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 Peak:  Humboldt Peak
 Route:  West Ridge
 Range:  Sangre de Cristo
 Posted By:  terribletigzy
 Date of Info:  5/28/2023
 Date Posted:  5/29/2023
Details

Ascended the east ridge and descended the west ridge. Started up the east ridge a little before 4 am. Way too dry for this route so its basically just walked straight through the woods with tons of deadfall and no obvious route for much of it. Route was completely dry until ~11,200 where very avoidable and intermittent snow fields began. Only had to cross a few snow fields and it stayed hard enough to do so in just boots. Above tree line there was very little snow. West ridge on the descent held a lot more snow, but it was still hard due to a good freeze from the night before. There was lots of evidence of previously postholing on the route both in the trees and from the saddle to the summit. I carried snowshoes and never used them. Micros would have been helpful on the way ridge, but not I didnt even bother to take mine out. Its too melted out for the east ridge. West ridge goes (and way more scenic) but I would recommend starting early or you might have some issues. Also south colony road was basically a stream with some high river crossings, waterproof boots were a life saver.


#1) Intermittent snow before treeline#2) Just coming out of treeline looking at the east ridge's false summit.#3) Remaining east ridge after false summit.#4) Crestones from near the top of the west ridge#5) The crestones really take the show in the South Colony Lake Basin!


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