Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-06-01, By: yeti789 Info: Road to trailhead is completely dry. Around a quarter of a mile at treeline that requires some postholing, but other than that the whole trail is in full Summer condition. Just enough snow for skiers off the main trail. |
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Route: Box Creek Couloirs Posted On: 2023-05-29, By: Thevirtualsherpa Info: Upper TH g2g. Entering the for the love of the game time of year - more than double distance carrying vs riding. Having said that - box is still very in and you can nearly ride from summit to the small lake with continuous coverage. Dropped at 915 which seemed to be just perfect with a hard freeze overnight. After the lake - you can ski/ride 2 very small sections but worth it to avoid postholing. Another great day |
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Route: Box Creek Couloirs Posted On: 2023-05-21, By: PeakMiller Info: We had planned to do some peaks by Sherman via Iowa Gulch, but the road is closed due to damage/mine stuff. We quickly changed plans and headed up Elbert. Snow was great, 4-5 groups skied it while we were there. Plenty of snow still in the Box Chutes. Down low required floatation or lots of posthole determination. To the person that eat 6+ clementines, nice job eating that many and packing them in, but let's work on packing them out next time ; ) |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-15, By: samharrison7 Info: I can confirm that the snow below the treeline is still in a sorry state! It was fine until about 11500 ft, then the last km until the treeline was hideous, not helped by the fact I didn't have snowshoes (though going by what others have said, they might have been more a hindrance than a help). Above the treeline the snow was better and stripped back in places so you can do a reasonable job of avoiding it. Didn't need crampons on the way up, but I put them on for a bit of the descent to blast down some of the steeper bits of snow that had old hard snow underneath the soft top layer. You could have easily picked another line to avoid needing traction. Great day out, despite the snow! |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-15, By: 14ercooper Info: Wonderful midnight summit. After turning around earlier in the day due to low visibility above treeline (and snow that was mushy enough that I didn't feel like box creek would be safe), took a nice midnight stroll to actually summit. The half mile or so before treeline had a bunch of waist-deep snow, but it was wet and slushy enough that my snowshoes were hurting more than they were helping - definiely a bit of a suck fest. Fair bit of snow still up high, but there's ways to sneak past most of the snow on thinner/rockier sections on the upper mountain if you so choose and pick your line carefully. Nice weather, but it's definitely doing a number on the snowpack, especially lower down. Overall, good climb and a half of Elbert! Tree was blocking the road shortly after it crosses the river, and could probably be moved off the road if you got three or four people to help (it didn't seem stuck in the ground when I pulled on it, just a bit heavy). |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-14, By: ellenmseb Info: I suffered so you don't have to. Horrible post holing below treeline in the morning (no freeze). Then by afternoon much of the offending snow had melted. **There are still sections where flotation is still absolutely required**, but at least it's consistent snow instead of alternating snow and dirt If skiing, bring plain old hiking shoes for the several miles of hiking before you hit snow. Besides me, 2 people summited on snowshoes and 2 turned around at 12.5k citing unsupportive snow. Little did they know they were about to hit much easier going above treeline... Skied 1000' of powder(!!) From the summit, then walk down ~600', then ski another 1000' of slush, then walk out... Tree blocking road adds 1 mile even if you have 4wd. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-13, By: Jirwindisc Info: Went for the East Ridge today (after doing North East 2 days ago). There is still some serious snow and major postholing going on from the first switchbacks all the way to 11,800. Today we saw a woman coming down early (4:30 am) who had a pair of Fischer Price snowshoes on and was postholing the whole way down. When we were coming down around 11 am, we were postholing with our MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes some of the way as well. Couldn't imagine the people that were doing it without snowshoes or skis... more SAR calls I suppose. The fog and clouds were omnipresent all-day with some short breaks at the summit for some views north, and then a few breaks in clouds on our way down. I met my climbing partner, Raphael from British Columbia on the 14ers FB group and decided to tackle this mission together. He turned out to be a great partner with strong experience and skills and some great conversations. We left the Mt Elbert East Ridge Trailhead (yes, requires 4wd and has a few spicy sections) at 3:45 am and took a conversational pace up. Saw 2 others celebrating a 23rd birthday climb on the way up. Reached the top at 8:19 and had the place to ourselves. Gorgeous views up there. Saw a few skiers on top of Box Creek Chutes, and another couple of women from the FB group coming up with their huskies (very adorable and competent climbers (both)). We then plunge stepped and postholed in our snowshoes the rest of the way down and pulled into the lot at 11:30 am and I got home for a mid-day nap. Raphael is planning Massive tomorrow. Total Stats: 8.03 miles, 4,406 Vertical Feet, and 2983 calories burned... eating everything in the house now! Thanks for those that have posted before and given beta on what to expect. |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-10, By: wmagnuson7 Info: I LOVE hiking in the mountains for the beauty, the solitude, the grind, the communion with God, etc. However, today was the absolute worst day I have ever had in the mountains. The post-holing was moderate in the morning (left TH at 5:30 a.m.) and horrendous in the afternoon. I summited around 9:30 a.m. and descended shortly thereafter, reaching treeline around 11:30 a.m. From thereon, it was the absolute worst 2-3 hour post-holing grind one could ever imagine, even with 30" snowshoes. I wouldn't wish my afternoon upon anyone, it was completely miserable and with snow reaching up to my hips with the post-holing. I would strongly recommend giving it at least a week or two in order to allow some of the snow to melt. Cheers and God Bless! |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-05-09, By: schrund Info: Departed the TH at 3:30 AM and started post holing almost immediately after hitting snow. The lower stretches have some clear trail but after the 1st mile or two it's still snow covered. I elected to not take snow shoes hoping I could make do with traction devices. It became apparent after an hour or two that I was gonna have a long day if I kept going. Turned around near tree line. |
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Route: Box Creek Couloirs Posted On: 2023-05-10, By: BillMiddlebrook Info: We skied the Box Creek Couloirs by first ascending the East Ridge Route. The trail is snow-covered after a mile or so you'll need skis or snowshoes on it later in the day when it softens. We put on skis/skins at 11,500' and skinned most of the remaining ridge to the summit. There were a couple of long, dry patches but mostly snow-covered. The Box Creek couloirs have very good coverage and we were able to ski back to the 12,400-foot saddle on the east ridge. We then walked east over the point to find continuous snow on the NE side of the ridge. We were then able to ski back down to 11,200' before intersecting the trail and walking down. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-04-30, By: coupewx Info: Left the 2WD trailhead at 4:45 AM and was pleasantly surprised to find the snowpack was firm and did not require snowshoes, but that changed as the day progressed. Clear path more or less all the way to the summit - snow starts 1.7 miles from trailhead - and I was able to make it with just microspikes (summited at 8:30 AM) and sped down the mountain as fast as I could to avoid a postholing nightmare on the way back. Got back down to treeline just before 10 AM and the slush-ification was beginning. The snow is melting FAST. Postholed maybe a dozen times below tree line on the way back down and it was getting worse with time. Made it back to the trailhead at 11:45 AM. About 10 other people were attempting to summit after me, I imagine it may have been a long day for anyone going through that section in the afternoon. |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-04-23, By: dmgilmour Info: Hiked up Northeast, skied down Box Creek. The trail isn't in great shape, it's a single line of footsteps that are about 6in deep and iced over, you almost certainly want flotation. Stayed on skins all the way through treeline, then it got too rocky so we booted the rest of the way. It was snowing which left quite a bit of snow below treeline but above there was only like 1in of accumulation which didn't affect the trail significantly. The apron above the Box Creek chutes was all ice. We were worried about a wind slab in the chutes but it was safe, an inch of two of loose snow was deposited there making for amazing skiing with no risk since the base is still extreme hard pack. |
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Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-04-16, By: EJHannah Info: Set out around 5:30 am, summited a bit before 11am, back down to car just past 2 pm. I parked at the south elbert trailhead which made the route 15 miles, 4900 ft of vert. There was no snow for the first two miles so I didn't spike up until then. I brought snowshoes but didn't end up using them at all. The snow was very hard packed for the ascent, though it had started to melt and I was postholing a fair bit on the descent. About 13 people were trying for summit today, though I was only around long enough to see two others summit. I'd suggest driving up the road a bit to shave some mileage. I didn't end up doing this out of laziness, but the other people I talked to were all at least able to shave off two miles. |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 2023-04-11, By: milesmorris Info: Don't drive on snow covered roads. There was a continuous stream of stuck vehicles on Halfmoon RD. At and near tree line snow was challenging to travel on as it was continuously collapsing. Finally above tree line the snow was supportable. Snow on the summit, and Box Creek Chutes skied very well. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-04-02, By: 14ercooper Info: Fairly windy, but overall a good day. Solid bootpack (only punched through once or twice) up to above treeline, at which point you can more or less avoid the deep snow and walk to the summit. Snow higher up needs a week or two to consolidate, it's still very much winter-style snow, which would make Box Creek pretty sketchy still (for people waiting for that). Road is still quite snowy, especially more than half a mile up the 4WD road (snow tires + 4WD might be able to make it about half a mile, to right before that first big hill). |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-03-19, By: aholle88 Info: Trench is in both the OG east ridge trail and the standard summer trail below tree line. Pick your choice. Firm/icy spring snow in the AM, probably could get by without floatation as of now but thatll change this week. Skinned to 13k and hiked the rest, somebody did ski from the summit so its do able but bring your rock skis. Snow below tree line was great today even at 2pm, nice corn skiing surprisingly and not bottomless facets like usual. Parked at 2WD TH, a couple trucks made it .65mi up the road to below the steep pitch. Low clearance vehicles cannot pass the road at all because of the snow in the center. Box creek cols looks like a wind loaded mess for anyone curious |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-03-20, By: tbontempi Info: Windswept and rocky up high, deep snow near and below treeline. Bring snowshoes for trailhead to treeline, safe to stash them and switch to spikes once above treeline. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-02-25, By: lukedog Info: About six folks summited Elbert today. The trail below tree line was soft but easily navigable in the trees. As it rose into more clearings and such as trees started to thin out, not so much. Much wallowing occurred, as well a some zigzagging and cursing. Still, we persevered and ultimately made it above tree line thanks to lots of folks pitching in. If anyone is considering it before any new weather moves in, go for it: it is well-trenched and open! Today was a great day out there. Blue skies and sunny, though pretty cold. Wind did kick up a bit in the afternoon but was not unreasonable even then. No precip of any kind. VERY nice day with a great bunch of solos who shared the work and had a great time. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-02-17, By: AndrewJCraigie Info: Was originally planning to do this Saturday, but winds looked a bit better today. There were some pretty fresh ski tracks which I was lucky enough to follow up to around 11,500, but at that point the person skied down, leaving me to break trail. Popped snowshoes on - took them off around 13,000 and just used boots to get to the top. Two folks were behind me - I believe one summitted and the other turned back, but the path up should be pretty clear. Would rec snow shoes, especially going down when the snow softens Long day, especially with the road walk from the 2WD to 4WD parking lot. Wouldn't bother trying to make it up at all with your vehicle. Times in case they help anyone plan: 6:35 start 12:15 summit 3:45pm end |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2023-02-01, By: aholle88 Info: Couple inches fresh hiding the trench up to the flat bench at 11.5ish. Trench refreshed by 2 snowshoers and me on the split. Very deep trenching from there to treeline, luckily it's flat and short. the snowshoers that followed me didn't look like they had a good time through there. But aside from that, smooth sailing from 2WD TH to summit and back. Skinned to 13k, dropped it there and hiked to summit and back, skied out all the way to car. 4' to summit, 1' down for 5:30 RT with a pleasant summit lounge out of the wind Floatation recommended from CT/Elbert turn off up to treeline. Possible to make it to the bench at 11.5 without, would probably destroy the trench if you did. Floatation needed from the bench to treeline after the new snow. Spikes optional from treeline to summit, mostly snow covered the whole way now but mix of rocks and snow from 13k to summit. |