Mount Yale Conditions?

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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desperado
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Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by desperado »

I'm thinking about climbing Mt Yale with a buddy tomorrow, October 10. Does anyone know what the conditions are like after the last series of snow storms? I saw a webcam shot from someone's backyard in Buena Vista. Assuming the shot is current, the Sawatch range didn't look too bad as far as snow cover.
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BigfootUSAF
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by BigfootUSAF »

I am not sure of the conditions, but I was going to climb Yale tomorrow as well. What time are you guys gonna start?

Dave
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Matt Lemke
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by Matt Lemke »

Attempted Princeton today (very close to Yale) and above 12k feet there is 6-12 inches of fresh snow over talus that makes for slick and slow going.
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by RJansen77 »

Just got back from an Elbert attempt via the NE ridge. Steeper aspects holding waste deep powder, VERY slow and difficult going, windblown snow above tree line.
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desperado
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by desperado »

Thanks for the information. We'll see how far we can go tomorrow. An adventure it will be! Bigfoot USAF, we should be at the trail head around 7.
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by DaveSwink »

We climbed Harvard yesterday in conditions like those reported for Elbert by Robert and for Princeton by Matt. Our team of medium-fast hikers took 12 1/2 hours to do the standard route although we took very few breaks. Plan for a long day.

BTW, we ran into 14ers user TheGreatCamillo and his partner at the Harvard summit. They had just traversed the ridge from Columbia. I thought that was an impressive climb in semi-winter condtions. Kudos!
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by larkinrx2 »

so it sounds like microspikes are on the pack list but what about floatation? would the snowshoes help or is it to loose?
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DaveSwink
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by DaveSwink »

We brought snowshoes to Harvard but never used them. We postholed a few times on the trails but most of the deep snow we encountered was on the steeper slopes and the snow was not consolidated enough for snowshoes to help.
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DurangoJenn
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by DurangoJenn »

Desperado and/or Bigfoot USAF, how was Yale?
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by djkest »

DurangoJenn wrote:Desperado and/or Bigfoot USAF, how was Yale?
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desperado
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by desperado »

As it turned out, we didn't go. I waited for my hiking buddy for 30 minutes before giving him a call. He answered on the second ring and said the alarm didn't go off. It was going to be too late of a start considering the conditions. I took a walk around the lake in my town under the almost full moon at 4:00 AM and took out my frustrations on the road bike later that day. Great day for a bike ride.
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Re: Mount Yale Conditions?

Post by DurangoJenn »

Bump ... anyone know how Yale's looking this week?