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Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:02 am
by tylerjh2016
I am planning to hike mt princeton tomorrow, the 12th. i uavent seen any review from anyone that has done it this season yet. i plan to bring snow shoes. Avalanche warning is low. Can anyone tell me anything about it in the last week or so?

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:53 am
by 9patrickmurphy
Not sure where you're looking but avalanche danger is definitely not low. Going up and over Tigger Peak is most definitely advised in lieu of the standard route.

https://avalanche.state.co.us/

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 9:05 am
by cottonmountaineering
9patrickmurphy wrote: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:53 am Not sure where you're looking but avalanche danger is definitely not low. Going up and over Tigger Peak is most definitely advised in lieu of the standard route.

https://avalanche.state.co.us/
cmon skro there is nuance to the avy forecast, dont just tell people that yellow = dangerous
"Generally safe avalanche conditions will exist for most of the morning. Once temperatures increase and the snow starts to melt, you can easily trigger wet avalanches on many steep slopes."

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 10:56 am
by tylerjh2016
9patrickmurphy wrote: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:53 am Not sure where you're looking but avalanche danger is definitely not low. Going up and over Tigger Peak is most definitely advised in lieu of the standard route.

https://avalanche.state.co.us/
Same place you are. When i looked yesterday it was a 1 above tree line. I will probably take your advice about tigger peak though.

I plan to start around 5:30am. should be off the peak by 10:30 I am assuming.

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2025 3:32 pm
by pcsongei
Would love an update if anyone climbs it this weekend, considering an attempt in April or May

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2025 12:49 pm
by two lunches
pcsongei wrote: Sat Apr 12, 2025 3:32 pm Would love an update if anyone climbs it this weekend, considering an attempt in April or May
Arkansas Basin is hanging out at about 60% of median snowpack (ouch!):
Image
the most similar years are 2015, 2022, and 2023.

check out conditions or trip reports from Mt. Princeton for those years and that should help you plan/prepare: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... 0&start=45

if you go over Tigger for the ascent and descent, it should be about 8mi and 3800' RT from the radio towers.

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2025 12:56 pm
by justiner
Princeton from two days ago.
IMG_6895 2.jpg
IMG_6895 2.jpg (191.88 KiB) Viewed 834 times

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2025 7:19 pm
by gbateman25
Just did it today--truth be told, with a high enough clearance, it's dry enough to drive up to the radio towers. We didn't, which made for a long day, but it's mostly bone dry up to 10800. After that it's snowy and long--beat the sun and get down before noon! We didn't and postholed our way down for an eternity

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 9:03 am
by tylerjh2016
I ended up doing Audobon last weekend since my partner chickened out on the 14er. I plan to do it this friday. Good to know the roads should be drivable up to the towers. Thanks everyone for the info!

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 9:59 am
by jrbren_vt
Doesn't look like the sun will be a concern --> https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.p ... 106.242432

Re: Mt Princeton in April?

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 7:37 pm
by tylerjh2016
jrbren_vt wrote: Wed Apr 16, 2025 9:59 am Doesn't look like the sun will be a concern --> https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.p ... 106.242432
indeed, looks like i might push it off yet again :(