Mt. Elbert

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 4/27/2012, By: dfrizzle
Info: Made it all the way up the 4wd road without a hitch Thursday night. Fresh dusting of snow overnight, very windy above treeline but didn‘t use snowshoes at all (would recommend gaiters for the slushy stuff). Trail was much drier on the way down even with the new snow. Trip Report coming soon but if you need pics sooner, pm me. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 4/16/2012, By: mikeegan40
Info: Starting off at 7am the trail was a bit icy, microspikes are recommended. Hit a little bit of dry trail for a while, then back to some icy packed snow. Was able to walk on top of most of the harder packed snow on the way up, but could see lots of post holeing and went down a few times ourselves. Just before tree line, the trail disappears into the trees and couldn‘t find where it went. Traversed just to the east of the trail, went around and found the trail once again just above tree line and easily visible with the rocks lining both sides. Pretty windy and blowing snow at times, then would let up and was pretty nice. Final push to the top after the false summits was very windy. On way back down in the trees we did go through the snowpack quite a bit as it had softened up quite a bit, but still glad we didn‘t pack any snowshoes. Both dogs did really well all the way to the top. Even with the blowing snow at times, never had my heavy coat on, just two long sleeved shirts and an insulated flannel. Just recommend good gloves above tree line. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 4/6/2012, By: parsonne
Info: The 4WD road is mostly dry but gets quite muddy towards the top, especially in the afternoon. It is really not as rugged as "4WD" suggests, but be aware of the mud in the last 1/4 mile or so. Hiking was mostly on snow with one decent stretch (just after treeline) that was dry. We wore only hiking boots. I would not recommend snowshoes, although we did have to cross one slippery snowfield (12,400‘). The snow stayed mostly firm in the morning and we only a few post-holing issues on the descent below treeline. We left the upper TH around 6:30am and reached the summit at 10:15 (3 hr 45 min). Left the summit at 11:00. Great hike overall, the snow kept things interesting. My advice would be to start earlier than us if possible, the lower trail was very wet by the time we were back down. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 3/26/2012, By: bphughes1
Info: Started around lunch time I walked up the 4WD road the road which was Icy and muddy my Subaru would have gotten stuck. I put my snowshoes on at the bridge at the start of the trail south Elbert Trail head. The trail had its dry spots but it was easier to just wear snow shoes than keep taking them off. I emerged out of the tree line after about 2 hours and decided to camp at 11600 feet which is below the tree line in the field. The snow was very heavy below the tree line and snow shoes are a good idea. The next day I made it to the summit the trail alternates from dry spots to thick snow until 13000 feet after 13000 snow shoes are useful there is quite allot of snow and a little ice. It took me 2.5 hours to summit after leaving my camp and it took a little less than 4 hours to make it back to my car. Overall the weather was great not a cloud in the sky the snow was melting heavily in some areas and thick in others and it is very cold at night. But I would highly recommend this route. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/19/2012, By: Markwise
Info: East Ridge route is a fantastic route for Elbert! The 4WD road was not driveable but very compacted snow and great for hiking. We put on snowshoes at the bridge for the 4WD TH. They were not likely necessary yet but easier to wear than carry at this point. The trench was very compacted and made for great hiking up to the ridge proper. At 11700 on the ridge, in a small meadow, the trench inexplicably went two directions. We were unsure of which choice to make and went right. Ended up following someone's fresh tracks ahead of us up to 11800. At 12500 we stashed snowshoes. Wished we'd kept them for another 200 feet as the slope above 12500 had some minor-postholing. Above 12700 no need for snowshoes. From 13400 up to about 13800 was the steepest portion of the ascent and we were able to follow faint switchbacks from the summer trail to help. Above 13800 mostly wind-blown snow and just made a bee-line to the summit. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/15/2012, By: j-dub
Info: Mostly packed trail/ trough from 2WD TH all the way to ridge except for the clearing just before treeline-- test for the packed trail somewhere to your right! It was obscured by fresh snow so we missed it on the way up, but it's there somewhere... Don't venture into the left/middle as we did--> sank in hip-deep pow despite snowshoes = exhausting. Found the packed trail on the way back. I'd recommend keeping snowshoes on until after passing the "small point" on your left above treeline (12,500'~+ ). Not much snow on the ridge so Microspikes or bareboot thereafter ok. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 1/10/2012, By: 54coldones
Info: Road to trailhead is passable with a Subaru/trailer. Good tracks all the way to tree line. The last snow storm put soft sastrugi on hard snow. Other than the lees and the trail there is no other accumulation. It‘s a great weather window for the tallest peak in co. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 1/6/2012, By: Nelson
Info: Climbed on January 5. Good trail the whole way. There was no need for snowshoes, ax or crampons. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 12/26/2011, By: Andymcp1
Info: Able to drive within .3 of a mile to the upper 4wd TH in a honda crv with no issues today. Trail is well boot packed to tree line. After tree line route finding is easy, but there are no tracks to speak of after todays high wind. Under tree line max snow depth was 2 feet. Above tree line there was anywhere between 6in-18 in of cover. Most snow was windslab and did you did not sink in much. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 11/30/2011, By: Unknown
Info: Mount Elbert Northeast Ridge Route via North Elbert TH (Standard) The road going to the trailhead was mostly covered with snow but it was pretty well packed in place. We were able to make it with a 4WD car (Subaru) with a little bit of slipping around. No avy danger at all and most of the mountain above treeline was so windblown that the trail had little snow or ice on it. We all brought our snowshoes but they were not needed - we ended up stashing them about an hour or two into our hike. There weren‘t that many places where we had to posthole. We all brought microspikes as well but never put them on. I think it is wise to bring them anyway, because you never know when you‘re going to need them. Trekking poles certainly helped on the steeper sections. The weather was absolutely perfect - still and calm, clear blue sky, little to no wind for most of the hike. Not too cold. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 11/22/2011, By: kushrocks
Info: We made it in our cars with 4 wheel drive to within .3 miles of the summer trailhead before some ice on a steep hill stopped us in our tracks. Be very careful if you make it this far because it is extremely sketchy backing down this. If you tapped your brakes too hard you could go skidding down backward in your car with no way to stop. Tire cables or chains would have been very helpful even for our SUV‘s. Your welcome to anyone heading up to Mt. Elbert via this route before the next big snow. Once on the route we plowed trail the entire way up through tree line and it was exhausting. Marie123 and I unfortunately didn’t have snowshoes but I would highly recommend them for anyone going up this route. The other two in our group who had them found them extremely beneficial. Once above tree line the snow was mostly windblown and not very deep at all. We wore microspikes the rest of the way up which was all you really needed but you could probably get by without them as well. However, we encountered horrible winds blowing straight at us the whole way to the summit which drastically slowed us down. Some great views on the way up in between the wind but we couldn’t see anything on the summit. Photo: Marie123 and I on the summit 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 11/6/2011, By: kushrocks
Info: Anyone looking at heading up the Elbert/Massive Trailhead . . . . it sucked!!! We didnt even get a chance to attempt the hike. I have a small SUV so I was in 4 wheel drive the whole time going to the trailhead. It started out just a little icy then the snow got deeper and deeper and we got stuck on the way up there. Looked like they had gotten at least 6 inches of fresh new snow on the road from the storm that came in Friday night and lasted all day Saturday. After searching around where we were stuck looking for tree branches to jam under my tires about 30 yards in front of us there was a spot that only a monster suv or big lifted truck would get through so we knew we couldnt go forward. At this point we were only about .5 miles from the trailhead but the last 2.5 miles up that road was incredibly risky for my car. We got really lucky just getting as far as we did and with heavy snow coming down last night we bailed and went home. We were going to car camp but didnt want to risk getting stuck there for a long time. We actually barley even made it out of there so it was probably a good thing we turned around when we did because it was coming down when we left and snowed heavy until we got back to around Silverplume. The hike would be for sure doable the snow on the road was where it was bad. If you go I would be prepared to add several miles round trip to your hike at this point because its going to take a pretty big suv or truck to get up that road right now 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 10/22/2011, By: ursidae
Info: Few inches of snow in spots on the upper trail, went up with 5 others today. Low hikers for boots, no traction devices, occasional minor and not very deep postholing, more or less avoidable with some effort. Warm day so some areas were melting, when it sets up it might be nice to have yaktrax or similar in the pack. Almost no snow in the trees and on the lower areas. 4WD road to upper th is good, not much water in the stream crossing, we had a 4Runner and a Tacoma so no issues at all. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/9/2011, By: RJansen77
Info: Just returned from an Elbert attempt via the NE ridge. Below treeline the snow is packed and there is maybe 4-5 inches on the ground, no traction needed. Above treeline, the steeper aspects and the pitches below each of the false summits are holding waste deep snow, walking in this over loose scree and talus that is underneath and not frozen yet is very difficult and somewhat dangerous as breaking an ankle would not be too difficult. Plan on slow going unless things change. PM me if you have any other questions. I‘ll try to upload a few pictures later. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 10/1/2011, By: Jules246
Info: Perfect weather, no snow on trail all the way to summit. Aspens are GORGEOUS and not many people on the trail.