Pyramid Peak

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/14/2015, By: Cool Hand Luke
Info: There is a little bit of snow in the amphitheater, easy to cross. There is one small snowfield that must be crossed right after the leap; it is steep, but only four steps across. Felt comfortable without an axe. Other than the snow crossing Pyramid is in great summer condition, did not see anybody else all day after turning off the Crater Lake trail. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/11/2015, By: yingyangsoup89
Info: Great day on pyramid peak. Snow-free route expect one 15 foot traverse, which had steps in it already. No need for crampons or spikes. Didn‘t even use the ice axe once. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/3/2015, By: Hoot
Info: Climbed Pyramid today with no problems. There was one fairly low-threat snow crossing just before the green rock wall. The remaining snow in the Amphitheater was soft and aided climbing and descending. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 1/23/2015, By: Furthermore
Info: Conditions for the NW ridge are undesirable and unsafe as southerly winds have loaded the upper section of the ridge. We even triggered a small wind slab. Be careful. Pic 1: Final traverse. Heavily Loaded. Pic 2: Crown of our avalanche. Pic 3: Avalanche 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/9/2014, By: alexithymia6
Info: The Crater Lake/Maroon Creek Trail was snow free until the Pyramid turnoff. As you ascend the trail up to the amphitheater there was about 3-4in of snow throughout the hike. In the amphitheater the snow gets to about 7-9in in spots, but I tried to stay as dry as possible by jumping to rocks. However, the route description says to stay to the right of the rock glacier (which was pretty labor intensive as there was quite a bit of trudging in some spots), but on the way down it was much easier to stay atop the rock glacier and hike down/scramble (or up) the rocks to the main trail. Once to the back of the amphitheater, the slope up to the saddle has splotchy amounts of snow and mud, but isn‘t too bad. From the saddle to the summit, the narrow ledge was snow free, but route finding is critical to avoid waste deep snow and patches of ice. A majority of the route has some amount of snow on it, but it varies as to how much sunlight it gets. Used micro spikes but not sure how effective they actually were. Weather was incredible, no wind. Summer/fall season is at its close. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/20/2014, By: adamjm
Info: Pyramid was incredible today. No snow/ice whatsoever in the amphitheater that you need to deal with, winds below 5 all day, no rain until 3:30 or so. Aspens are changing, get it while the gettin‘s good! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/12/2014, By: scootmanjones
Info: Shad and I climbed Pyramid Peak on 9/11. The conditions were perfect. There is significant snow on the north face, which looks sketchy as you enter the amphitheater, but you hike up the left side of the amphitheater and around the south side, both of which are 98% dry. We carried traction but didn‘t need it at all. It was sunny and warm in Aspen. The first picture is face you climb out of the amphitheater. The second picture is the most snow you will encounter just past the saddle. The third picture is on the green gully which is dry. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/6/2014, By: jselwyn
Info: Climb is totally dry and snow free as of 9/6. Watch out for goats tossing rocks. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/28/2014, By: MonGoose
Info: The standard route is completely free of snow. There is a snow patch in the amphitheater that provides relief from the monotonous boulder hopping, if you so choose. The gully is completely free of snow as is the route along the ridge and final ascent to the summit. After exiting the green rock gully and traversing to the left, the trail becomes lost in a matrix of social (goat) trails and poorly placed cairns. On the descent, the trail is clearly visible from above but just a challenge from below. *Be wary of mountain goats who will kick rocks down on you from perches high on the mountain. They are the guardians of the Pyramid and they wish to protect her. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/19/2014, By: mspalding
Info: There is snow in the amphitheater basin. But you can avoid it. No crampons or ice axes are needed. But why would you avoid snow? It's a nice break from rock walking. And I was able to glissade both sitting and standing on the way down. Even if you don't glissade, plunge stepping is more fun and less pain than rock walking. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/11/2014, By: WillRobnett
Info: Snow was clear approaching the amphitheater. A few snow fields were intact once you get there. The only snow crossing in route was at photo #24 on the route description - still a little more than in the pic. Bring an ice axe and helmet. Crampons were extra weight, I never put them on. Around pic #24 I was having trouble seeing the route. Most of the northeast ridge was pretty easy to figure out (keep going left and up), but this area was not marked with cairns and has class 5 wall everywhere. Study this part of the route before you go! I added more cairns on the way down. Got in a few glissades on the way down. Good hike! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/15/2014, By: kushrocks
Info: There was solid bulletproof snow starting below tree line in the morning. Crampons and axe mandatory right now as well as knowing how to self arrest. Microspikes weren‘t enough. The snow on the way up is was solid all the way to the saddle. Two couloirs from the amphitheater to the saddle to choose from, one that ascends the normal route the other further to the right, both with great snow for cramponing but very steep especially the right gully. Snow was good until the 13,500ft where it turned into mush. The decent was pretty tough with all the snow turning soft as well. It was not good enough for a glissade and very slick to stand up on. We all had to self arrest a couple of times. Be sure you know how if you go up there anytime soon. Photo 1: Pyramid taking on the way down from the trail (sorry there was water on my lens) Photo 2: Hard step snow below treeline. Crampons necessary. Photo 3: Steep climbing up the right couloir above the ampitheater to the saddle somewhere around 12,300ft Photo 4: Snow turning to mush as we start post holing while ascending a 60+ degree snow slope. Photo 5: View of the bells from the summit 

Route: West Face to NW ridge
Posted On: 3/17/2014, By: FireOnTheMountain
Info: The waist high "Deadly Bells" sign greeting you at Maroon Lake was almost completely covered ---> Indicator of snow. Luke (coolhandluke) and I marched in Sat, spent night at Crater and climbed Sunday. Trudged up the rib on the south side of the West Gully and then rode the gulley for the last 500' to around 12,800 and the ridge. Snow was quite good and offered wonderful glissading on descent. Fair amount of snow as you pick your way through the ridge. Above 13,800 under the summit block, took a few steps onto a SW facing traverse, 4" x 75 SF slab cracked and slid off the cliff side. The prospect of having to do about 200' more of traversing on this aspect followed by another sizeable traverse on a north face caused a turnaround. Sun was blaring all day. A very enjoyable winter mountaineering trip on the PYR! 1st Pic - Goin up the West Gulley around 12,600 2nd - the remaining traverse under the summit block 3rd - otherside of the avy I triggered 4th - the Bells I think?? 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/4/2013, By: JohnnyDangerous
Info: My friends and I attempted to climb Pyramid Peak yesterday, 11/3/13. We had a nice 4am alpine start, but ran into some tough conditions. There was no trail broken on the standard Pyramid route, and we were faced with approximately 1-2 feet of snow. It was mostly sugar, and there were some wind loaded gullies. Not quiet enough for an avalanche, but its getting close. High winds, blowing snow, and our off route trek forced our hand as we turned around at the top of the amphitheater. I have uploaded some photos of the climb. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/22/2013, By: Monster5
Info: Note: conditions this time of year fluctuate drastically on an hourly basis. Monitoring weather a few days in advance is advised. Descended Pyramid std route around 6PM yesterday. Snow was negligible and route was 95% dry. The 5% that had snow was easily avoided or stepped over. I'm guessing there's a couple more inches of slushy snow above 13K' now and a few more inches are likely tonight. The scrambly part of the route sees sun early though so a warm day or two this week might melt most of it off. Traction is probably a good idea, depending on ability, unless we get a few days in a row of sun. Hard to tell during this time of year. We ascended via a ridge run from W Maroon Pass. Conditions were dry on both sides of the ridge until 13631, where 0-2 inches of melting snow clung to WNW aspects. Abe said he‘s doing a TR.