Maroon Peak

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 7/18/2015, By: yingyangsoup89
Info: Climbed this and found the snow to be a slushy top layer and frozen lower layer. It made traction very difficult for our crampons. I‘m lucky I had two ice axes because that is what let me climb it. I would not suggest climbing this until next season as it is on its last leg. The snow is rotten. 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 7/18/2015, By: yingyangsoup89
Info: Awesome route. Snow free. No ice on the rocks. Good to go. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/19/2015, By: K Adams12
Info: Snow free except one last little section towards the summit, but it was easily avoidable by climbing up the rocks a different way. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 7/17/2015, By: BagginPeaks
Info: Bell Cord is still IN and was choice today! Snow was rock solid and awesome for cramponing. One section the snow bridge is very narrow (like a foot) and a little mixed climbing was required to get around it. Otherwise coverage is great. Big runnel in the middle of the upper narrow section, chose to stay out of it when we could but was not always possible. Go Go Go when you are in the narrow upper portion! Evidence of rockfall litters the couloir and some small boulders came down at around 5:30AM, luckily we were out of the way and not in the upper section yet. We left the parking area at 2:30, wasted some time in the dark trying to find the route from the trail to the couloir, on by 5, off by 7. It gets first sunlight and the top was beginning to soften and get slippery, definitely would not want to be on it any later than that. Get it while its good :) 

Route:  Bell Cord & Traverse
Posted On: 7/5/2015, By: kushrocks
Info: The Bell Chord is still very in right now. We started early and had a great climb up it on Friday with 0 post holing. If you want to get after it before its gone now is the time. Even with lows of only about 40 the chord was in great shape and perfect for crampons. From the top of the Chord we traversed left to summit South Maroon then came back across the traverse and descended North Maroon. Both the traverse and the descent off North Maroon were 99% dry. GO GET IT!! 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/22/2015, By: Mike Shepherd
Info: The cord is in excellent condition. We climbed in the runnel mostly where the snow was quite firm. Topped out around 715 am and it was still in excellent condition. We descended the South Ridge which still has significant snow cover. Despite one in our party having done the route previously, the snow made route finding very difficult. We got cliffed out and badly off route several times, turning the traverse to leave the ridge into a 6 hour 4th class sufferfest. Choose your descent very carefully on this route. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/22/2015, By: yingyangsoup89
Info: Attempted the Bell Cord Sunday. We joined up with many other teams (12 members in total). Start time 1:30 am. Snow-free until above the garbage chute and melting quickly. Big runnel in the cord and the snow was fairly firm. Some spots were soft and others were ice. We were halfway up the cord (about 13k) at 6:30 am (not ideal timing) when we decided to turn back. The sun was softening the snow and we didn‘t feel the descent via the cord would be safe. Others made it up the bell cord and down the SE ridge. They‘ve noted that wind picked up in the afternoon, which helped keep the snow firm, even on the SE ridge. Word of advice, start early and go through the waterfall in the garbage chute. Someone attached a fixed rope and that path saves about an hour of time rather than going around the chute. Always keep the descent in mind as well! Will be back next Sunday. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 5/17/2015, By: bigmtnskier
Info: Road to the lake is 95% free of snow. Road our bikes to the lake without too much trouble. Thanks to partner who had a chariot we were able to tow a bunch of camping gear with us. Overnight at TH was cold and snowy. Still deep snow in the area. Got halfway up bell chord before turning around due to weather and low visibility. superb ski conditions, no concerns about stability. There was around 6" of light and dry snow on top of a pretty solid layer. Went back to camp and skied the south side of Sievers mountain the next morning. 

Route: East Face
Posted On: 3/23/2015, By: bigmtnskier
Info: Climbed and skied the east face of Maroon on sunday. the road getting up to the lake is in rough shape, so if you are taking snowmobile beware. melting out very fast. won‘t be long until they plow the whole thing. good corn skiing for most of the way. little pow up top in the shaded areas. north maroon looking real good too. 

Route: blah
Posted On: 9/28/2014, By: Monster5
Info: Conditions subject to change but the area had a nice weather window all day yesterday woth storms just about everywhere else. Th to buckskin pass: dry, good condition Buckskin pass to 13039: class 4 (might be easier with light, bypass right?), somewhat loose. Dry. 13039 to sleeping sexton: some wet and icy spots. Can be kept at 3rd class with optional spice. The big forehead headwall easier than it looks following ledges. The key ledge to sexton dry. Sexton to n maroon: dry, class 5.easy. either expect a dozen rappels off sketchy anchors and bring a couple hundred ft of cord with nut backups, or get pretty creative choosing your ledges and figuring out how to get to them. We init used left ledges off the summit then right ledges past initial raps. The big drops without great ledges (or requiring large drops) were downclimbed near the saddles at 5.easy with tricky route finding. Gunsight to n maroon can be kept class 3 using right side ledges staying near or on the ridge. N maroon to maroon: some negligible snow near n maroon summit. Some icy stuff near maroon summit that can be mostly avoided. Rest of the 5.0 traverse dry. Not sure about rap stations. Maroon to Belleview: dry except for damp mud near belleview. Class 4 super choss after leaving maroon std route where it drops down the suck. Mostly left ledges with right side ledges at the super choss sketchy section. The belleview saddle is significantly easier than it looks - towera offset from ridge and no game changing notches. Ascent up to belle from saddle can be kept at third with optional spice with steep left side bypasses. Class 1/2 route to w maroon pass dry. Back to th dry besides stream crossings. Yelled at a slightly bold bear to get out of the way near crater. Non aggressive but bold in his food search. Roughly 19 mi, 7-8k. 17 hrs with group of 4 (boggy, kylie, abe) and significant wait time for one at a time through loose climbs 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 9/25/2014, By: mtn_nut
Info: The Bell Traverse, Maroon‘s South Ridge, and North Maroon‘s NE ridge are all in GREAT shape right now. Climbed them today (9/25/14) No snow on the south ridge of Maroon Peak a hand full of small patches of snow on the traverse (all easily avoided, nothing on the hard portions of the traverse) and one spot of black ice on the initial decent from Maroon Peak (also avoidable) a few spots of snow and one spot of black ice on the NE Ridge of N. Maroon (also avoidable easily) go get it before the snow comes! The aspen are in prime colors right now too! 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 9/25/2014, By: Cool Hand Luke
Info: Standard route up South Maroon is snow free and in great shape. Descending South Maroon to the Bell Cord saddle there is a little bit of snow and verglass, but 95% clear on route. Traverse to North is completely snow free too. Rockfall removed a few cairns on the N. Maroon descent in the second gulley, if you traverse make sure you know the correct exit gulley. I found the last two crux moves unnerving unroped. Would suggest if you have any hesitation about going unroped to bring a rope and pro just in case. Fall colors are pretty much peak near the lake, this weekend should be awesome for photography. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 9/12/2014, By: scootmanjones
Info: I climbed Pyramid yesterday and posted its conditions. A couple of people have asked about the conditions of the Bells. I‘m attaching a picture of the south faces of the Bells from the summit of Pyramid. I‘m also attaching a picture of the north face of Pyramid showing the snow, which could look like the north faces of the Bells. Hope that helps. Another warm, sunny day in Aspen today so conditions could be different this weekend. 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 9/2/2014, By: James Dziezynski
Info: On 9/1, there was still some tricky snow on the north face of Maroon Peak. It was wet snow with hard ice hidden underneath -- light crampons would have been nice. I‘m guessing it will melt out in a day or two. The traverse from the Bell Cord to N. Maroon was 99% clear as was N. Maroon‘s descent route. All in all, pretty good shape. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 8/3/2014, By: bbass11
Info: Hiked Maroon Peak and did the traverse today. There was no snow anywhere near the route for either peak. For now at least, full summer conditions for the peaks. Following the actual trail as described by 14ers.com up the 2800 ft proved to be not too smart. The parties that followed some cairns further left (SW) than the trail and crested the ridge at a lower point had a much easier time of it and also reported almost no loose stuff, whereas the trail itself is full of steep scree.