Savage Peak

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: swilson753
Info: Climbed Savage Couloir today and descended the ridge. The approach was more involved than expected - supranihilist's GPX was invaluable for staying on track through the trees. We didn't follow it exactly - we followed some old ski tracks and picked the best looking lines. There's intermittent snow from the TH, then continuous snow starting about a mile in from the 4wd TH. It was mostly supportive in the morning and obnoxiously postholey on the way back. There are some truly treacherous areas on the approach where a slip would land you in a creek or off a cliff. It took us about 2.5 hours to reach the base of the climb. The snow bridges were firm, but seem like they'll be pretty sketchy over the next few weeks with how quickly everything is melting. The couloir itself was punchy on the apron. The snow improved to firm, then the perfect softness for booting. We topped out at 9am just as some skiers dropped in. The ridge descent was soft enough to plunge step. It was steeper than I expected. The walk out through the trees and mud was soft and not ideal, but we got it done. Carried snow shoes the entire time, did not use them. They'll probably be more essential as the snow gets even softer next week. Get it while it's good! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: Maddyleane
Info: Attempted over Memorial Day weekend. Missouri Lakes trailhead is free of snow to 4WD trailhead, but the water level for the creek makes crossing near impossible, you'll need to start at the 2WD trailhead. Snow isn't freezing overnight, so you can't start early enough to avoid postholing even with floatation. Had to transition from boots to snowshoes constantly. Tough trail right now, I turned around before I made it out of the trees. Talked to a few different groups at the trailhead that turned around a few miles in. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/21/2024, By: ryansunshine20
Info: No snow on route. Really fun ridge and not too difficult. Lake area crowded with backpackers. 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 7/1/2024, By: benglish
Info: The trail is very wet/ muddy but snow free to the couloir. The first bridge was recently damaged but I was able to cross it with no issues. Savage Couloir is continuous to the summit but the top 40' or so is only a few feet wide. I hit the snow at 5:30am and summited at about 7:30am on rapidly softening snow. There is a lot of rock debris in the couloir so get an early start. The NE ridge is dry with the only trouble being a very wet bushwhack across the meadow to regain the trail. Fantastic route! 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 6/15/2024, By: VeraUndertow
Info: Left TH at 5:30 AM, a little late in my opinion. The trail had a lot of running water on it for the first half mile but forest service crews were working on it on my way back down so hopefully that helps. No real snow to contend with until you go up across the first bridge and onto the south side of the river (north facing). From here the snow was pretty patchy but mostly supportive up and down, maybe 2 post holes per patch where the snow was thinner. The down trees around 11k made following the trail a little harder in the morning but on the way out I was able to find the trail better, it's a lot higher up in the north side than I expected. I left the trail and started heading straight to the bottom of the couloir around 11.1k anyways and was able to skin on mostly continuous snow from here. Got to the base of the coulie at 8:00 and made the summit by 9:15, but about halfway up i was wishing I was about to ski at 8:30. The coulie prevented any wind from blowing and it was hot in there as the sun absolutely bakes it this time of year. Luckily the freeze was very solid and it was only surface mashed potatoes, not all the way down. The direct finish on the couloir connects all the way to the top still, but just barely and only on a sketchy cornice. I dropped in at 9:30 about an hour later than I wish I did, oh well, it was still fun creamy mashed potatoes and the snow isn't to sun cupped yet. This line is steep and narrow at the top so bring your A game if you try it. I don't know how much longer it'll stay continuous from the summit as the top out of the coulie is very narrow (less than 174 cm ski width). Super fun steep skiing for over 1000 ft and then a game of connect the snow patches got me all the way back to the trail at 11,050 ft with only some minor walking over trees and muck with my skis on. Made it back to the trailhead at 11:45 AM and my GPS recorded 7.5 miles round trip. 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 6/10/2024, By: DevonK
Info: The snow was just solid enough climb. The couloir still has a decent amount of snow but it is melting and getting slushy very fast. Unless it gets significantly cooler I would not feel safe climbing this route for much longer. 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2024, By: vertical_volume
Info: Climbed via the Savage couloir. Made it to missouri lakes 4wd trailhead in a crosstrek, 0.3 miles of patchy snow to start then we skinned the whole way to the base of the couloir. found 5+ inches of pow in the couloir, would be surprised if it hasnt slid since. Started 6:20, booting by 8:40 and at the top by 10 ish. Would recommend dropping in no later than 9 until we get into a true freeze thaw cycle. Summit ski descent should be possible for another couple weeks. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/13/2023, By: HikerGuy
Info: Northeast Ridge route is completely dry. It looks like the very top of Savage Couloir has melted out, but it still almost continuous. 7.86 miles, 3,123 feet and 3h 58m roundtrip. 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 6/3/2023, By: Geckser
Info: Had a fun day on the aptly named Savage Couloir with Arthurspiderman. Conditions were quite good on an extremely beautiful line. We were lucky with awesome snow conditions due to about 5 inches of new snow and cloud cover all morning. In the morning we were able to keep trailrunners up to 11,200, this section was full of deadfall but there was a passing trench. After this it was easy skining to the base of the couloir which we arrived at 8:30. Great booting and we were up top before 9:30. Top 60 feet were fairly tenuous with hard snow and steep slopes. On the way down these 60 feet were tough but beyond this it was good dense powder, with only sections where the hard bottom was exposed. Great skiing in the apron as well. We made it down to 10,500 without taking off skis but this was adventure skiing by any reasonable measure. Probably faster to start booting down at 11,000. At the car 11:00 Great line, probably wont be as good for much longer. For difficulty I would mark it as harder then Moonshine (Arkansas) and marginally tougher then Naked Lady (Snowdon). 

Route: Savage Couloir
Posted On: 5/28/2023, By: Chipmunk
Info: Homestake Reservoir Road is open and plowed. Started from the Missouri Lakes 4WD trailhead. Snow doesn't start until you get to the wilderness boundary. Clearly someone had a rough time of it, as the trail is a mess of postholing interspersed with dry patches. We didn't bother with skins for both of these reasons, and the snow was supportable for booting. There is a nice snow bridge over the creek crossing. We climbed Savage Couloir, which has a large runnel on climber's right side, embedded rocks, and wet slide debris. The couloir was like a solar oven with its huge rock walls and the snow was softening quickly when we topped out. We decided to ski down the north face instead, which made for a much smoother ride. We dropped a bit too early but managed a nice, continuous 2,000 foot descent and the snow was still supportable all the way back to the car. Start 5:40, bottom of couloir 8, summit 9:30, dropped at 10, back to the car at 11:30. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/28/2022, By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: Road up to Missouri Lakes is graded, a pleasure to drive it after having seen it pretty much in awful condition over the years. No need to drive past the parking lot on 727, since the Missouri Lakes trailhead is where you want to start from and really is more simple rather than the directions to cross the creek to rejoin the ML trail again. It was not too hard to figure out where to start leaving trail to find access to ridge. I found the route steep on some sections and loose gravel and rocks in most places but there were also grassy areas where it helped on the way up. The couloir is something and I am in awe that we have members that have ice climbed it. My hats off to you!. It is aesthetically incredible up and close.The views were just infinite and this area I just love, so getting it from another perspective was just the icing on the cake. A great mountain. No summit register. Mosquitoes climbed with me all the way to the ridge. They are incredible at getting all their relatives and acquaintances together and love to eat hikers legs, arms and anything that they can get to regardless of clothes and layers !. LOL 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/7/2021, By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: FS road is now open to the TH, 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/4/2021, By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: Homestake Rd is open ONLY to Gold Park Campground. Flooding and heavy rain have closed the remaining access roads via French Creek to Missouri- Fancy Lakes and it affects Savage Peak as well as Whitney Peak. Contact FS for updates. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/28/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: After summitting Savage, I highly recommend tacking on the entire loop up via Missouri Lakes and over to Fancy Pass, then down via Fancy Lake back to the trailhead. Stunning scenery, especially now with the wildflowers simply dazzling and everything so green and lush. Great mid-summer hike! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/28/2021, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. The very small amount of snow remaining on the ridge is easily avoidable.