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Peak(s):  Mt. Yale  -  14,200 feet
Date Posted:  04/12/2009
Date Climbed:   04/11/2009
Author:  oldschool
 A day on Yale   

A group from 14ers got together to do Yale on the 11th. Thanks pualperea for getting the trip started. Some stayed at Buena Vista...I camped by the trailhead, just down the road from the parking lot at Denny Creek.

USAKeller and others were parked in the parking lot when I got there at about 5:45 am on Sat. The rest started showing up around 6:00 and by 6:30 the climbers were ready to go. USAKeller and about 3 or 4 skiers started right after us. There as about 8 climbers. Thanks leelaasa1 for the bagels/rolls/doughnuts!

Weather was cloudy and a little snow but off we went. Trail was good..easy to follow. The group ended up getting split into about 3 smaller groups. We had radios between us. Took a few shortcuts in a few places but all went well. Weather was a bit windy, snowing but not too cold. Made the Mt Yale sign turn in 45 minutes..good pace.

Made it above tree line and snow slopes moving ok. So decision time...continue up the snow slopes, taking the "normal" route or head more straight up through the snow covered talus to the summit ridge. A group of us decided to go the more direct route. We hiked up the snow slopes / rocky areas until we reached a gully covered in snow and rocky/talus. Up we went. Climbing went slow...talus basically sucks, even when covered in snow! Step by step....dragging ass in places for sure! Kind of like climbing in sand. Route then turned a bit 3rd/4th class. Boulders and large rocks.....more vertical. A fall or slip would have been bad. Before too long we came across the summit ridge and hung a right and followed it to the top.

Summit was windy, snowing. One by one the group showed up. We stayed on the summit for maybe 15 or 20 is all. Most of us got food/water in us for the descent. Took the obligatory pictures on top. Off we went. We descended the normal route. No way we were going down the same way we came up! As we were going down we came across skiers and other climbers on the way up. Good to see you Barry! Non- eventful descent. Of course as we got to the bottom of the upper bowls the sun started to come out and it ALMOST got nice outside.

A good trip. No one got hurt, all but one made it to the summit. Up in 6 hrs, down in 3. Way cool to see the skiers coming down the slopes. Thanks everyone for a good day in the mtns. I enjoyed meeting all of you.

Mike (oldschool)



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
BAUMGARA
User
Good job!
4/13/2009 2:14am
Sounds like a lot of us ventured into the clouds this weekend.


Easy Rider
User
That summit ridge
4/15/2009 12:42am
with inclement conditions gives Yale some much needed flavor, yes?



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