Gray Wolf Mountain

Route: SW slopes from Guanella Pass
Posted On: 2/8/2023, By: Jay521
Info: While I put in a pretty good trench, you will likely need snowshoes from the cutoff from the Bierstadt trail at the rock past Scott-Gomer creek. I did not take the best route up the one little wall so you might want to choose your own. 

Route: North Slope
Posted On: 2/5/2023, By: PeakMiller
Info: We skinned up Hefferman Gulch Rd from Squaw Pass. We used the S Chicago Creek TH/Trail until we basically got out of treeline. Once we got to 12k the rest of the way was pretty bare so we left our skis and put on trail runners. It was pretty damn cold and the wind was fierce, but we got to the summit before noon. We skied windblown snow on the N slope until treeline and then had sugary powder back to our ascent tracks. From there we cruised the trail and road back to the car in like 20 mins.

Besides the wind it was a pretty fun day mixing it up with some skiing and hiking. 

Route: Via Guanella Pass
Posted On: 1/7/2023, By: daway8
Info: I'll fill out the recent Evans & Bierstadt reports with my Gray Wolf report. Also came from Guanella Pass but had a slightly different take than the others. The road is super well packed down as is the trail going to Bierstadt. I never felt any need for snowshoes or traction until leaving the Bierstadt trail.
I didn't take any of the bypass routes, just stayed on the road the entire way. I did confirm some very minor avalanche activity at the first switchback (will add some photos later) but not currently a major concern. For those into skinning it should be perfect except for the last little bit that was blown dry but there was still snow on the side of the road that would probably work ok.
Apparently I have Joey_parm to thank for putting in a trench through the willows across the meadow (turn left after the lake and a ways after the boulder when you reach a flat meadow with now a trench through it). Followed his tracks until it was time to turn off for Gray Wolf. Trenching uphill through willows was not a lot of fun but not quite as bad as I feared. A time or two I found a game trail or once an old remnant of someone's Spaulding/Evans track from a ways back but mostly had to pay my own trenching dues after poaching Joey's trench across the meadow.
One slightly sketchy spot midway up crossing over a snow covered stream/pond where I could hear water running below but never punched through.
Once above the willows it was easy going but still a long trek.
No real avy danger anywhere on the route besides that first switchback. Had a little bit of whoomping and cracking among the willows but only on very low angle terrain where it wasn't a concern. Followed my tracks back so there is now a pretty solid trench if a bit meandering. Will seldom find better conditions in winter for tagging Gray Wolf (also super easy access to Spaulding, Sawtooth and Evans from here - did those a couple winters ago using this approximate route but orphaned Gray Wolf). 

Route: From Guanella Pass
Posted On: 11/25/2022, By: snacktime
Info: Guanella Pass is still open. Beautiful day - 30 degrees and sunny, no wind! There was not enough snow to warrant snowshoes. We carried spikes but didn't ever feel the need to use them. The snow down low (willows) was sugary but was firmer (but not ever really an issue) up high. This may be the best time of year to go for this peak, as the water is all frozen, so there's no real risk of getting your feet wet while navigating the willows. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/12/2022, By: soxfan249
Info: Not much snow accumulation on the slopes east of the Bierstadt parking area. The bushwhack through the tall bushes from 11,600' to 12,000' is pretty tough work, but it was a great day to be out there. No wind. 

Route: From Spalding
Posted On: 8/22/2022, By: CheapCigarMan
Info: No trail. Mellow grassy and rocky terrain down and up the saddle. Was pretty wet and marshy in places on the saddle. Very gentle and peaceful peak. 

Route: from Spalding Mtn
Posted On: 7/11/2022, By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: From Spalding Mtn I dropped into the ridge down to the saddle and climbed up. Route is dry except for a few wet marshes on the saddle. 

Route: West Slopes from Guanella Pass
Posted On: 1/29/2022, By: Carl_Healy
Info: Hit Gray Wolf and Spalding from Guanella Pass winter closure.

Road is packed snow from plenty of skiers, snowshoes, etc.
From bypass around summer trailhead to well above there there's an adequate trench and bootpack.
Fairly easy to get up to Grey Wolf from above treeline.
Snow past there wasn't too deep outside the track and even less so near summit. 

Route: South Chicago Creek
Posted On: 12/4/2021, By: malogos
Info: Some completely avoidable snow patches on the climb and no snow on the summit itself. 

Route: Summit Lake
Posted On: 7/17/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: Biked from Echo Lake to Summit Lake. At 8 AM, the lot at Summit Lake was jammed and many cars were parked up and down the Mt. Evans Road a ways. Hiked up the Mt. Evans Trail until I could contour towards Gray Wolf. The basin between Gray Wolf and Mt. Spalding is soggy in places, but not terrible and can be mostly avoided by staying high. No other issues getting up Gray Wolf. Returned via Spalding summit, which was busy. Still hazy, but not as bad as recent days. 

Route: Via Spaulding
Posted On: 1/17/2021, By: Sbenfield
Info: Went up to hike Spaulding first (up gulley) & then over to Greywolf. Made a loop out of it taking Scott Gomer Creek drainage down 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 1/9/2021, By: dolfh
Info: Parked at Guanella Pass rd closure. Walked road to Guanella Pass without floatation. Well defined trench to gulley and up gulley. 3-12 inches of snow on hike over to Gray Wolf mtn. 

Route: From Guanella Pass
Posted On: 6/13/2020, By: daway8
Info: Hardly any snow left - all easily avoidable. Was slightly off on my entry point to cross through the willows in the dim light so that got chaotic real quick but eventually reconnected with an established trail (though still fairly muddy at points) up until it comes closest to the stream then crossed at a pair of miniature cairns and followed deer trails through the willows with mixed success. Once above the willows it's a piece of cake. Highly recommend the quick diversion over to the spur between Gray Wolf and Spalding that overlooks the Chicago Lakes. 

Route: Guanella Pass
Posted On: 6/12/2020, By: Brian Thomas
Info: I left the Bierstadt trail just before the creek crossing and followed the Scott Gomer Creek drainage up, climber's left of the creek. Sporadic wet conditions, but with some zig zagging and back tracking I made it up and down without getting my feet wet. The attached topo is not my track, it's a screenshot from Lists of John close to my actual track (did not summit Spalding today). 

Route: 12,959
Posted On: 4/27/2020, By: angry
Info: Turned off the road early through the trees and up the snowfield to summit unnamed peak 12,959. Snowshoes entire way. From 12,959 you lose a couple hundred feet of elevation dropping to the saddle before gaining the ridge to Gray Wolf. The last 500ft to summit was dry tundra/exposed rocks. Descended a completely different line which was surprisingly very supportive even with the sun blazing. Around 10.5 miles rt and ~3500ft gain.