1/29/2011 Route: Southeast Ridge Posted On: 1/30/2011, By: Barb4rian Info: Clearly no one had taken this route in some time (no tracks to be seen, other than rabbit tracks). We were only able to keep trail via GPS and that wasn't always easy. The snow on this route changes drastically depending on where you are. At the trailhead the snow is knee deep powder, but once you reach the initial climb up Black Cloud Gulch it becomes hard and soft in an annoying and unpredictable pattern based solely on where the sun hits the ground. Conditions above the initial ascent improve and if you want to take this route I would do it soon to catch our trench/tracks to save you much effort. Unfortunately the approach took us about 6 hours (~2 miles) before we finally reached the ridge pitch and by then it was late (~1 pm) and we were far to tired to summit. If you make it this far you may consider finding a route on your own to the ridge because our tracks we somewhat worthless. The sun was beating down on the snow so hard that when we sat down water was squeezing out of the snow-pack like water from a sponge. The picture gives a good look at the South Elbert ridge above treeline. Possible Avy Danger: Yes, the snow seems very unstable on this side of the mountain. During the approach through the upper gulch the snow would frequently collapse within the snow-pack (not visibly) in a haunting sound. This was all on flat ground so we did not find it to be much of a worry but when it happened at treeline (where we turned around) it was too risky to continue. Conditions regarding this would greatly improve once out of the trees due to little snow above 12200'. |
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1/29/2011 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 1/29/2011, By: hollamby Info: The snow in the morning was bullet proof, and then with the temperatures obviously loosed things up. There is a trench from the lower 2wd TH to treeline. If the temps are low you wouldn't need anything but trailrunners the trench is so cut (but wouldn't recommend it). Traction device was necessary above treeline this morning with the extremely hard snow. Skied off the summit for about 40 yards, then carried the skis for a bit further down. The skis were great for cutting time down on that last two miles from the 4wd to the 2wd. |
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12/28/2010 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 12/28/2010, By: Dancesatmoonrise Info: Conditions on Elbert are good right now. There is a well-trod lane through the trees. We carried, but didn't use, snowshoes. One member of the party did a ski descent. Not great snow conditions for skiing, but he was able to ski most of the route. From South Elbert we saw a recent natural release on a NE aspect at treeline. However, there was nothing on the east ridge route that suggested any current instability. CAIC dropped the "considerable" rating on N->E aspects in the Sawatch this morning, which was consistent with our observations today. |
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11/27/2010 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/28/2010, By: mountainjam Info: Started from about 1.2 miles up the 4WD road (see TH section for more info). There was 3 of us, we all brought snowshoes but didn't use them. There was a nice boot track all the way through the trees. The snow was really windblown above treeline and never very deep. Took us about 4 hours and 40 minutes to summit and about 2 hours down. It was very cold and windy above treeline but summit views were awesome. |
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11/19/2010 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/21/2010, By: hollamby Info: Windy conditions. Low to no snow. Although low snow in many areas, areas affect by the wind created postholing conditions without snow shoes. Current storm will change peak condition. |