Missing woman found dead near North Maroon Peak in Maroon Bells area

[benlen]

In spite of recent rain (it was POURING the night before) the trail on Saturday was remarkably dry, and in good shape. For that matter, so was Pyramid the next day.

[thurs]

Maybe due to the weather? Its definitely been wetter than usual this summer.

It hasn't been wetter than usual outside of the front range and the Sawatch. The Elks and San Juans are running a deficit right now and the blanca group is about average too.

[Sean Nunn]

In spite of recent rain (it was POURING the night before) the trail on Saturday was remarkably dry, and in good shape. For that matter, so was Pyramid the next day.

I wasn't there so I certainly can't disagree with your assessment. However, the rocks that you traversed must have been fairly solid, since you came back without incident. It only takes one rock fracturing when you step on it or grab it to make for an accident.

[benlen]

In spite of recent rain (it was POURING the night before) the trail on Saturday was remarkably dry, and in good shape. For that matter, so was Pyramid the next day.

I wasn't there so I certainly can't disagree with your assessment. However, the rocks that you traversed must have been fairly solid, since you came back without incident. It only takes one rock fracturing when you step on it or grab it to make for an accident.

North Maroon has a well established trail, and in my mind is far less dangerous than some peaks I've hit in the San Juans or Sangres, like C2 on Ellingwood. You want a loose rock s**t fest, try El Diente or Ellingwood.

I'm not sure if this was your intention, but you seem to be hinting at the idea that coming back alive from North Maroon is more luck, versus preparedness and skill. Yes, getting off route on that mountain can be deadly, and so could rockfall, but I personally found North's reputation at least to be far exaggerated. Perhaps when I hike South Maroon I'll witness more of the Deadly Bells.

[TallGrass]

On North Maroon, you don't need a rock to break off or rain to make footing precarious. I remember coming off the summit I had to be careful of stacked or shuffled "dinner plate" scree that would just surf over itself. If you fall on that stuff and it starts sliding it can be like being on a slope in the ball pit at Chuck E Cheese.

Again, the one source for what actually occurred is at rest. Condolences to family and friends. She's one of few who got to experience this peak's wondrous views the summit and the climb to it affords.

[litote312]

Again, the one source for what actually occurred is at rest. Condolences to family and friends. She's one of few who got to experience this peak's wondrous views the summit and the climb to it affords.

Very well put, anything we've got is pure conjecture. Hard to imagine what her family is going through right now... hoping they manage to find some comfort.

[Sean Nunn]

In spite of recent rain (it was POURING the night before) the trail on Saturday was remarkably dry, and in good shape. For that matter, so was Pyramid the next day.

I wasn't there so I certainly can't disagree with your assessment. However, the rocks that you traversed must have been fairly solid, since you came back without incident. It only takes one rock fracturing when you step on it or grab it to make for an accident.

North Maroon has a well established trail, and in my mind is far less dangerous than some peaks I've hit in the San Juans or Sangres, like C2 on Ellingwood. You want a loose rock s**t fest, try El Diente or Ellingwood.

I'm not sure if this was your intention, but you seem to be hinting at the idea that coming back alive from North Maroon is more luck, versus preparedness and skill. Yes, getting off route on that mountain can be deadly, and so could rockfall, but I personally found North's reputation at least to be far exaggerated. Perhaps when I hike South Maroon I'll witness more of the Deadly Bells.

No hinting at all as to anything about luck. Just trying to emphasize that any of the Elks can be dangerous due to the loose rock.

[AnnaG22]

I wasn't there so I certainly can't disagree with your assessment. However, the rocks that you traversed must have been fairly solid, since you came back without incident. It only takes one rock fracturing when you step on it or grab it to make for an accident.

North Maroon has a well established trail, and in my mind is far less dangerous than some peaks I've hit in the San Juans or Sangres, like C2 on Ellingwood. You want a loose rock s**t fest, try El Diente or Ellingwood.

I'm not sure if this was your intention, but you seem to be hinting at the idea that coming back alive from North Maroon is more luck, versus preparedness and skill. Yes, getting off route on that mountain can be deadly, and so could rockfall, but I personally found North's reputation at least to be far exaggerated. Perhaps when I hike South Maroon I'll witness more of the Deadly Bells.

No hinting at all as to anything about luck. Just trying to emphasize that any of the Elks can be dangerous due to the loose rock.

I prefer the rock in the Wilsons because it is obviously bad pretty much all the time. The scariest thing to me about Bells/Pyramid/Cap/Snowmass is that the rock can *seem* solid but fail unexpectedly. Though I have to agree with benlen on the point that when I did North Maroon I was very surprised by how much easier it was than I expected (easier than both South and Pyramid, IMO), that doesn't mean it isn't a pile of junky rock, some of which is marauding as solid.

[XterraRob]

As with any mountain adventure: Experiences may vary.

[CamKelley]

I too did the Bells Traverse last weekend, and Nick tagged me into the FB post from her son who was looking for info.

On our way up, there was a group of 3 who seemed to have a little trouble with route finding, and cliffed out on more than one spot before they followed our group up a couple of the spires. We left the summit of N Maroon around 1230 when we descended out on the spur looking back, we saw a person(s) on the north face/northern rib of the ridge from N Maroon. We yelled, waved, and no response. We assumed the person/people we saw were the same 3 disoriented people earlier in the day and they would figure it out. So, we descended.

When tagged into the post, I gave the same info to the family, and Aspen SAR reached out, took my info and began searching there, and the body was found below that ridge/face area where we saw someone. Others in my group thought it was multiple people, but I didn't recall seeing more than one. But who knows. Could've been a rescue attempt, or someone totally different.

From what her son said... she had very little/if any Class 3 experience, didn't think she took her cellphone with her, went solo... lots of no-go IMO.

[CamKelley]

IMG_6778.PNG (1.22 MiB) Viewed 2986 times

Photos are too large to upload from my phone, but here's the area I was talking about.