5/22/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 5/23/2021, By: Balancing1076 Info: 6:30 start. Main parking lot was already full. Our party headed with thoughts of tackling Sniktau and if the weather held checking Cupid off our list. Weather peaks was accurate. Snow and rain were reported for a 9 start. Our window was small. Crusty snow section on the first incline before the trail splits. Didn't need traction, just sturdy boots. There is a slick ice/mud section but doable and avoidable. The rest of the climb was fairly dry with obvious cornice on the right. relentless wind with gusts. Definitely bring a buff to save the face and ears. No shade, no water so plan accordingly. We hung out at the top and snapped shots on the way down.. total move time was 2.5 hours. The views were amazing |
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5/19/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 5/19/2021, By: PikaSteve Info: Mix of bare trail and thin snow. From point 13,152' to summit, you can take a snow free trail or continuous snow field. No traction necessary. I didn't use traction on the way up, but was glad to have spikes while hurrying down to Loveland Pass ahead of the weather. |
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5/1/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 5/1/2021, By: -wren- Info: Made it up and back with no spikes. Many will prefer to have them but seemed a little unnecessary to me. Bare spots everywhere and as long as you hit it early there will be zero postholing. Cornice is still super big but easily avoidable. |
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4/20/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 4/20/2021, By: mtngoatwithstyle Info: Started hiking around 10am this morning.Temperature was 19F at top of Loveland Pass with winds in the 20mph range.New snow overnight called for 6 inches. It felt in some spots like 6 for sure. Made it up to the ridge in spikes and slowly made my way until I was on the bump 3/4 of the hike where I was not comfortable traversing.It was either going up a snofield by the cornice or maneuvering through soft,sugary snow covering rocks that would stick out like “flowers” then soft bottomless snow...and unsupportive. Stayed away from cornices but decided to turn around.Temperature reading was 12F and windy,but sunny!. I do not think snowshoes would have changed my decision and may have actually made it harder with the rocks and sinking. Coming back down on that snow, I slid several times. There was no one there.Two hikers went towards Cupid and that was it. |
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4/3/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 4/4/2021, By: Ted_Sward Info: Surprised to find we needed neither spikes nor snowshoes up this route. It looked pretty dry from the road so we just decided to see how far we could get. There are some sections of snow, but nothing too steep. Poles were helpful both up and down. We took our time and lots of pictures and round trip took about three hours. It was sunny and about 55 degrees with almost no wind. The upper portion above the turn was heavily corniced, but it was easy to avoid by just sticking to hiker's left on the way up. This hike had 99% of the views of a 14er, but only 25% of the work! |
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3/20/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 3/20/2021, By: 14er101 Info: The trail is mostly hard-packed from Loveland Pass to the summit, a few sections of post-holing but nothing over knees. Cornices are a bit bigger than last time, so give them a very wide berth. Great day, albeit quite windy, although you could do it without traction it is very nice on occasions. Conditions are certainly going to change with the upcoming storm. |
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3/17/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 3/17/2021, By: Ericsheffey Info: Lots of windblown snow, snowshoes were definitely necessary. Cornices are present and large, but it's easy to give them wide berth. |
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1/24/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 1/25/2021, By: KestrelWarrior Info: Narrow ~3-6 in deep snow drifts for the initial .75mi made low-boot gaiters worthwhile. Spikes recommended but not necessary. Max gust at the Loveland Pass sensor (https://www.avalanche.state.co.us/observations/weather-stations/) was only ~25mph so wind was not an issue. Echoing previous reports - cornices abound, but it's easy to stay on the rocks. |
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1/22/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 1/22/2021, By: MaryinColorado Info: The first 1000' up to the ridge has segments of a few inches' deep of fresh powder to navigate through, so recommend gaiters. Wind was the name of the game today, typical of this route, it seems. Tolerable wind up until ridge, then a lot of intolerable wind for the entire time on the ridge that kept temps in sub-zero range. No significant snow to navigate; however, the cornices are in! So make sure to navigate to the left of the cornices. Stay on the "dry stuff". On the final push to the summit, there is still some unconsolidated snow in areas, so just be mindful of that for potential ankle twisting between rocks. Wore microspikes the whole way just as added security as there are some slick spots where snow is hard/smooth from the wind and/or harboring a bit of ice underneath. |
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1/1/2021 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 1/2/2021, By: mkirkland12 Info: Conditions much the same as the last post. Trail is very clear and flotation not needed. I went up without spikes, but they would've been helpful on the way down because the trail is packed snow and fairly slick in spots. We got lucky with absolutely no wind up there! |
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12/30/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 12/30/2020, By: jbealer Info: Still similar conditions as the last post, we did wear spiked the entire day, snow shoes are still not necessary but there are definitely some deep drifts (ankle to shin) to pass through. The wind was also fierce today but we did make it to the summit. Quick little snowflake, at least my 4th time up there it was worth a new checked box! Think i have all the seasons now. |
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12/26/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 12/26/2020, By: mtngoatwithstyle Info: Arrived to Loveland Pass at noon. Soft Wind was consistent until 12,800 where it started to become very gusty. Once on the ridge and as soon as you made a left towards Sniktau it was like a freight train and even with poles I had to be careful not to be blown away. I turned around halfway. Been there done that. I knew the front was moving in today and it is always very windy on the CD. Did not use traction but I had my microspikes ready just in case.Everything is mostly windblown or very tracked on the main trail up. |
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12/9/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 12/9/2020, By: quandary34 Info: The trail is clear of snow most of the way to the summit. Even though there are snow/ice patches along the route, I never needed to use my microspikes. Great conditions for hiking right now, but the weather looks like it'll be changing later this week with more snow in the forecast. |
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12/7/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 12/7/2020, By: Trotter Info: About 50% snow, 50% dirt. All snow is well packed, and not too icy. Brought spikes, never put them on. Didn't need gaiters, could have been in trail runners. |
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11/22/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 11/22/2020, By: 14er101 Info: 90%+ dry from Loveland Pass, conditions were great today! All snow was avoidable, some snow on the ridge. All snow was stable, walked along, and broke through only once or twice. |
