8/29/2023 Route: Triangle->Hunter loop via Conundrum Hot Springs Posted On: 8/31/2023, By: JasonKline Info: From the Conundrum Hot Springs campsites, we did the Triangle Pass->Triangle->13216->13537->Hilliard->Keefe->Hunter loop. Still summer conditions. That was a long day (over 15 hours, something like 18 miles, plenty of vert, and a lot of slow, tedious ridgework) for a mere mortal like me. It's a long way from Keefe to Hunter, so I can definitely understand why many people do Hunter separately and I would probably do the same if I were to do it again. Also, when you descend the east ridge of Hunter, you receive a particularly nasty willow bushwhack as your reward before you reach the gorgeous trail back to the Conundrum Hot Springs. |
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7/16/2023 Route: From Keefe, southeast ridge descent Posted On: 7/18/2023, By: supranihilest Info: Keefe's south ridge is Class 2+ on surprisingly solid rock. Then there's some grass up towards a giant, crazy looking tower on the elbow of the ridge. Instead of attempting to climb the tower we went down a steep and very loose rib to the west into that basin and traversed under the tower. This was tedious, steep, extremely loose rock. We climbed back up to the next saddle and Vera scrambled along the ridge, which contained a short tower made of rock that crumbles to the touch. Not hard scrambling but high risk, high consequence. I dropped down and traversed on more trash past this little tower and up a crappy gully to the ridge. Basically this traverse can be kept to heinous Class 2+. Instead of going ridge direct to 13,537 we took Hilliard's southeast ridge. There's some initial Class 2+ scrambling along the ridge and then it splits. Ridge direct to 13,537 is exposed, loose Class 4. The southeast ridge is a little longer but Class 3 max. Still stupid loose. It's the Elk, it's just how things are. See my Point 13,537 CR for descent photos |
