5/24/2025 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 5/24/2025, By: sarahmariekirk Info: 99% snow free with only a few snow drifts remaining up high, but they are easily circumnavigated. No snowshoes or spikes. Could have worn trail runners today! Some sections of washed out trail down low that someone has added a few ropes to help across; looks like erosion. Nothing really of consequence, just be careful. |
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8/3/2024 Route: Echo Canyon Posted On: 8/4/2024, By: NittanyLion14er Info: Summer conditions (duh). Just posting to alert potential hikers that the flies on the summit are relentless. |
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6/15/2024 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/15/2024, By: Danger_D Info: Basically summer conditions with only a single easy snow drift around treeline and a few muddy spots. The creek is raging though at the crossing .25 miles from the trailhead. You can probably wade it, but there is a big log across the stream about 40-50 yards downstream. The ridge to Elbert is 90% melted out. I planned on hiking some easy snow but broke through the crust and sank to well above my waist. Keep to the rocks! No issues caused by the twin lakes fire |
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4/21/2024 Route: East slopes Posted On: 4/21/2024, By: kyrawhitworth Info: Started at blackcloud at 6:15am and the snow line was at 10,500ft so we booted up to there where we put skins on. Snow was firm down low but softened quickly by the time we entered the basin. Great slopes for skinning as the grade up high is just right to be steep but not lose any traction. Snow was still supportive up high around 11:15am when we summitted. Waved to a group of two we saw on Elbert. Dropped in for some thankfully awesome soft skiing making for a quick descent. What a great day! |
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1/31/2024 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 1/31/2024, By: Will_E Info: Nice day up on Bull Hill, there was a ski track the first 1/3 of a mile from Hwy. 82 (I parked about a qtr mile west of the trail start), from there I snowshoed to the start of the ridge crest, through treeline I was in and out of snowshoes a few times, snow was great in the morning, not bad in the afternoon. Made good time on Bull, so went across the ridge to Elbert so I could earn some more beer tonight. The ridge from Bull to Elbert has some fun sections, enjoyed that. |
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10/8/2023 Route: Casco Peak to Bull Hill along the ridgeline Posted On: 10/8/2023, By: donovanrice Info: Snow free traverse. Some snow at summit. If you parked at Halfmoon Creek TH, looks like you could theoretically descend from the final saddle before Bull Hill (from Casco). |
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8/2/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 8/4/2023, By: blazintoes Info: The only downside of this climb is the parking. Only 2 spots at the TH or drive up the 4WD for 300 yards just above the creek crossing or a small pull out on 82. If you like mines ruins, easy up, easy down and good views this is your mountain. Creek crossing was verglassed in the AM and cruiser once it warmed up. We saw a baby peregrine falcon nesting in the rocks and luckily no one stepped on it. |
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6/18/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/19/2023, By: aesthyrian Info: The "creek" crossing is the crux. Where the trail crosses creek, the water is up to your knees but there are a few different log crossings as alternatives. Any snow below treeline is easily avoidable, a few downed tress to cross but no biggie. Still some sporadic patches of snow above treeline but nothing of concern. Never used any traction, wore trailrunners(peregrine 12) and never even needed to change socks. Ridge to Elbert has snow. Same with ridge to Casco. |
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6/12/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/13/2023, By: PeakMiller Info: There was a break in the weather for the night so I started hiking up at 5:30pm and made it to the summit before sunset. Cruised down and made it back to the car by 9:30pm. This route was dry and very direct. Great views of all the surrounding peaks. |
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5/30/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 5/30/2023, By: Skimo95 Info: South ridge variation. Almost summer conditions, wore shorts and trail runners. Brought spikes but never needed them. If youre looking for a dry hike this time of year, go for it! Creek crossing was interesting, theres two ways you can cross. |
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5/13/2023 Route: Black Cloud TH to South East Slopes Posted On: 5/13/2023, By: VeraUndertow Info: Unlike other trailheads that access Elbert this one isn't well marked, just a dirt road with a small sign. No snow from TH till 11k, where I switched from trail runners to ski gear, then sloppy unfrozen snow till above treeline near 11,800 ft. Above treeline the snow was great very supportive and just enough heavy wet corn-ish snow (no relation to game hens) to get a good edge in where I needed it. I headed towards the east ridge/gully following the path of least resistance and was able to skin to the top. Started at 7 and summited at 11:30 am after battling the wet and heavy snow below treeline. Started skiing at around noon and the snow skied really great, like one to two inches of soft snow on a supportable base, until I got to treeline, where it became a hot mess again. Eventually I got tired of skiing on my heels and switched to skinning back down my skin track from the morning from around 11,500-11k where I was happy to switch back to trail runners and hike out. Made it back to my truck at 1:20 pm or so and around 8 miles total. |
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10/29/2022 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 10/30/2022, By: Sbenfield Info: Did not use spikes or snowshoes. Snow gaitors helpful but not necessary. From the TH, creek crossing a bit slippery in the morning. Switchbacks easy to follow the entire way up. Great scenery and very cool mining ruins. Nice to meet the CheapCigarMan at the TH and join forces on this one!! |
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10/29/2022 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 10/30/2022, By: CheapCigarMan Info: Camped at the end of the 4wd road by the concrete foundation. This is probably 50 yards beyond / above where the trail begins at the creek crossing. Woke up to 14 degrees and no wind, not even a breeze until we got to the ridge and then winds were probably no more than 3 - 5 mph. Light snow through the woods and on most of the route to the summit, 2" - 4". No traction or flotation needed. Bluebird day. Met Steve, a great partner to have met and have hiked with. We spotted bear tracks on trail through the woods on the descent. This was another spectacular hike. We both discussed how this was underrated as Casco and especially La Plata majestically mesmerized us. |
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6/25/2022 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/25/2022, By: halfapackofapache Info: Summer conditions |
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4/30/2022 Route: Black Cloud TH Posted On: 4/30/2022, By: osprey Info: The weather forecast for today called for -5 to-15 windchills with gusts up to 45 mph so I went in with my full winter clothing prepared for Brrr instead of Bull. (Pun!) Instead it was warm and the only wind was a cooling breeze and the conditions led to rapid de-layering to prevent heat stroke. Intermittent snow on the trail started about 10,700 and because continuous after the stream crossing which was on a log bridge and GAIA was required to navigate through the forest after the stream crossing until just below timberline. I put on microspikes at the bottom of the gully that leads to above timeline and left them on for the rest of the ascent and the descent until re- crossing the stream. Spikes and poles were fine for the ascent as all the snow was quite consolidated. There was some post holing in the forest during the descent but I survived to tell the tale. |
