6/23/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: arthurtect Info: One could avoid snow the entire way if they tried real hard. We didn't put traction on, but I'd recommend bringing just in case. We ended up glissading down a portion of the northern gully that leads to the trailhead. Wish I'd planned ahead, scouted on the way up and brought my extra pants and axe and we could have glissaded from the ridge all the way down. Helped the day finish on a positive after getting blasted by the wind and skipping Red (due to the wind). I personally made the mistake of not checking the forecast 96-hours in advance, so we could have rescheduled before the 72-hour deadline. The wind was too much and most everyone took the risk to save $150 each and pushed to the summit in lieu of turning around.=. Any other peak and I bet most, if not all, would have canceled. I don't mind the fee, but that is one negative that it leads us to take risks to save money. I also did not ask when we checked in, and I own that as well. |
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6/17/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/17/2023, By: PJ88 Info: Some snow on the ridge. Spikes helpful, but not necessary. Saddle to Red clear. |
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6/16/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/17/2023, By: trailboss88 Info: Patchy snow along ridge, easily avoidable or useful when firm. Ridge to Red is snow free. |
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6/9/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/11/2023, By: Inthetrees Info: Concur with previous report on not needing snowshoes and carrying spikes. A lot has melted in one week from what I hear. Took the old road and ridge route to avoid crossing the snowy couloir where everyone else went. Dry up to point 13450(?) and great view to the left the whole way. Firm snow on the exposed ridge areas, softer in the small saddle after the big cairn. I took off the spikes and rock hopped wherever snow was soft after postholing in that saddle, but could go either way since the rest of the ridge was firm (not sure how it will be next week). Descent to Red had an annoying amount of snow; just enough to be inconvenient, but not enough for spikes due to a lot of rock hopping in my opinion. Hopefully will be highly melted by next weekend, but depends on weather. Rest of ridge to Red was dry except for a few small spots. Ascent to Red sure was loose, but I found larger slightly better rock to the right. Clouds kept things firmer for the descent until the big couloir, which was waist deep at 1pm, so I stayed left. Oh, and the toilet at the camp spot was out of TP. Not sure if that is an anomaly but good idea to have some. |
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6/9/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/10/2023, By: KSymonette Info: Climbed on 6-9-2023, upper 4wd TH is open. Snowshoes are not needed but spikes were nice from the ridge to the summit. |
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6/3/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/6/2023, By: bjbatchelor Info: Culebra had some weather come through over the weekend. Still a decent amount of snow continuous from the Upper TH (which should be open by next week). Snowshoes to the ridge, microspikes to the summit. Glissaded down from the ridge. Not too much postholing. |
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6/2/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/3/2023, By: meg8709 Info: Theyre still having everyone park at the four way stop. Culebra is very much covered in snow and doesnt seem to have had much of a melt yet. Expect to spend quite a bit of time postholing - some in the early morning and a whole lot by late morning. Would highly recommend snow gaiters. |
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5/27/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/28/2023, By: Wigwam5 Info: Plenty of snow for touring up to the first saddle. Couloir made for an awesome ride down on the Splitboard. |
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5/27/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/27/2023, By: AndrewJCraigie Info: The ranch let folks drive up to the 4WD parking area, which thankfully saved us from road miles. From there we hiked the remaining 1 mile of the road, to the base of the mountain, where most folks popped on snowshoes to walk about a mile over some soft snow that wasn't doing a great job at holding weight, especially on the way down. Ridge did have snow, but it was packed so no such issues from there to the summit. Start 6:30am End: 11:45am |
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5/26/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/26/2023, By: Veory Info: Road was driveable to 4-way today. Summitted in 2 hrs, went over to Red as well. Some snow in the lower sections that was soft enoughby noon that snowshoes sank to the knees. Stashed mine not too far above treeline. Ridge is great for microspikes although I didn't use them on the way up, occasional sinking but not bad. Thunderstorm season is upon us, nearby cloud to cloud lightning visible by 1130-ish. |
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5/12/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/13/2023, By: jjasks Info: Big time mud at the ranch up to 2-mile camp site. It could be a few days before the ranch will allow cars past base camp. We managed to make the hike from base camp but it was a long day and snowshoes were necessary for us from 2-miles to the top. I believe you could make it to 4-way now without shoes, but beyond that it will be weeks before it is a dirt trail. Total climb was 14.5 miles, 5700 gain and 12 hours. It was a long day mainly because of the snow. |
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5/12/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/13/2023, By: jjasks Info: Big time mid at the ranch up to 2-mile camp site. It could be a few days before the ranch will allow cars past base camp. We managed to make the hike from base camp but it was a long day and snowshoes were necessary for us from 2-miles to the top. I believe you could make it to 4-way now without shoes, but beyond that it will be weeks before it is a first trail. Total climb was 14.5 miles, 5700 gain and 12 hours. It was a long day mainly because of the snow. |
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5/7/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/8/2023, By: Alpine Addict Info: Parked 2 miles and 1,000 ft below 4-way with frequent snow mounds on the way up. Consistently snow packed above 4-way and I would definitely recommend using snow shoes on the way back down to avoid post holing. I was sinking almost waist deep near tree line before I put on snowshoes on the way down after the snow softened up. There are large wind cornices built up on the ridge most of the way to the top, but it was cold enough that I wasnt post holing. I also climbed Red Mountain and the traverse between Culebra and Red is dry. |
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4/30/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/30/2023, By: buddapilot Info: Peak is mostly clear with expected blow off from the wind. I was able to reach the top without any spikes or crampons. Not much post holding before lunch however I imagine it was getting worse after lunch. I highly suggest snowshoes for travel down after the snow softens up. |
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4/2/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/4/2023, By: Briley Info: We were able to skin from the car at the ranch office to just below the ridge. Able to ski the entire way out from just below the ridge to the car. Did not summit due to high winds. Ranch staff said that two hikers had tried the day before us. Based on the trench they left I am guessing they did not have floatation. At this point you will still want skis or snowshoes to make it up to tree line while minimizing post-holing. |
