Route: East Ridge Posted On: 4/7/2024, By: tjagger Info: Daniel (15 years old) and I started from the paved parking area at 8:15m and walked 1.8 miles to the summer trailhead. We used micro spikes on firm snow across the Colorado trail to the Mount Elbert trail. We followed a couple of boot prints to treeline. We switched to snow shoes all the way to the summit. The trail was tracked out in a few spots with boot tracks. We found that we should have started earlier with snow shoes as there was 4 or more feet of soft snow in places. The weather was 20 on top with light winds and sunny. We summited at 3:00pm, left at 3:30pm returning to the car 7 miles away at 7pm. The later finish meant that the snow was re consolidating towards sunset and easier to travel on. It was Daniels first winter condition fourteener. See https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/14774662814 for our day |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/26/2024, By: SageCanaday Info: Parked at the South Elbert Trailhead. I was on skis and the other two in my party were on snowshoes...good choice! Solid trenchline up to 13,000' with a few splits and exposed rocks. I kept my skis on 99% of the time. It was quite sunny and warm this day and we summited around noon. I skied off the summit and it was fairly inconsistent feeling snow. Had to take care to avoid hitting rocks. The snow got better near treeline heading back to the CT. We saw maybe half a dozen other parties out this day (half on skis and half on snowshoes) |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/17/2024, By: sean23 Info: We climbed the east ridge from the 2WD TH. There was a solid trench till treeline. From 12000-12600, the trail was hard to follow. We ended up gaining the ridge rather than contour around. Visibility was poor, and we could not find previous tracks. The rest of the trail was easier to follow. Do NOT discard snowshoes once you get to the steep part of the ridge around 13200. Even above 14000, we were sinking into considerable snow and would have postholed. Wind has not scoured the summit area yet. Despite poor visibility for most of the trip, it was a great day in the mountains! |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/11/2024, By: CDubFTW Info: We had to turn around at the tree line due to mountain sickness, but the trail was great. Solid trench with a few postholes , so watch your feet. Didnt use our snowshoes. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/9/2024, By: madmattd Info: At least 3 snowshoers and 3 skiers summited today; there were 2 more snowshoers still ascending around 13k when I was heading down. 1 snowshoer headed off down the South Elbert route not sure how far he went (last seen near South Elbert). Both the trail and the road from the winter lot are broken out (I took the trail up, road down) - the road can be booted, skied (with care in a few thin spots), snowshoed, whatever you'd like; the trail in the morning was a mix of thin snow cover and up to knee-deep loose powder. The CT is getting fairly packed (especially from the 4WD lot to the East Ridge turnoff) and was crusty in the afternoon. East Ridge Trail is still fairly loose powder all the way up, flotation recommended for now, but there's a good trench the whole way. The recent snowstorm(s) dropped a decent amount of snow with little wind, so there is continuous snow all the way to the summit, though coverage is thin in several areas above the shoulder around 12.4k'. The skiers all opted to boot down to near that point after a couple tried it from the summit for a short while before abandoning due to sharks. Snowshoes worked best from car to car today, though I don't think they'll be needed much longer on the CT, and above treeline should consolidate soon with the sun and mild temps for a couple more days. Mega thanks to the 2 skiers that broke out things this morning! Simply a perfect winter day today - temps near 20 at the summit, ZERO wind (maybe 1-2mph here and there), and barely a cloud in the sky. I ascended most of the upper 2500' in just a base layer and only needed a jacket at the summit for a 30+ minute stay. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/10/2024, By: kyrawhitworth Info: Enough fresh snow that we started skinning at the lowest parking (pavement). We broke trail atop what was a pretty visible trench beneath us until about tree line at which point it was choose your line. Unfortunately I could only ski a very small amount up high despite the fresh snow and then bulldozed over enough rocks that I decided to save my skis and boot down a ways on the ridge. Sorry about the remnants of our skins and ski wax on the rocks. Snow was really sticky around treeline and below. Made good time despite limiting ski conditions (10 hrs 14.2 miles). |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2/10/2024, By: AlessiaAscent Info: Got to 13,000 feet on the East Ridge today and turned around because of altitude sickness. We skied from that point all the way down to the car - a couple of annoying uphills, but snow is continuous. It was Avy Level 3 today, so we were really careful about staying on low angle terrain. This really wasn't that difficult, given how gentle the East Ridge is. Snow is less windblown on the ridge than I was expecting, which made for a cool ski. Didn't see anyone else out the whole day. On the trail at 5am, turned around at 9am (13,000 ft), back to the car by 11am. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 1/26/2024, By: headsizeburrito Info: Great weather and nice conditions, turned around at 11,800ft because I've gotten poor sleep all week and decided I was too tired to summit. Still nice to get out. Parked at the 2WD trailhead, there were tire tracks that started up the road but didn't make it too far, just start from the 2WD unless you really want to get stuck. Started with boots, switched to snowshoes fairly soon and kept them on the rest of the day. Solid trench from the 4WD TH up to my turnaround, which trivially deviated from the official route towards the end. I considered taking the more direct old route, but it was easier to follow an existing trench on the new trail than break trail on the old line. Surprised at how much snow was visible on the east ridge from my turnaround point, but can't imagine it's very deep. Can't remember if the trench continued past where I stopped but don't see it in my other pictures, so expect to be on your own past that point. |
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Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 1/5/2024, By: yurkuns Info: It looks like nobody takes the southeastern route to the summit at winter. I started at the Black Cloud trailhead, and there was a trail for the first 2 miles or so, beyond that you have to navigate yourself. Download COTREX app and offline map of this route and just try to follow the line, it is accurate. As soon as you get past tree-line there is not much snow. I enjoyed the solitarity of this route very much, that what winter mountain hiking is all about. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 12/30/2023, By: sarahmariekirk Info: Climbed Elbert from the East Ridge today, we parked about half a mile up from the lower TH. The trail is extremely packed down from the start and in prime condition until the next storm. About 1000ft or more from the summit, the snow is more windblown and very thin. Due to the recent updates, I did not bring snowshoes and did not need them. I wore microspikes all day but they are definitely not required. Fantastic day! |
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Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 12/29/2023, By: Caleb_airport Info: Started from lower trailhead at 5am, summited around 9am and made it back around 11:30 round trip in 6.5 hours. Boot packed snow until 13k where it becomes more rock than snow. Most of the snow above 13k can be avoided. 2/3 of my group wore micro spikes and the third just wore mountaineering boots. The snow pack was still solid or our decent with very minimal post holes. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 12/28/2023, By: jtlewicki Info: Conditions great. The trail is compacted pretty much until the treeline where the snow takes over. Not enough snow for snowshoes but enough for microspikes. Took our group around 5.5 hours RT |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 12/23/2023, By: EthanBeltramo Info: Climbed Elbert Friday (12/22/23) Trail is well trenched to the treeline, then wind blown and thin to the summit. Snowshoes are not really necessary until the next storm. Was still able to make it to the 4wd summer TH in a jeep wrangler. Beautiful day out there for December. |
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Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 11/25/2023, By: Will_E Info: Cold, blustery day on Elbert. I anticipated a long day breaking trail after last couple days storms. To my surprise there was a solid trench put in by a group of 3 I met up with at treeline. From treeline to summit there was more snow than I expected, but didn't use snowshoes or traction. Nice day, wind was mild, sun came out on the way down. |
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Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 11/19/2023, By: rachel Info: Started from Black Cloud Trailhead when temp was 25 degrees F. Trail was dry until the first bridge crossing of Black Cloud Creek near 10,900'. Then, intermittent snow, mud and dry trail. Trail was mostly tracked and I did not use flotation or traction. Snow was punchy in spots along the ridge line. Very windy and cold up high. Also added Mount Cosgriff. Round trip took 8 hrs. I saw 7 other people all day. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/19/2023, By: vlassarev Info: Started at the S Mt Elbert Trailhead around noon. The first 2-3 miles up were mostly dry with some mud and snow/ice. Once you turn left onto the S Mt Elbert trail, it was mostly packed snow with some icy spots and some dry spots. Windblown crusty snow and rocks above 13K ft. Really cold and windy final stretch, frostbite is possible. Overall, doable with no traction or snowshoes though most might opt for the former. About 14.7 miles in 4h52m. |
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Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/4/2023, By: aholle88 Info: Snow the whole way. Did not use spikes or snowshoes, though both could be wanted depending on the person. Fairly decent trench to about 12.5. Dry-ish on the flat section around 13 (as usual in winter) and then punchy windboard from there up to the top. |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 10/16/2023, By: geosock Info: Trail is snowy/icy past the treeline, spikes needed. Snow doesnt exceed more than 6-7 inches, and is relatively patchy. Summitted at around 11:30, low winds and warm temperatures for how late in the season it is. |
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Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 10/14/2023, By: aholle88 Info: Packed snow most of the way from TH to summit. Spikes recommended. Leave the gaiters and slowshoes home. |
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Route: Via Bull Hill Posted On: 10/8/2023, By: donovanrice Info: Sparse snow from Bull Hill. Northeast Ridge had plenty of packed snow, didn't put on microspikes for descending this route, but probably would have been safer to. |
