6/25/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/29/2011, By: douglas Info: Logjam was fine going up but on the hike down (morning and after higher water level) was a bit tricky. Exposed logs were icy and VERY slippery - almost everyone in our group got wet at some point. The smart ones put on their crampons and walked right across. There are a few dry camping spots at the lake but mostly snow. Snow all the way up the peak and crampons absolutely necessary. No need to bring showshoes for the hike in. |
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6/18/2011 Route: West Slope Posted On: 6/19/2011, By: rleclair Info: Quite a bit of snow at Geneva Lake with very few if any "dry" campsites. We had to dig out of a flat snow bench to pitch tents on 6/17/2011. Solid snow conditions from Geneva Lake up to the base of Snowmass. Crampons, axe, helmet required in ascending 45 degree snow climbs via the numerous gullies. Our team was climber‘s left of the center gully and ascended solid snow to the rock bands near the top. From there, packed crampons and traverse climber‘s right to the Snowmass summit. Some "airy" class 3 moves to gain the summit. Enjoyed soft snow conditions on monster glissades from near the summit to the base of Snowmass. |
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6/11/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/13/2011, By: Crestoner Info: -- There are many fallen trees (aspens) across the first 5 miles of the trail. Between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, a large rock fell into the trail ~500 feet past the "Snowmass/North Snowmass overlook" (~mile 4.5?). -- The logjam is now in "Spring condition"....full length (all snow gone), many logs unstable. -- The serious snow (i.e., time for snowshoes...) now starts where the trail enters the woods above the switchbacks, ~0.5 mile past the logjam, and goes all the way to the summit; there is some snow on the trail below the logjam, but it's inconsequential. -- Snowmass Lake is still largely frozen. -- There is very deep snow in the camping area at the east end of the lake. There are 2 "dry" spots at the lake's edge. -- The temps at the camping area were very comfortable: mid 50s during the day, a little below freezing at night. -- The logs for crossing the stream at the lake have all washed away since last season. The snow overhangs the stream in the camping area, so some short logs (or a 4-foot hop) will get you across the stream. We and another group made a small log bridge, but the snow overhang it's braced on will likely be gone in a day or two. Unfortunately, with the snow cover, fallen logs are hard to come by in the camping area. I found a large log ~250 feet north from the stream, ~100 feet from lake edge. I broke off all of the branches. But, it was just too heavy for my wife and me to move very far. If a group could get this log to the stream, it would be great for a new crossing...it's ~12-feet long, maybe 18" in diameter. -- With the exception of that one "cliff," you can walk on hard snow right along the lake's south edge at the beginning of your climb. We cramponed up right after crossing the stream. -- The climbing route from the lake to the summit ridge is in exquisite condition! The climbing was awesome. We gained the summit ridge at the second notch, just to the left of the large rock mass of the summit area. -- On the west side of the summit ridge, the snow is hard and steep. We were back there ~0900. -- With 2-3 short walks to connect the best slopes, you can glissade almost all the way from the summit ridge to the large rock at the west end of Snowmass Lake. |
