The southwest couloirs provide over 2,500 feet of snow with relatively easy access compared to the northern aspects of Bald. If you're looking for a spring snow climb on the windward side of the mountain, this is a good one. Taken from 14er Quandary Peak,
1 shows the southwest-facing couloirs which run between the Boreas Pass road and the summit ridge. The most direct line is the looker-left branch of a Y-shaped snow formation which is seen when the southwest couloirs are full -
2. From the Boreas Pass winter closure in Breckenridge, walk or skin approximately 3.8 miles up the Boreas Pass road -
3,
4,
5 and
6. Stop at a spot where the road turns right (11,000' and Coordinates: 39.435° N, 105.991° W) and a stream/gully comes down from the left. Through the trees, you'll be able to see the summit and upper route -
8.
9 was taken from a different location but it but it's a better look at the remaining route.
Leave the road and start up through the forest, along the left side of the stream. Zig zag up through the trees for 300' of vertical to reach a patch of younger trees, where avalanches have terminated in the past -
10. Continue through the remaining trees to approx. 11,500' and angle into the couloir to see the remaining route -
11 and
12. Ascend easy terrain (
13) to reach the couloir's branch, above 12,500' -
14 and
15. Take the left branch, toward the summit -
16. The remaining route may be cross-loaded with snow and this is a good point to determine if it's safe to take the couloir itself or adjust your route to ascend a ridge between couloirs. If you're sticking to the left branch of the main couloir, continue up to 13,100' to reach steeper terrain -
17. Pick your line and climb steepening snow (
18 and
19) to reach the final pitch -
20 and
21. The angle will exceed 40° here and may hit 45° depending on how much snow has accumulated at the very top. Just after the angle eases, you'll pop out at the summit -
22.
GPX Track File
