3/12/2025 Route: From top of Cirque t-bar at Snowmass Posted On: 3/12/2025, By: HikesInGeologicTime Info: Thirteeners that you can take lifts most of the way up to are the best. Thin enough to the top of 12600 that I elected to carry the skis and posthole. Dropped the skis there since it was evident snow would be discontinuous. Kinda wish I had held onto them; there would have been a lot of removal and replacement, but while plunge-stepping most of the way down from the summit was hardly the worst thing ever, it would have been more fun to ski. Looked like easy going to the ranked peak, but I felt I had already had enough fun bonding with my ski boots for one day. Class 2 rock sections were a little annoying with that particular footwear, but while I was setting my usual amount of FKTs (which is to say, zero), it was survivable. |
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6/6/2021 Route: From Ditch TH Posted On: 6/6/2021, By: mijoflynn Info: Started from the Ditch TH off Pinon Rd, thanks to ChicagoTransplant's TR. Took the Ditch Trail for a quarter mile and then turned onto the Campground Connector Trail, which switchbacks up to about 9600' and ends at the West Government Trail (all dry, groomed trails). Then turned straight up the Bear Claw (tundra) and upper Campground (mostly talus) runs, which take you to Sam's Knob at 10,600'. From there took Sneaky's (spongy tundra lower down, minor snow higher up) to the top of the Big Burn lift at 11,900.' From there to the ridge is the hardest part of the hike at the moment, because of the sometimes deep and rapidly softening snow. ScottLovesRMNP posted last week that the groomed sections going up from the Sheer Bliss and Cirque lifts are your best bet, but after a week of sun and warm weather, even those routes aren't proof against postholing. Once on the ridge, there's no snow and only some class 2 rocky sections on the way to Baldy. It was my first hike this season with more than 4000' of gain, so I was beat and didn't continue on to 13,244. My first summit in the Elks! Well, unranked summit, but still . . . OMFG, the views in this range. |
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6/1/2021 Route: From the Ski Resort Posted On: 6/1/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP Info: Spectacular place to view the high Elk Range 14ers. It's a little tricky figuring out where to park/start without trespassing. I found a pull out on the Divide Road and then walked up the paved road to the base of the ski slopes, which are easy to see. Lower slopes are melted out - upper slopes are still snowy but due to nice grooming on the ski slopes, snow condition is excellent. The summit is obvious along the ridge extending south from the top of the ski boundary at 12,600 feet. Snow on upper ridge is avoidable. Used spikes briefly on some icy patches in the morning, but not totally necessary. No need for snowshoes as long as you stay on the ski runs and out of the willows and stunted evergreens at tree line. Nobody else on the mountain today - great views and beautiful weather! It's steep the whole way up, but Highly recommended! |
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1/10/2021 Route: From Aspen-Snowmass Resort Posted On: 1/11/2021, By: supranihilest Info: We skinned/snowshoed up the uphill route at Aspen-Snowmass, which begins at the main village's central lift, the Village Express, and follows orange "Uphill Route" discs to the top of the Big Burn lift. To this point it was all groomed. From there we left the ski area proper and followed old tracks up to another groomed section, then up to a small radio/weather tower. We left our flotation here. There's a short, exposed Class 2+ scramble at this point, then a Rocky catwalk ridge, and finally easy slopes up Baldy. We continued to Point 13,244. To descend follow your ascent route (or if you're on skis ski down any route). Flotation useful, traction not needed, ice axe not needed (though a pole or axe is useful for the exposed snow down climb, but not strictly necessary). |
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2/15/2020 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 2/16/2020, By: AnnaG22 Info: Once you leave the boundary gate at the top of the ski area, flotation not needed. Very windswept, wind loaded on the east side. Mind the cornice. Doesn't look like great skiing just yet. Same story for UN 13,244. |
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4/9/2014 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 4/10/2014, By: TakeMeToYourSummit Info: Easy sidecountry access to this peak from the Snowmass ski resort. Great snow & rock on the hike up. Snow is in for a summit descent. Wonderful lines found down to the lower traverse. Wet & somewhat sketchy snow on the hike out. Connected with the pipe traverse back inbounds. Pic1 - The North Ridge up to the 13,060 false summit Pic2 - Pyramid seen from the top, 13244 far right Pic3 - Some of the potential lines off the East Ridge (summit out of view, upper right) Pic4 - The pipe traverse |
