8/20/2024 Route: North Traverse and Keller from Bighorn Trailhead Posted On: 8/20/2024, By: JasonKline Info: As Furthermore once said in a trip report, the route from North Traverse to Keller can be made class 2 if you repeatedly drop down from the ridge a bit to avoid the obstacles. It's only 1.7 miles by foot from North Traverse to Keller, but it's very slow due to the route finding. Doing both North Traverse and Keller from the Bighorn Trailhead isn't a short day. |
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8/3/2024 Route: Grand Traverse Posted On: 8/5/2024, By: madmattd Info: Effectively snow-free: we walked over a low-angle ~10' long snowfield in the upper end of Bighorn Creek basin that could be totally avoided if needed. We took a grassy ramp to a gully that goes to the Keller-North Traverse saddle. Recommend just sticking with the grassy ramps that bypass the gully, it was pretty loose in places and we knocked a lot of gravel down. The slopes that go more direct from the basin to the upper reaches of the North Ridge looked awful. Ridge from the saddle to North is mostly solid rock and pretty straight-forward C2/2+ with some C3 lines if wanted. Quite warm, but minimal haze in the general area, so lots of awesome Gore eye candy to enjoy. |
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6/29/2024 Route: N traverse -> valhalla Posted On: 6/29/2024, By: yaktoleft13 Info: Went up n traverse from bighorn, did the grand traverse, and continued on to Valhalla. Came down deluge lake trail and walked the road back to bighorn. Only snow of consequence was leaving grand's summit toward Valhalla. Fun day! A little under 9 hours. 15 1/2 miles, 6300 gain |
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9/9/2023 Route: Grand Traverse Posted On: 9/9/2023, By: sarahmariekirk Info: Climbed North Traverse Peak & Grand Traverse Peak via the Grand Traverse today with a great crew. The ascent up North Traverse is relatively straightforward, we climbed up a loose talus-filled gully; we climbed from Bighorn and used Deluge Lake as our descent path. The climbing does not begin on Grand Traverse until leaving the summit of N Traverse Peak. This was my first time in the Gore Range and it did not disappoint. Stunning views, minimal people, relatively solid rock, and really fun terrain. I am so psyched to get back in this range in the future. |
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7/23/2022 Route: Grand Traverse Posted On: 7/24/2022, By: Laxer04 Info: Did the classic Vail Grand Traverse on Saturday 7/23. Left my car at Gore Creek TH, shuttled over to start the hike at Bighorn Creek TH. The mosquitos were relentless on the Bighorn Creek Trail. Went up North Traverse and then traversed to Grand Traverse. I couldn't find any resemblance of a route - I just stayed to the right of the ridge. Some really fun route finding and if anything got sketchy, I could just drop down further and avoid any really difficult moves. I would call the route I took class 3. Downclimbed from Grand Traverse to Deluge Lake and took the Deluge trail back to my car at the Gore Creek TH. Countless downed trees on the Deluge trail. Wildflowers are peaking in the Gores! My Gaia came in at 13.16 miles and 4719 ft of gain. Started hiking around 5AM, back to my car at 1PM. 7 hours of moving time, 1 hour chilling on the summits and took a dip in Deluge Lake. The traverse from north to south took me 80 minutes - and that included a few times where I hiked up to the ridge only to cliff out and downclimb. A truly amazing day in the mountains! :) |
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6/28/2022 Route: - Posted On: 6/30/2022, By: blueshade Info: Some snow at the base of the ridge that is easily walked or avoided, at your choosing. None on the ridge or the traverse |
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10/2/2020 Route: Via Bighorn Creek Posted On: 10/4/2020, By: supranihilest Info: Trail is in good shape. We ascended to Bighorn Pass on Class 2 boulders and talus, then up "North Traverse"'s north ridge at Class 2+. Nothing really of note on this peak by itself. |
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7/4/2020 Route: Bighorn Posted On: 7/6/2020, By: art__vandelay Info: Now is a good time to summit North Traverse. In order to go around the snowfields expect a little third class grass, as they say. |
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7/1/2016 Route: North Rock Creek Posted On: 7/3/2016, By: WillRobnett Info: Camped at around 10,700 near the creek. Snow in the basin from 11500 and up, heavy snow pack on Grand Traverse Pk then North Traverse. |
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6/26/2016 Route: View from palomino point west ridge Posted On: 6/26/2016, By: WillRobnett Info: View from palomino point west ridge |
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6/17/2016 Route: View from East Vail Posted On: 6/18/2016, By: WillRobnett Info: Approach to North Traverse and Grand Traverse |
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10/4/2014 Route: Bighorn Creek Trail Posted On: 10/5/2014, By: piper14er Info: Winter is coming... Thanks to Lordhelmut report for directions to trailhead, east exit Vail, left under I-70, 0.7 miles on Bighorn or so to left on Columbine Drive, through box culvert under I-70 to parking on left. Pic 1 - Grand Traverse Pic 2 - snow on trail below cabin Pic 3 - left around cabin and head up basin Pic 4 - slopes on right below N.T. contour up Pic 5 - rocky slopes Pic 6 - snow from 4" up to knee deep on north facing slopes just below summit ridge Pic 7 - Grand Traverse Peak, Mt. Valhalla and Snow Peak (snowslides) Pic 8 - Grand Traverse ridge from N.T. G.T. Gators and baskets recommended. Rocky trail to start climbs quickly, levels out, to cabin then steep slopes from basin to top. Avoided the talus up to saddle between Keller and N.T. Snow deep enough to cover all the holes between rocks so watch footing. |
