12/18/2019 Route: South Ridge from Monarch Posted On: 12/18/2019, By: supranihilest Info: I took CR228 to the second switchback. Snowmobile tracks ended at the switchback before this. My snowshoe tracks are obvious from this point. I cut off the road into the forest there to avoid avalanche terrain farther up, which is where the difficulties began. Most of the snow in the forest was at least shin deep to knee deep, with plenty of thigh deep snow. All of it was powder, making for slow going. I traversed to the ridge crest and then up from there. Once above treeline conditions improved slightly but there was still plenty of deep, unconsolidated snow. I stayed very near the ridge crest until things became less steep below the summit, in order to avoid avalanche terrain. From the obvious flatter area I continued up the ridge to the summit. There is some mandatory avalanche terrain just below the summit but the snow was in good shape - non-reactive and mostly just powdery. Still, if you stick to the rocks you can probably avoid any consequences of poor judgement re: snow quality. I descended the exact route I came up in order to beat the track in more. Please poach my track, it was a lot of work getting through the forest and I don't want it to go to waste! |
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6/26/2019 Route: Via FS230C Posted On: 6/27/2019, By: Jay521 Info: Snow was solid in the morning on the approach but I was sure glad I had snowshoes coming down (about noon) |
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6/14/2019 Route: From Boss Lake TH Posted On: 6/14/2019, By: WildWanderer Info: Lots of water on 4WD part of the trail. Snowshoes needed at 11000'. Road easy to follow until cabins, and from then on out you're breaking trail in snowshoes. Snowshoes are very, very helpful. There's been an avalanche just below the basin, obscuring the normal route, but this one was easy to follow/navigate. Snow stopped at basin/treeline and I was able to hike from there to summit without traction. "Hikers Trail" from basin to summit was more of a mountain goat trail used by goats only when absolutely necessary... I don't think this route is used often. |
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4/14/2019 Route: FR228 Posted On: 4/14/2019, By: osprey Info: The forecast for Aetna and Taylor today of 50-55 mph gusts did not disappoint. We followed the recommendation of SnowAlien and took FR228 towards Taylor Mountain. The road is well packed by snowmobiles and neither snow shoes nor spikes are required for the road. After reaching the mine at the head of the valley we turned west and ascended the steep slope until we reached the south ridge of Taylor mountain which we followed to the summit. It was windy for all the ascent but we did not enjoy the full wind blast until we were on the south ridge when the wind stopped us in our tracks several times. We reached the summit of Taylor and felt the traverse to Aetna would be too slow and dangerous due to the wind and then retraced our path down the south ridge. Upon reaching the steep east facing slope we glissaded almost all the way from the ridge down to the road near the mine at the head of the valley. It took only 2 hours to descend from the summit to the TH at the Highway. The ascent time is a state secret. |
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6/9/2018 Route: via FS228 from Missouri Hill/Taylor saddle Posted On: 6/16/2018, By: majtytom Info: summer conditions |
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5/10/2018 Route: Forest service rd 230 Posted On: 5/10/2018, By: katielyons Info: Summer conditions nearly the entire way to the summit when approaching from the west. I summitted wearing trail running shoes and a base layer (it was about 35 degrees at the top). The east aspect was significantly snowier, but still could be avoided pretty well if desired. The summit ridge on Aetna was still fairly snowed in although the Grand Couloir is looking somewhat bare, at least from the top of Monarch Pass. The west faces of Shavano/Tabeguache are looking dry. |
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6/4/2016 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 6/4/2016, By: illusion7il Info: Ascended South Ridge from Lower Boss Lake TH. Some snow on the road after you reach the turnoff for Hoffman Park, then lots of snow on the road just before Hoffman Park that is avoidable by gaining the ridge earlier than other reports describe. Ridge is completely dry. Flotation would be worthless, but defiantly bring gaiters. Snow is melting crazy fast. Very Warm. |
