Mt. Yale Trip Report 06/16/2011

Peak(s):	Mt. Yale - 14,200 feet
Date Posted:	06/16/2011
Date Climbed:	06/15/2011
Author:	mbearman11

Yale- SouthWest Slopes
My brother and i started the hike from the trail-head at approximately 8am. We were met at the trailhead by people working on the trail. Everyone said that the snow was substantial and snowshoes would be needed. We packed accordingly, bringing snowshoes and axes. The only tricky stuff up to about 12000 ft consisted of the river crossings which were manageable. There was no snow to that point. After the 12000 ft mark snowshoes came in handy as there was about a quarter mile of snow, most of which was packed. We lost the trail for a bit, but it was pretty easy to find between some patches. There was no snow again until the 13000 ft mark where there was a small field of snow before ascending the final leg. This snow was mostly hard packed. We got out the snowshoes anyway and made the trip a bit faster. The final ascent was pretty straight forward... follow the carons. On the ascent down all the snow previously mentioned was still pretty stiff. The only noticeable obstacle was the river crossings, one of which became somewhat treacherous; your boots will get wet as the water rushed over the down trees bridging the stream. The only advice i would give is to leave the snow and ice gear in the car or at home, it is not worth the weight as it is not absolutely necessary. Leave early if you want to keep your boots dry of the melting snow being deposited to the river crossings. Bring a wind breaker; the wind near the top of the peak is substantial.

Yale- SouthWest Slopes

My brother and i started the hike from the trail-head at approximately 8am. We were met at the trailhead by people working on the trail. Everyone said that the snow was substantial and snowshoes would be needed. We packed accordingly, bringing snowshoes and axes. The only tricky stuff up to about 12000 ft consisted of the river crossings which were manageable. There was no snow to that point.
After the 12000 ft mark snowshoes came in handy as there was about a quarter mile of snow, most of which was packed. We lost the trail for a bit, but it was pretty easy to find between some patches. There was no snow again until the 13000 ft mark where there was a small field of snow before ascending the final leg. This snow was mostly hard packed. We got out the snowshoes anyway and made the trip a bit faster. The final ascent was pretty straight forward... follow the carons.
On the ascent down all the snow previously mentioned was still pretty stiff. The only noticeable obstacle was the river crossings, one of which became somewhat treacherous; your boots will get wet as the water rushed over the down trees bridging the stream.
The only advice i would give is to leave the snow and ice gear in the car or at home, it is not worth the weight as it is not absolutely necessary. Leave early if you want to keep your boots dry of the melting snow being deposited to the river crossings. Bring a wind breaker; the wind near the top of the peak is substantial.

Comments or Questions

Irish14er	Yale SW (Denny Creek) conditions 6/16/2011 7:30pm Thanks for the update. Congratulations. We plan to do it Sat. Would mirospike work instead of the snowshoes? Just don't need the extra load if not needed? Any issue with the trail direction changes after Denny Creek?
mbearman11	conditions answer 6/17/2011 3:02pm If you were to start before the snow gets soft, the microspike would work well. The snow is very manageable with a bit of kick stepping as it gets softer. I found no difficulty with finding the trail after Denny Creek. I simply followed the tracks in the snow, which always lead to the trail.A little bit of patience went a long way.
Irish14er	Thanks for the update. 6/17/2011 5:46pm Thanks. Microspikes it is. We plan to start at 6am.

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.

14ers.com

Social

Mobile App