As someone mentioned, you can climb the mostly solid rock to the right of Lindsey's gully and avoid the whole mess. Its class 3, but not bad at all. I highly recommend.

[Scott P]

The thing about the Lindsey Gully this time of year is that parts of it get no sun during the day. It will likely stay icy the rest of the season. It can be trecherous with a thin coating of ice (that's how it was for us). Dry weather might not help much either because it will just melt the snow on the surrounding rocks, which will refreeze when the water trickles into the gully.

[jscully205]

Lindsey's NW Gully is narrower and much more insecure than the 3 you're comparing it to. As stated, it receives hardly any sun, and this time of year specifically there's probably some ice to deal with. It's more insecure because the other 3 at least some talus to get some purchase on and are not as steep. Lindsey's gully on the other hand when I did it, was hard packed dirt that you can easily slip on if you were not using the handrails on the sides. Figurative handrails. Another vote here for avoiding and ascending via the ridge. Much more enjoyable climbing to be had and you're in the sun.