6/25/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/25/2025, By: Istoodupthere Info: 1st obstacle is getting over the remaining cornice to gain the ridge at 12,000. Lowest area was about 12 feet high. Straight up. I managed in boots and poles but crampons and ice axe would be better. I slipped the first try. A fall would be bad. Around 13,000 is a snow field on the ridge. Snow was icy. Spikes would be advisable. Had to go over the top of the dark rock at 13,500 which was an easy class 3 move. Then immediately get on a snowfield on the ridge. Crampons and ice axe preferred here again. A slip on either of the fore mentioned snowfields would be really bad. On descent I went more straight down to avoid the highest snowfield. Steep talus and boulders but it wasn’t too bad. Started sleeting at 9:30am. Just in time for the steep loose descent of the first rocky slope. Overall not a very fun route. Once you start ascending from the 12,000 ridge it’s all talus/boulders, some loose, with some steep scree mixed in. |
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5/8/2025 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 5/9/2025, By: jacolc Info: Approached for Drift via MonteCristo Creek and climb east couloir to south ridge snow 45deg. Flotation needed after recent storm. On traverse 6-18inches of fresh snow, full winter condition except warmer temp. On descent from Fletcher initially used crampons and switch to snowshoe. |
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8/8/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 8/8/2023, By: PikaSteve Info: Fairly easy to connect trail segments on the ridge despite few cairns. Windy, but beautiful day. One snowfield at 13,600 with flat crossing option at ridge crest. |
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7/14/2023 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 7/14/2023, By: 14er101 Info: Did the class 5 variation of the Fletcher+Drift traverse today, Pretty much summer conditions to Fletcher and class 3 traverse would be summer conditions. Did class 5 both ways, set up anchor above the notch, and rappeled, on return we belayed on top rope. If you go directly up from the notch (instead of doing the ledge as described in the route) it is anywhere from 5.4 to 5.6. Great rock all around, I hope to write up a trip report soon. |
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7/4/2023 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 7/5/2023, By: backcountrybrodes Info: See Fletcher Mountain |
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4/1/2023 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/5/2023, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh Info: No snowshoes required for the road on the way in, however after reaching near the log cabins, you'll need snowshoes for accessing the NW Ridge. Ended up sticking near the rocks where we climbed directly up to the first point on the ridgeline. From there, there were sections of windblown and unconsolidated snow that made us wish we hadn't stashed our snowshoes during the long section of the ridge. Literally almost swimming in snow and spindrift with the winds, which didn't disappoint either lol. Once we got to the final push, had finally paid our dues and was able to ascend to the top easily. Had enough time to catch the sunset on the way out. Ended up bringing an ice axe as well which came handy for some restful glissades on the way down. Having a balaclava and snow goggles helped with mitigating wind conditions as well, whereas for traction microspikes or crampons would have sufficed. |
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9/11/2022 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 9/12/2022, By: Ssgustafson Info: Excellent day on Fletcher and Drift yesterday! Relative to the Class 5.2 variation on the traverse, I found the hand and foot holds to be straightforward and very solid - and probably easier (and more fun) than downclimbing the Class 3 detour. I also wanted to mention that the route I chose after the 5.2 section skirted to the right (instead of scrambling left up and over the top of the point). Skirting to the right proved to be a fine class 2+ way to get back to the 'rust colored' entry on the Fletcher side. Hope this is helpful! |
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8/6/2022 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 8/6/2022, By: 14er101 Info: Besides some ice and rain from overnight, the traverse is dry. About halfway up the white-colored rock, just before the area in pic #21 on the route description, we found a cairned slab that, although somewhat exposed, traversed to the south over the ridge. I would not want to do the slab when wet, but when dry we could walk it carefully. The terrain on the backside of the slab was all class 2/2+ and mostly unexposed. Attached is a pic of the slab, and the terrain beyond it. |
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5/27/2022 Route: NW face Posted On: 5/27/2022, By: jmanner Info: Drift is pretty in, we were bummed we didn't ski it instead of Fletcher. Snow was punchy on Fletcher so we weren't able to make it over there, but the snow was softening up at about 11:00 am. New snow definitely needs more time to consolidate some. |
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4/30/2022 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 5/1/2022, By: merrion13 Info: Mix of wind-loaded snow and also really fractured/thick crust, didn't feel yet like a spring snowpack, highly variable. We skied the NW face and it was 'adventure skiing' at its finest, would give it another week or so to consolidate and for these damn winds to die down. |
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4/16/2022 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/17/2022, By: jbealer Info: We made it to almost 12800ft, ridge snow was unsupportive. I was leading a team of students, and with that large of group did not want to chance it. We were side kicking steps and the snow was just crumbling under our feet, very much sugar. |
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10/31/2021 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 10/31/2021, By: LetsGoMets Info: Snow the entire way. Packed trench from the Upper TH to the ridge @ 12000 feet. From there to the summit is almost consistent snow ranging from a few inches to a couple feet in places, even on the ridge proper. Got by with trail runners and spikes, but would prob recommend boots at this point. Great summit. |
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7/20/2021 Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse Posted On: 7/20/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP Info: Summer conditions on the traverse. The route is not well-cairned and it's a little vague where to go as trail segments come and go. The steep, exposed climbing is very brief, but be careful on the loose rock. I ended up climbing up something that felt close to Class 4 but later found an easier way down (Class 3). |
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6/3/2021 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/3/2021, By: colin j Info: Ascended the NW Bowl and descended Villa Ridge. Left TH just after 500 and began climbing NW Bowl at 645; snow conditions were excellent on ascent and I thought this was a really enjoyable snow climb. Lots of mixed snow and loose rock near the summit; reached summit at 820. Decided to descend NW Ridge to avoid posthole city and found the ridge quite challenging, several cornices and softening snow made progress tedious. In these conditions (snowed in ridge and loose rock up high) this route has the feel of a class 3 rather than class 2. |
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4/10/2021 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 4/10/2021, By: stomblin7 Info: Road was boot packed and icy in sections, did not use any traction on road. Snowshoes were needed above 11,800 ft to the ridge, otherwise you would be postholing in places about knee deep. On ridge snow varied from sugary to soft snow, with the occassional crust in isolated areas. Ridge was a solid mix of rock and snow, with well defined cornices. |
