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Italian Mountain

Peak Condition Updates  
6/9/2025
Route: Italian Stallion
Posted On: 6/9/2025, By: Geckser
Info: Skied Italian and Lambertson peak yesterday (with Arthurspiderman). We parked a bit past the 4WD gate along Italian Creek. The road is rough and long and it is certainly time consuming to walk it all. Snow starts around 11,700 and was often unsupportive, even early in the day. We took a rocky rib up Lambertson and skied down the ridge towards Italian. We ascended Italian and started skiing at around 8:30. Because of a large cornice we skied down the ridge, at which point we traversed below the cornice to a North Facing couloir that Veraundertow called the Italian Stallion (thanks for the beta in your conditions report Vera). The line skied great with thin corn. With a bit of pushing/traversing we made it back to the dry road fairly easily. The walk back was long but not unpleasant. I anticipate the line will be in for at least another week and if you can drive most of the way to Oliver’s cabin it would be a perfect + easy day. Another great day out and the final day of my ski season! It was a shabby winter followed by a pretty great spring. 
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7/6/2024
Route: Avanzi Route
Posted On: 7/6/2024, By: d_baker
Info: Sooo....that road sucks. We parked at 10,300ish. Both of us in full size pickups, but I had my work truck and said fuck this I'm parking here (at first large pullout on left side going up, not far from the start of 4x4). Anyhow, it added distance but with the holiday weekend traffic of atv's, dirt bikes, and side by sides, I think it was worth it. Otherwise, descending in truck would likely have been slower than hiking the road. We cut off the road for a tundra slope to the ridge. Then got on trail to summit. Still long stretches of cornice leftovers covering trail. Ascended ridge direct near top, and kicked steps up a slope for about 25' ish gain to final ridge to summit. Beautiful area and great views, and worth the road suck. Didn't use traction. 12.5 miles and about 2900ish feet of gain. 
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6/8/2024
Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/10/2024, By: 9patrickmurphy
Info: See Chipmunk's trailhead update for the Italian Creek road. It's in good shape. Lots of snow up there. We were a group of skiers without skis, but due to the nonexistent overnight freeze and the special avalanche advisory this weekend we went without. Skiing would be plenty doable with the right conditions though. Most of us had snowshoes but one member of our party was fine without. We ascended a low angle slope to the East Ridge and took the ridge from there. The ridge was mostly dry until the very top, where there was a convenient break in the cornice. Those with crampons were happy to have them, but I made do without (I was instructed to humblebrag in this report). Ice axes were useful and very recommended, especially with the glissade available. If you're looking for a short, easy day check this one out. Skiing should be doable for a week or two more on Italian's wide open ENE face (we nicknamed it the "My Cousin Vinny bowl"). 
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7/9/2023
Route: From Eyre Creek
Posted On: 7/10/2023, By: HikerGuy
Info: This approach is a great alternative if you don't have a vehicle that can get you up the standard route 4x4 road. There is a wet foot crossing of Taylor River at the very start, but otherwise the route is essentially dry until dropping back into the basin below Italian. I used crampons here, but did not take out the axe. The approach trail is very scenic and the view of Italian from Lambertson is stunning. 10.43 miles, 3,754 feet and 5h 34m roundtrip. Directions: Cross Taylor River and follow an old mine road (742.3M) for 1 mile. Cross Eyre Creek and continue on a good trail (#561, not marked/signed) all the way to the Star Mine basin. Ascend the gentle northeast ridge of Lambertson, then traverse over to Italian. Easy talus hopping on the southwest side of the summit ridge. Descend Italian's east ridge then drop back into the basin and head almost due north back to the approach trail. Basically follow game paths and the path of least resistance. 
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6/14/2023
Route: East ridge/face
Posted On: 6/15/2023, By: SnowAlien
Info: Not sure if I should have stuck to my original plan for Precarious, but I just didn't feel like going for a swim in Rustlers gulch - that approach is just so wet with multiple creek crossings. 8 miles RT on almost dry road sounds better, right? Parked just past the Dorchester CG off FS 742 (2wd). Snow starts soon past the Oliver cabin, roughly ~11.2k. Snow is heavily suncupped and runneled to about 12k. Took the east ridge route, there's a small cornice to navigate the topout, used ice ax and crampons for that section. Skied the East face. The slog out was long and tedious (good training for summer hiking - whenever it arrives). Saw 3 ATVs on FS 259 road out for a stroll. 12 miles and 3,700 ft. P.S. oh and I took the 2004 register down, it's completely full and frail. Going to drop it off @CMC in Golden soon-ish. Next person up, please bring a new register. Canister is in good shape. 
15
6/11/2023
Route: NorthEast couloir
Posted On: 6/11/2023, By: VeraUndertow
Info: Climbed and skied Lambertson and Italian today from FS 759 in Taylor Park. Parked at Lily Pond trail crossing right where it turns to a 4x4 road due to some serious mud pits, I figured it'd be easier to just walk the road (will post a TH status for it also). The walk up the road is actually not bad even tho it's like 4 miles each direction, the elevation gain is so gradual I hardly noticed it. Started at 4:10 AM, made the basin between Italian/Lambertson and the private property by 7:00. Switched to skis and skinned up to the upper basin after the creek crossing just past Oliver's Cabin, which is where the snow starts. The ski lines in this area are mostly filled in still but we have some fun sun cup action where the dust layers are. I climbed a south east couloir on Lambertson first and skied around 8:45 to nice corned up sun cups. The line I skied measured around 45-50 degrees for a brief section. Then I skied right to the bottom of the couloir on the North face of Italian, I say north east because there are two couloirs right next to each other but the western of the two lines doesn't go. A small cornice on the very top 10 feet below the true summit and it's slowly falling off the face so be careful if you are climbing up it. Snow on the east side of the couloir was in shade till 10am at least so that worked perfectly to climb up. Dropped in at 10:15 to beautiful corn on skiers left. I know these peaks are easy for elk 13ers once summer comes but it was fun to ski them with all this snow lingering still. Total day took me til 12:30 so around 8:20 car to car but between the peaks only took around 3:15 minutes, if you are brave enough to drive higher. 
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8/8/2021
Route: Avanzi Route
Posted On: 8/9/2021, By: Grover
Info: Recommend a better-than-average 4x4 to go up road 759. Route is simple and straightforward as Avanzi depicts. Smoke limited views of neighboring peaks Star and Taylor, sadly. Summit register needs to be replaced - it is full and coming apart. 
2
8/29/2019
Route: Cement Creek
Posted On: 8/29/2019, By: Flyingfish
Info: It is dry but I do not recommend climbing from this side. Very loose and steep 
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