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Route: Southwest Ridge
Start Time: August 24th, 9:00AM
Summit Time: August 24th, 12:00PM
End Time: August 24th, 2:45PM
Who: Bergsteigen & I
Nothing like a bluebird to motivate you for a great day. Good thing too since we didn't exactly get an "alpine" start. The 4WD and the comfort of the sleeping bag were too much for us to get up there any earlier. We parked at a switchback in the road, not knowing that just a mile further was the "upper trailhead". The 99 Roach guide isn't exactly clear on this.
Wright lake is a beautiful introduction to the route.
Our ascent route is up to the left starting from Blue Lakes Pass. Our descent route is the lovely scree field on the right.
The ridge route starts pretty much exactly at the pass.
(it's not as bad as it looks)
I can't say exactly which way we went looking from here, but there were cairns for the whole route and we didn't have any trouble following them.
Impressive gendarmes the whole way.
No need for the ice axe today.
At one point we had to descend to our right a bit and then turn left around a corner to climb up a couloir. The crux was somewhere up in that couloir - just a few little moves.
Then it was just a bit more light scrambling to victory.
Victory
A unique view - Uncompaghre with Wetterhorn overlapping
A good view of our destination from here.
We had to climb through a little notch to get into this couloir, but after that the route was obvious. We passed two women (one of them in sandals) headed up into the clouds on our way down.
Bergsteigen coming down to join me at the saddle.
What happened to our bluebird?
Now for some talusy scree. Glad to have the poles today.
And some afternoon rain to send us on our way.
Man, wish we had parked at the upper trailhead...oh well Jeep's not far away.
A great day out in the San Juans!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I have long desired to climb this one after seeing a postcard with a gent sitting in the middle of a jagged grouping on a near traverse (not sure where), your pics have helped me to gain confidence that I can do this. I‘m not your average climber as I typically go around 230-240 so I have great respect for the working of gravity. Great job...beautiful place, can‘t wait.
I‘m headed to Sneffels on September 11. Thanks for the advance look at things.
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