"Castleabra"

Route: South Ridge - Standard Route
Posted On: 6/23/2024, By: Ssgustafson
Info: Started at the Pearl Pass 4WD TH at 540AM. The faint trail leading to the willows after maybe 0.5 miles is tricky to follow but becomes a little more clear after crossing the moraine. The maze of bushes, flowing water and mud finally subsides at about 11,950' (~2.5 miles from the TH). The upper basin is still holding quite a bit of snow which was generally supportive. By 830AM, the snow was softening and getting slippery, so I transitioned to the (very nasty) scree slope for the final 360' to the summit. Summitted at 850AM. The descent was aided by several nice glissades. 

Route: From Conundrum Hot Springs
Posted On: 5/28/2024, By: dwoodward13
Info: Put snowshoes on near Silver Dollar Lake. Up until then mix of dry and annoying short patches of snow. Many people without snowshoes have mucked up the trail. All (legal) campsites are under a lot of snow, and seemingly will be for quite some time. I did not attempt the summit due to some boot issues, but partner did and climbed the obvious snow slope directly from the hot springs and reported excellent climbing conditions and continuous snow to the summit. Left camp about 630am and timing seemed to be perfect. Couloir started getting some sun about 930 and softening quickly. 

Route: Sloman couloir
Posted On: 4/27/2024, By: SnowAlien
Info: Packed into the Conundrum Creek the day before and set up camp at Silver Dollar pond about 5+ miles in (the plan to go all the way to hot springs in slushy snow proved too ambitious). Followed faint, few weeks old, but still helpful snowshoe tracks. Next morning, instead of following the wise tracks I decided to cross the Conundrum Creek about 0.5 mile too early and promptly fell into the said creek. Got a soaked left boot, wet skins, and an epic glop that followed that mishap (had an unexpected inch of heavy wet snow overnight). Battled my way up the basin, but eventually made it to the summit by 1pm (my ski partner Justin decided to delete his Strava track to avoid the embarrassment). My Delorme shut down 45 minutes into the day, the battery doesn't like the cold. However, all this effort was worth something as we had pretty great conditions in the Sloman couloir itself. Quite short though. On the way back, speedy and nimble Justin partially collapsed the small snowbridge which we crossed without much trouble in the morning. However, I wasn't so nimble and fell into the Conundrum creek once again, soaking both boots this time, thankfully just a mile away from camp. My track record with bulging creeks this spring is pretty unparalleled so far. Miraculously, the camera survived this time. Following day, I decided to take a rest day and actually reach the hot springs, as well as dry out all the gear. Upon hearing the plan, Justin who doesn't yet believe in rest days, decided to head out and tackle the Unaweep boulders instead (priorities). 

Route: Cumberland Basin
Posted On: 9/22/2023, By: TheHikingTexan
Info: I parked my car at the Brush Creek TH and camped in the back of the car, toilet open in the parking lot. Road my bike ~10.5 miles up the Pearl Pass 4x4 road to the TH register hidden in the trees. From there I was able to mostly follow the trail all the way to the end of the willows at 12,000'. The willows are tall at times and overgrow the trail but it still helps to have the trail at your feet. There was some light snow between 8:30-9:30am but it all melted by the time I reached the summit. No real trail above 12,000', easy to just pick a line and go. The rocks were loose going up the south face but this section seemed to go by fast weaving through a few gullies. Summit ridge is dry and an easy stroll to the top. Register was a bit wet inside with only a handful of entries since early July. I didn't encounter another person all day until a biked out. Aspen color change was maybe at 15%, Bells looked bone dry, Castle only a dusting. So long Summer! 

Route: 13162 B->Castleabra loop via Conundrum Hot Springs
Posted On: 8/31/2023, By: JasonKline
Info: From the Conundrum Hot Springs campsites, we did the Coffeepot Pass->13162 B->13550->Castleabra loop. Still summer conditions. Like everybody else has said, the descent down the west ridge of Castleabra really sucks. It's about 2,600 vertical feet of the steep, loose junk in the attached picture taken from near the hot springs. I apologize again to Rachel for suggesting adding on Castleabra. If you do the west ridge, it would probably be much more pleasant for those who like to do snow climbs. Also, from 13550 to Castleabra, we dropped east down into Cumberland Basin and ascended the gully just south of the true summit of Castleabra. The last 200 vertical feet or so of the gully were really tough to gain (steep, solid dirt with no good footholds). 

Route: Cumberland Basin
Posted On: 7/27/2023, By: desertdog
Info: Its Summertime. The basin has dried up a bit since the last report but Id still bring some extra socks. Your feet are going to get wet. We managed to find a trail through most of the willows and trudged up the center of the slope to the summit ridge. Great views! Pearl Pass road was not bad to the Twin Lakes TH. After that it gets way worse. Two Jeeps were stuck up there today 

Route: From twin lakes
Posted On: 7/17/2023, By: Dobsons
Info: Did castleabra and 13550 today from pearl pass road. Started up twin lakes then went over the saddle to Cumberland basin above twin lakes and contoured around into high Cumberland basin below the rugged cliffs of 13550. The saddle between castleabra and castle is still holding some snow so I just went up the way most go to link 13550 with castleabra. All snow was negligible on the two peaks and I never used anything other than hiking poles. Not certain if the saddle hop trumps the willow bash of lower Cumberland but it was a fun route and fun to see twin lakes. 

Route: Southeast Face from Cumberland Basin
Posted On: 7/6/2023, By: supranihilest
Info: This route is awful in every way, but it's probably still the easiest one on this peak. From below the major switchback on Pearl Pass Road near Cumberland Basin, hike into the basin. There is no trailhead sign and no trail, even to begin with. If you eventually run into the wilderness registration sign a couple tenths of a mile in, you're lucky. It's now miles and miles of super faint trail, mud, standing water on the "trail", the trail literally being a river, willow tunnels ranging from knee height to like 7 feet, and intense route finding. Expect to lose the trail multiple times and simply pick what might LOOK like the trail among multiple equal-looking little tunnels in the willows. (Note, we did not actually go up this trail, and it would be a lot harder going uphill.) If you're carrying an overnight pack, god help you. If the willows are wet or it's raining be very aware that hypothermia is likely because you will be constantly soaked to the bone for hours. If there's snow in the willows, just turn around, seriously. It's all melted now, but for future reference. Make your way up into the upper basin and the trail eventually just ends above treeline. There's some snow above this getting to the face and lots of running water. Your feet will most likely already be wet, and they will stay wet. Pick your way to the face and either climb snow to climber's left (if you have snow gear; we did not) or steep, extremely loose Class 2+ rock to climber's right. We chose the rock. It wasn't hard, but everything moves and it's exhausting and time consuming. Once on the ridge it's easier Class 2+ to the summit. Descended the same way we came. We only descended the Cumberland Basin trail, since we did 12er 12,552 to begin the day, which no joke I would recommend just because it's way easier than the Cumberland Basin trail - from the saddle with 13,550 there's an easy grass ramp to a game trail on the west side of the basin that's far more established and easier to follow than the "official" trail on the east side of the basin. There's almost no willow bashing, route finding, or mud doing the 12er first. 

Route: Sloman Couloir
Posted On: 6/19/2023, By: Skimo95
Info: Started at castle creek crossing, snow drift is stopping vehicles around a mile afterward. Gained conundrum saddle, descended that garbage and gained the low point in the ridge. Summited Raoul and then rode from the summit and out conundrum creek. The whole face basically slid so I dont think its worth riding anymore. 

Route: West Face
Posted On: 9/14/2022, By: dhagan
Info: Did Castleabra via West Face on 9-12-22 as day hike from Conundrum Creek TH. I would echo comments by illusion7il from 6-12-18. I have done all the 14ers/unofficial 14ers/Centennial 13ers and approx 1/4 of the bicentennial 13ers. This was an awful route. 2500 elevation gain of near continuous steep, extremely loose gravel, scree, and talus makes for a sphincter-tightening ascent and descent. The ascent was definitely 1 step forward and 2-4 steps back requiring the use of a mix of two trekking poles, 1 trekking pole/1 hand, or 2 hands. The descent involved near continuous gravel surfing, scree surfing, talus surfing on very steep terrain. Definitely an unpleasant outing. If one is insistent on summiting Castleabra, I would strongly advise a different route (SE Slopes via Middle Brush Creek TH as the loose gully approach to the ridge would have much shorter elevation gain than 2500 ft). If one is insistent on using the West Face route, I would STRONGLY recommend doing as a late May/June snow climb with good, consolidated snow with a Conundrum Hot Springs camp the night before (with the attendant difficulties of a long approach with variable snow travel difficulties and difficult water crossings from snow melt). A few things of note: 1) the initial crux of this route is parking at the TH. There is room for 20-25 cars max. This will fill especially during the busy summer season. If the lot is full, you either need to change your plans or park at a reasonable turn-out on Castle Creek Rd proper as no parking is allowed along the Conundrum Creek Rd. This will added another 1+ mile to your hike for both directions. 2) There are 3 official major creek crossings on the approach to the Conundrum Hot Springs (there are multiple minor crossings as well). The first 2 have well constructed USFS elevated dual log bridges. The 3rd crossing is officially listed as needing to "ford" the creek without any official crossing assistance. For this time of year and this level of water flow in Conundrum Creek, there were 3 small logs placed side by side that allowed a dry crossing. This obviously would be a different situation earlier in the season. There is also an unlisted 4th well constructed USFS elevated dual log bridge just before the larger hot spring along the main trail. 3) Access to the base of the rock glacier is most feasibly done passing thru the upper camp sights as one follows the trail until it ends. The only way to avoid passing thru the upper camp sights is to go off trail and above or below the camp sights which requires an extensive willow bash session. 4) Sturdy foot wear is a must for all the ascent and descent difficulties mentioned previously. Glad to have this one over! 

Route: South Face
Posted On: 9/21/2020, By: Flyingfish
Info: Dry, started on the twin lakes trail and crossed over the south ridge of 13550 before dropping into Upper Cumberland and traversing at around 12600ft to the face before ascending. 

Route: Cumberland basin
Posted On: 6/21/2020, By: cottonmountaineering
Info: Pleasant route with a little bushwhacking, need traction currently to get up to the saddle, otherwise very little snow. 

Route: Cumberland Basin
Posted On: 7/29/2018, By: Grover
Info: Hiked "Castleabra" from the remote and seldom visited Cumberland Basin route up to the West Ridge. This route is a bit obscure and it will involve bushwhacking through willows. If you seek solitude and love solving puzzles, like, "Where is the trail now?", I highly suggest this route. 

Route: West Face
Posted On: 6/12/2018, By: illusion7il
Info: All clear. This has to be the worst route I have ever done. The rock is incredibly loose. Advice is to stay far left on the 1st steep slope. Found Bullwinkle in the parking lot. 

Route: West Gully / West Face
Posted On: 5/11/2018, By: Stratosfearsome
Info: Road is a breeze to Conundrum TH. Patches of snow crossing Conundrum Crk. trail until Silver Dollar pond, whereafter it's pretty much continuous. Lots of knee deep post-holing in the afternoon, despite snowshoes. West Gully had 40-50% coverage, did not see slide activity on that aspect. Took west gully to 13k, then went up West face. Quite loose and kinda sketchy. West Gully is possibly skiable early in the day. Very soft in the afternoon, so I linked up scree for 80% of descent off the peak. Great day but 13 hours. Would work better with a high camp, especially if skiing or ascending Cunning Couloir. It looked magnificent. Don't forget, overnight permits are now required for Conundrum Camping. Hence the day trip. Cheers.