11/18/2018 Route: From Horn Creek Trailhead Posted On: 11/18/2018, By: WildWanderer Info: First 3 miles was a mix of mud, ice, and snow. I wore my snowshoes the entire way (but didn't really need to). After the cutoff after Macey Creek snowshoes were necessary. I broke trail from the cutoff just after Macey Creek. From here until the bristle cone pines it was a long slog, postholing 2-3 feet with every step. The snow was like cotton candy. Snowshoes are a must, crampons and ice axe weren't necessary. No wind below treeline, so the trench I made should stay until the next snow. Once above the bristle cone pines the entire ridge was windswept. The Crestones look amazing right now! |
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7/28/2018 Route: Horn Creek TH Posted On: 7/29/2018, By: amnesia Info: Summer conditions. There's some bushwhacking and navigation through deadfall needed initially after leaving Rainbow Trail, but it's not all that bad. Route is clear and obvious above the treeline. Saw a couple people on Rainbow Trail but otherwise had the mountain to myself. Solid views of Humboldt-Crestones-KC-Challenger from the summit. |
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5/12/2018 Route: from Horn Creek TH via Rainbow Trail Posted On: 5/12/2018, By: stoopdude Info: There is virtually no unavoidable snow on this route. It could be done in trail runners. I didn't see much info on this, so I'll elaborate- About a quarter mile after the Macey creek crossing, the turnoff to the west/uphill is unsigned and uncairned, although there is a very faint trail segment that intersects the Rainbow Trail on the right at what appears to be its highest point between Macey Creek and Hardnack Creek. There is quite a bit of deadfall in the first quarter mile after leaving Rainbow Trail, but after that a faint climber's trail with occasional cairns emerges, mostly on the south side (climber's left) side of the ridge crest. This will take you most of the way to treeline. The route above treeline is obvious and there are small patches of snow, completely inconsequential. |
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11/29/2017 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/29/2017, By: desertdog Info: We were surprised that there is so little snow on the route. Almost completely dry. Nice day but big winds made us keep our heads down. |
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6/22/2016 Route: E ridge from Horn creek Posted On: 6/22/2016, By: illusion7il Info: All clear from Horn Creek |
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12/31/2015 Route: East ridge Posted On: 1/1/2016, By: brerrabbit Info: Trench is in place to Colony Baldy. The Rainbow Trail portion is a nice, solid trench. I broke trail from the Rainbow Trail to treeline on 12/31 so it‘s just a solo trench but I tried to step opposite my tracks on the descent to make it usable. Snowshoes were not needed above treeline, only used microspikes on the descent so I could plunge step more aggressively. |
