Grays Peak

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 7/17/2023, By: Graham_Bitner1
Info: Hike was very fun. The summit of Grays was extremely windy, there was also some snow between Grays and Torreys that you need to pass thru to get to or from Torreys if you are taking the standard route. Lots of animals today, saw a couple marmots and a mountain goat. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 7/16/2023, By: dr_j
Info: Summer conditions. We started at around 10 AM, and saw 100+ people descending, but got Grays and Torreys summits mostly to ourselves. There remains two snow patches on the connector trail requiring some caution, its still a bit slippery. You dont need spikes, just proceed slowly. Trail is pretty clean, although there are still rocks with graffiti on top, plus a couple summit signs on Torreys that we took down. Minimal poop bags, just 1-2 left at the trailhead. Restrooms are full of litter. 

Route: Lost Rat Couloir
Posted On: 7/16/2023, By: CDubFTW
Info: Did not climb or descend the route. Got some photos from the top and bottom. My partner and I saw plenty of thin and dirty snow in the couloir and decided not to descend. Probably too late in the season to use it anymore. I'd love to hear what other people's opinions are of the current conditions. Still got that lovely cornice on top. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 7/10/2023, By: bkrutsinger91
Info: The clouds came in faster than expected today but it cleared up and was super nice. Some ice on parts of the connecting trail getting down from Torreys. Micro spikes not needed but may come in handy. 

Route: Lost Rat Couloir
Posted On: 7/8/2023, By: Crestoner
Info: I didn't climb LRC, and I could only see it from the G/T trail. But, it looks like it still holds continuous snow! That cornice is still hanging on... Sorry, no photos. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: Cruiser
Info: There's some water running down the trail in a couple of sections lower down and still some lingering snow fields to cross higher up. I used microspikes briefly during my ascent but could have made it ok without them. Saw several people glissading without an axe which is not a great idea. Thunder and lightning rolled thru around 10am and sent me running back down the trail. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/3/2023, By: adventure112521
Info: If you need to knock off Grays and want to avoid the mass of humanity, this is a viable option (only 4 other humans on this route. Basically had that side of the mountain to myself). Carried spikes and axe but used neither. 3-4 snow crossings in upper basin, but very manageable. Ridge is almost completely dry, snow and cornices avoidable and mostly off the route anyway.I'd say 85% of route is visible and/or cairned. Just some spots in high basin before reaching headwall where you may get off course a time or two. Happy Independence to all. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: samharrison7
Info: It's still winter up there and spikes are definitely still worth taking, especially on the traverse from Grays to Torreys, where there are still patches that are difficult to avoid. As in the previous report, the switchbacks aren't entirely clear at the moment and if you're just going with the flow, you'll probably end up on the east ridge (which is a nice way up anyway). Conditions on Grays were cold and windy first thing, probably gusting 40mph and cold enough to warrant winter mitts. As I say, it's not quite summer up there yet! Lots of folks climbing Dead Dog, it looked good! 4WD trailhead was full by about 0430. Road is reasonable, no problem (with a little care) in an SUV/AWD. There was even a Tesla up there... 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: amynelson2330
Info: Did this Saturday morning. Got to the trailhead at 5:30 and the parking lot was already full. We had planned to do both Grays and Torreys but decided on just Grays in the end. When I looked at our route on Alltrails after the hike, we realized we didn't take the switchbacks, but summitted via the Continental Divide Trail. We were just following the crowd and completely missed the switchbacks. Not sure if they're accessible or not...we didn't see anyone go that way. The route we took definitely made it a Class 2 hike with quite a bit of scrambling. It was a good challenge, but more than we had expected. Lots of wind and cold at the top! Didn't use our microspikes but poles were definitely helpful. 

Route: Southwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/5/2023, By: schaffs
Info: LOTS of people. Got to parking lot night prior, was nearly full by 9pm. THANK YOU to the hiker who gave my daughter an oxygen tank. Wind was horrible, trail was great. Only a couple spots with snow, didn't need to use our spikes. Missed the switchbacks...didn't even see them, no one was using them. Did not go to Torreys 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 6/29/2023, By: MattDLane1
Info: Still enough snow that micro spikes are helpful, postholing as the snow gets soft in the afternoon. 

Route: Lost Rat Couloir
Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: ryansunshine20
Info: Still completely in and probably will be for at least another week or so. Started booting up around 6:00 and that was a little early for us because we had very hard pack snow for climbing most of the couloir. The cornice is huge but the exit is easy to the right. There was just a shallow boot pack to follow the entire time that went in some very weird directions. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: 14er101
Info: Still alot of snow up high, traction was nice to have but saw plenty of people doing just fine without it! P.S. I did these two as part of the Loveland Pass to Guanella Pass traverse, so do not know conditions down low. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 6/22/2023, By: bsargeant1
Info: Attention Grays/Torreys climbers: CFI has contracted with a helicopter service to transport cut logs up to the shoulder on Grays Peak for use in stabilizing the trail. Weather permitting the helicopter will be ferrying loads one day during the flight window of Tuesday, June 27 through Thursday, June 29. At this time we do not know which day will provide the most optimal flying/hauling condition. Please check our Facebook or Instagram for the most up-to-date information. For safety reasons, hikers will be stopped on the trail briefly as loads are dropped and the helicopter returns to the trailhead area to pick up more loads. Aside from the landing area on the shoulder about 12,750', the flight path will not go over the climbing trail. However, helicopter noise will be audible for much of the day as this needed work occurs. CFI completed a similar operation in 2022 which proved critical to the completion of work needed near the Grays/Torreys trail junction. Failure to get additional logs up to the shoulder will compromise our ability to stabilize this rapidly deteriorating stretch of the trail. We apologize in advance for the impact this activity may have on 14er hikers during this window and hope you all understand the importance of getting this heavy lift accomplished for the long-term condition of the trail. Thanks, Brian Sargeant Development and Communications Manager brian@14ers.org 

Route: Lost Rat Couloir
Posted On: 6/17/2023, By: Joey_parm
Info: Had a blast on this one. It will likely deteriorate quickly in the coming weeks with the warm temps and lack of additional snow. Came down the standard route after summiting grays. APPROACH: Did not use traction until we got to the base of climb. Never used flotation either, although there were a few cases of postholing knee to hip deep but not enough to warrant bringing snowshoes imo. Also, be cognizant of whether or not you're on frozen ponds, etc. CLIMB: avy debri to get over initially, then anywhere from ankle to shin deep good snow. The last top 50ish feet was quite frozen still around 8am so make sure you have good crampons to get good kicks in. Also - sizeable cornice at top. See pic.