Wetterhorn Peak

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/5/2018, By: Dayman
Info: Solo hiked Wetterhorn Peak as my first class 3 14er. I did quite a bit of research beforehand and found the information and route descriptions on this site were very accurate in relation to the actual climb. While there is definitely some exposure on the route, I never felt out of my comfort zone and actually had a blast on the final climb. As stated in many other trip reports, the route is very solid and the moves themselves are not overly difficult. Started at 0500 and reached the summit around 0700. The down climb was very reasonable and I was back on the main trail by 0800 and on my way over to Uncompahgre. The weather held out so I was able to summit both peaks. Overall, Wetterhorn was the most fun I've had on a mountain to date and views from the summit are excellent! I have GoPro footage from the section above the yellow dirt to the summit. If anyone is interested, shoot me a PM. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/10/2018, By: JaxBe
Info: The hike was straight forward and easy to follow. At no point did I feel uncomfortable or at risk. It did hail on us twice including while scrambling up to the top and many turned around but we didn't feel it was necessary and eventually the other groups turned back and summitted as well. I did not have rope or a helmet and was fine but had it been winter I would have wanted a helmet and gloves. My biggest concern was at the actual trailhead. We had parked while it was still dark and I opened my car door and put my shoes on. When I went to get out I touched noses with a mystery creature. After flying into the back seat my friend turned on her head lamp and we realized it was an elk. This poor girl was drooling and stumbling and clearly in bad condition. Being from Phoenix with Rabies in the Superstitions that was my initial thought but upon reporting it and talking to locals it is far more likely that it was Chronic Wasting Disease. Nothing to fear but they had not had any reported cases prior to this :( Would be interested in finding out if anyone else sees anymore animals with this in the area. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/31/2018, By: pcj127
Info: Unusual recent jetstream activity made me wonder what weather condtions would be like as we arrived to a great car campsite near TH by 8pm in a steady rain. The 4WD 0.7mi road was the most harrowing part of this journey, but the 2012 subaru make it up!
Left camp with a bear bag hanging at 5:15am, summit by 8:15am with cloudless skies, beautiful day. Trail in good condition with no surprises. I brought a rope, harness/swami for the 3rd class final pitch but ended up not using it. Many marmots, pikas. 4 F-16 pilots having fun buzzed the valley between us and Uncompaghre. Clouds gathered around 11-12 and was raining back at camp by 2pm. Wonderful peak! Saw about 30 people on the trail that day. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/30/2018, By: Scotty21
Info: Dry Summer conditions from Matterhorn Creek TH to Summit. One or two patches of snow along the trail but very easily avoidable. Be aware of smoke in the area during the late afternoon hours from other wildfires. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/1/2018, By: Kcmartinez22
Info: Peak in full summer conditions barring one snow field just below the 'yellow dirt' that can be walked around. I will add, the lower notch is a much better/solid climb than taking the higher one to the prow.

Beautiful day on an amazing mountain! 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/1/2018, By: katielyons
Info: Summer conditions on Wetterhorn. There was one small, avoidable snow patch before the summit ridge, but otherwise the route was completely dry. The standard route up Uncompahgre looked dry when viewed from Wetterhorn as well. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/27/2018, By: merrion13
Info: Outstanding conditions; some snow fields to cross which were softening up a lot today but still no traction or flotation needed. We took the ridge direct on the way down and thought that was a far superior option to the gully near the rock rib which was very loose and scree filled. Parking at the 2WD trailhead total time was 6.5 hours including 25 minutes on a windless summit. Unreal views! 

Route: East Face
Posted On: 4/4/2018, By: jaquetcj
Info: Snow covered, 5 inch storm and winds night of 4.2.18 deposited fresh load and some wind slab onto the face. Natural sluffs observed in new storm slab. Hollow sound, rotten base, new snow/wind load and impending hot day was enough to back us off the face by 9 am. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 1/1/2018, By: bmcqueen
Info: Did Wetterhorn today from Uncompahgre, returning down Wetterhorn's standard route to the locked gate far below. Traverse across the basin was mostly snow, but never enough to require floatation. We wore spikes all the way up Wetterhorn as it was mixed firm snow and dirt trail. Crux section was dry.

Descent back to the Wetterhorn TH was mostly snow, but never put on our snowshoes - spikes sufficed. There are a few ice slicks on the trail and road on the descent. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/26/2017, By: markf
Info: Mostly dry trail, no traction devices needed, some snow on the upper portions of the trail. The 3rd class section was dry. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/22/2017, By: ScreeSurfer
Info: Friday night storm brought 2-4 inches of snow to the Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre area. The majority of the trail is somewhat inset and collected 4-6 inches. I did not use traction on the way up Wetterhorn but used crampons and ice axe on the descent from the summit. Uncompahgre's upper switchbacks contained 5-7 inches but the summit area was pretty much windblown dry. Just two inches at the Matterhorn Creek trailhead was half melted allowing my CRV to descend without incident. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/19/2017, By: eichsttl
Info: The entire route was dry and free of ice & snow including the rock scramble at the top. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/16/2017, By: alyannkar
Info: The trail was dry the whole way. There was no ice or snow near the crux or prow. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/14/2017, By: Eli Boardman
Info: The route is pretty much in summer conditions. There's a marginal amount of (avoidable) snow on the trail around 13k, but all of the scrambling is completely dry. A few of the creek crossings in upper Matterhorn Creek are getting icy, but they're only a couple feet across. Again, there is no snow on the route above 13.4k. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/8/2017, By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: This won't be relevant for long, but the route was dry all the way to the summit.