5/31/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 5/31/2015, By: SnowAlien Info: Great day skiing Mt Antero. Coverage is very good. Found a fun narrow choke. North face looked awesome as well. Consistent snow from 11k, basically soon after creek crossing. No luck with driving up the road though - a large snowdrift blocks the road just 0.5 mi above lower TH. Cronin looks very nice. |
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4/4/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 4/6/2015, By: spiderman Info: The road has 0-12" of snow for the first 3 miles. The next 2-mile section has 12-36" of snow. The crust was supportive enough in the morning but I started to breakthrough occasionally on the decent (no snowshoes worn). The upper 3 miles of road is too snow covered for good travel. Instead we went up the gully from 11,900'. The snow was solid and made for fast travel. Above 12,600, we went straight up the rocky slope. It is quick going up but painful going down. The peak itself has several icy snow slopes. The trail was half buried in it. We wanted to climb directly up the south ridge of the peak proper, but 60 mph winds made us traverse further east. There were a couple sketchy icy snowfields to traverse. They were only 15-30' wide, but with a drop that goes all the way down into the center bowl. These could have been all avoided by staying on the ridge instead of the face (assuming less windy of a day). Total hike time = 12h. |
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4/4/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 4/5/2015, By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Taken during a climb/ski of 13er Cronin Peak, here are some pics of Antero's west side. Clearly, Antero is lacking snow and the west side is not skiable. The Baldwin Gulch/Antero road is still mostly snow-covered but it's on and off for the first 2 miles. On the first mile, there are several very icy sections, including a sloping ice bulge with exposure on the left side of the road. Danger! Microspikes would be helpful. |
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2/2/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 2/3/2015, By: youngk2844 Info: I made my approach Sunday afternoon, bivied at treeline and summited on Monday. I left my snow shoes in the car hoping the trench on Baldwin Gulch Rd was good enough for spikes. It was a good call until I reached the upper TH. The trench from there to tree line was pretty sloppy and snow shoes would have helped. Once on the rib, spikes were fine all the way to the top. Hardly any snow. Once on the ridge there are a few snow fields to cross depending on your line. A slip on some of these snow fields could end badly. An axe might be helpful. There was no shortage of high winds and cold temps. On the way out I found many places where blowing snow had covered the trench. I had to use my trekking poles to probe for the firm trench. Stepping off on either side resulted in sinking down three feet into soft snow, a total energy suck. Once again snow shoes would have helped. |
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1/24/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 1/26/2015, By: jmanner Info: I went up Antero Saturday with some 14ers folks. We found continuous snow from the car to the 11,800 rib. Two of us skinned to that point and ditched the skis. The rib was fairly dry to 13.8K and from the saddle to the summit only required traversing a few short snow fields. There is not enough snow to ski from the summit (maybe from 14K). There are a few good aspects which could allow a ski from 13.5ish to your car, but it would be a lot of work for little reward. We found the snowpack to not be too terrible. Definitely a 1" wind slab on top of unconsolidated snow, but nothing crazy hard. Once back to the ski stash we were able to ski the 3.7 miles back to the car. There are a few ice flows between 1.5-.5 miles from the road and one large grouping of rocks at 1 mile. I got only 3 pen-head sized core shots from this, they were definitely worth it. For a road ski it was pretty fun. Climber Steve is putting up a trip report, so you can see the pictures there if you need them or send me a PM and I'll share the Google file. FYI: we got 13.7 with a small detour so I'd say that 13.3-.13.5 miles is an likely accurate distance for this climb. |
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1/18/2015 Route: winter variation Posted On: 1/19/2015, By: illusion7il Info: this report is for the winter variation Solid Trench from Lower Baldwin Gulch TH to stream crossing. The trench isn't quite as solid from the stream crossing to the entrance to the Rib at treeline. possible without snowshoes but expect to post hole a few times. The rib is mostly dry and recommend continuing up to nearly the top of point 13,800. A low traverse will require crossing some moderate steep snow. There is some snow on the ridge to the summit. |
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1/14/2015 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 1/16/2015, By: bhollamby Info: The snow for the first 2ish miles goes back and forth from none/ice/rock to the deepest of 8inches. After the creek crossing the snow is much more consistent. There is a relatively decent trench/packed path the whole way. Take care to not step off this though, I stepped off a few times and postholed about 1foot with snowshoes on. Snowshoes are a must. Could certainly ski from the creek to 12,000' without any issues. Below the creek you would get some coreshots for sure. Once at the switchbacks (12000') the snow is very windswept. The switchbacks are filled with packed drifted snow. I did not summit, one of the switchbacks as i was crossing had a hollow sound to it being I was solo I didn't want to risk it so I turned back. Hopefully going back next week to redeem myself, will report back if I do. |
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10/19/2014 Route: Via Little Browns Creek Posted On: 10/20/2014, By: seoulman Info: Patchy snow from about 1km below the treeline. Postholing to the ankles in a few places, but mostly avoidable following other hikers compacted footprints or slight deviatons from the trail. Trail above the treeline is covered by drifts in places, nothing some creative bushwacking can't take care of. 4wd trail is mostly snow covered, but not icy. Crestline mostly snow free. Microspikes and a pole helpful, but not absolutely necessary. |
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10/18/2014 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/19/2014, By: LoveThisSite Info: Mostly continuous snow starting from about 11,800 ft on the road. Traction unnecessary, unless you intentionally want to take direct lines up snowfields. Poles are useful. |
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10/6/2014 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/7/2014, By: trinkner Info: The recent snow is nearly entirely melted away on Antero. The road is passable up to 12,800 feet, although I didn't drive it, as my 4WD switch on my truck chose the 2WD trailhead as its moment of failure. :-( There is only a tiny bit of snow on the talus of the final summit push, and I never had to step in it. By the way, if you're looking for a peaceful ascent of Antero -- without the buzz of ATVs, trucks, and gem hunters -- try hiking on an October Monday. Yesterday, I see a single person on the mountain and my truck in the 2WD parking area was the only vehicle I saw all day. In fact, although I had feared a perpetual crowd on Antero, yesterday's climb was the most solitary climb I've had of my 30 ascents in Colorado. I even saw a bull moose near the parking lot! |
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10/1/2014 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 10/1/2014, By: KTC88 Info: The road is clear to about 12800. After that it is covered by drifted snow and not passable by vehicles. It is pretty easy to walk on the side of the road. I took the road to the ridge, then followed the ridge straight to the summit. The ridge was covered in 4-8" of snow and many of the rocks under the snow had a layer of ice. While footing was slippery, I didn't feel the need to use microspikes. |
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8/2/2014 Route: Little Brown's Creek Posted On: 8/4/2014, By: Erich Info: Final summit approach talus was very slippery and frosty in the morning (applies to standard route, too). Bring your grippiest shoes. Poles actually helped even in the talus. Looked like the dogs were having trouble, too. Otherwise, the Little Brown's Creek trail was beautiful up to where it meets the roads. |
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6/30/2014 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 7/7/2014, By: Jeffmessy Info: FYI since its hard to find what type of trucks can make it to the top trail heads. I have a Ford F150 Crew cab, 2011. The road to tree line is brutal. Slow go with large rocks, ect. I had enough clearance in factory truck to get to tree line. No scrapes. On the way down I did scrape bottom twice. Road is narrow with few places to pass. Up in morning and down after lunch helps with any log jams. Mt. Princeton road is mainly dirt with only a few rocks to radio tower. Road is very, very narrow with a few large dirt mounds for drainage. 4wd is needed and some clearance. If trucks met on road it would be a problem. Up in the morning and down after lunch. |
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6/30/2014 Route: West Slopes Posted On: 6/30/2014, By: SolarAlex Info: Road is dry to upper parking lot, with the exception of 2 spots with some water running down the road. The creek crossing is no more than 12 inches deep and I had zero issue coming or going. I was driving a Tacoma 4 door for reference. There is one tiny patch of snow higher up on the trail/road but its easily crossed and will be gone in a few days probably. Otherwise the trail is dry. I wouldn't drive anything less than a 4x4 with solid ground clearance. |
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6/30/2014 Route: Raspberry Gulch - East Ridge Posted On: 6/30/2014, By: esagas Info: The Raspberry Gulch 4WD road is in great shape. I drove a 2WD vehicle 1.6 miles in before I decided to park. Summer conditions all the way to the summit (the East Ridge is bone dry). Stick to the top of the ridge to avoid slipping and sliding on loose rocks. |