Possible Mount Elbert Box Creek Couloirs on Dec 20

[FloridianClimbing]

Hello,

My friend and I were wondering about giving Mount Elbert up the Box Creek Couloirs a shot in 2 days (Dec 20). While we have ran around the PNW multiple times before this, our Colorado winter 14ers experience is limited to Quandary and the DeCaLiBron. I know most information and videos talk about doing them in March to June because of avalanche risk but the forecast has it as 2-Moderate risk with a North East Aspect. Would you guys say that's doable or is the risk too high for people that actually know it or have checked it out recently? We know someone who went up the Quandary Couloir a few days ago which is why we are wanting to do it.

We would not be skiing back down, would instead take the standard route back, and have taken a course on avalanche safety before so we know what to look out for when we actually get up there. Av beacon, probe, and shovel will be brought if we go just in case. We would also be doing it early in the morning with crampons and an ice axe.

Will gladly take any advice you guys give, alternate routes, or mountains as well if this isn't possible.

[Logan5280]

I'd strongly advise against trying this route until spring. During this time of year in Colorado, couloir snow climbing conditions are usually both quite dangerous and unpleasant due to the unconsolidated snowpack. The couloirs on Elbert are in avalanche terrain pretty much the whole time, and with a persistent slab avalanche problem in the forecast, avalanches can occur without warning and produce disastrous consequences. Additionally, the unconsolidated December snowpack would likely produce some heinous, un-fun climbing conditions of deep snow on top of whatever rocks might still be exposed in the couloir. This time of year, consider routes with less avalanche terrain exposure, like Elbert's east ridge.

[FloridianClimbing]

I'd strongly advise against trying this route until spring. During this time of year in Colorado, couloir snow climbing conditions are usually both quite dangerous and unpleasant due to the unconsolidated snowpack. The couloirs on Elbert are in avalanche terrain pretty much the whole time, and with a persistent slab avalanche problem in the forecast, avalanches can occur without warning and produce disastrous consequences. Additionally, the unconsolidated December snowpack would likely produce some heinous, un-fun climbing conditions of deep snow on top of whatever rocks might still be exposed in the couloir. This time of year, consider routes with less avalanche terrain exposure, like Elbert's east ridge.

Thank you very much for this, my understanding of it all is definitely very different from y'all so I'm happy to learn. I know the East Ridge is a lot easier but I'll try it out with them then. Have a good night and safe climbing!