"Golden Bear Peak"

Route: Loveland Ski Area
Posted On: 5/15/2021, By: nedryarson
Info: Plenty of snow up high at the now-closed ski area. Skinned to summit from bottom of chair #8 after crossing the skiers tunnel under I70. Should be good skiing there for a while. 

Route: NE face from Dry Gulch
Posted On: 4/24/2021, By: macg91
Info: Good snow coverage on Golden Bear, Hagar and S face of the Citadel. Continuous snow TH to summit. Close to a foot of powder on the NE face of Golden Bear made for good skiing. Another group was headed toward the Citadel and Hagar but turned back and said the snow was all windpack over there. High winds above tree line today. 

Route: NE face/ridge
Posted On: 3/28/2021, By: k_fergie
Info: Good to ski from summit. Skinned from car to summit minus a 100 ft or so bootpack on the ridge near the top. Not the best snow up high, but delicious chowda turns lower down into Dry Gulch 

Route: Citadel/Hagar/Golden Bear from Dry Gulch
Posted On: 9/25/2020, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. No snow or ice, but hazy from the fires. 

Route: Straight Creek
Posted On: 6/6/2020, By: MC.Ikema
Info: Hiked via Coon Hill TH (West Portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel). There's still a decent amount of snow down low in Straight Creek. Brought and used microspikes in the morning to reach snow free trail (old road) around 12k. Snow free ridge to the summit. Mid morning sun led to post hole/willow bushwhacking fest on the way out. 

Route: SE Face/Loveland In-bounds
Posted On: 5/31/2020, By: TaylorHolt
Info: Still continuous snow from the summit down the SE face. Skinned up nearly the entire way (had to navigate a few short dry sections). Lower runs are melting quickly though. 

Route: Via Loveland Basin ski area
Posted On: 3/18/2020, By: HikesInGeologicTime
Info: Loveland closed for the season, which means, per their website (https://skiloveland.com/the-mountain/uphill-access/), that uphill access is now fair game. Stuck to the easiest trails up to the ridge; lack of snow after the last grooming meant they were nice and firm, which is good if you're still waiting to get your AT skis back from the local sheriff's office and thus have to decide if you want to wear snowshoes on your feet while schlepping skis on your back (I decided the skis were adequate weight training, thankyouverymuch). Followed the cat track along the ridge to Gate 4, which is listed as closed. I was clearly not the first to ignore that sign. Path after that was also pretty well beaten in, and there were footsteps to follow up the last pitch, though I mostly stuck to rocks and grass where I could. I skied my first peak for which I really had to work up a sweat (previous ascents of GB took place when Lift 9 and the Ridge Cat were running) like a total gaper - snow conditions that could best be summarized as “spring-like” did not help - but it was pretty sweet nonetheless. I didn't see another person except for the early risers returning to their cars as I was starting and the midday movers starting as I was returning, so mornings might be the best time to exercise your legs and your social distancing skills! 

Route: From snowcat
Posted On: 3/16/2020, By: Trotter
Info: Skiable from summit. Good powder down to loveland base. 

Route: West Slopes from Coon Hill Trailhead
Posted On: 10/27/2019, By: supranihilest
Info: The snow in Straight Creek drainage is in awful shape. Punchy on top and sugary below. You might want snowshoes as well as to stay on the old road that zigzags up to the Divide. Once on the ridge crest/Divide the going becomes easier as it's largely windblown and not as steep as a direct ascent up the west slopes. 

Route: North Ridge via Hagar
Posted On: 9/22/2019, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Summer, no snow. Bushwack back into Dry Gulch seems easier on the way down, glad I did this loop starting on The Citadel. 

Route: From Loveland Ski Basin
Posted On: 8/15/2019, By: IHikeLikeAGirl
Info: Small bit of snow to get to the ridge, above Chair Lift 4, but can easily avoid. Rest of route was completely snow free. No summit register or canister though (I should have brought a container and printed register). 

Route: via Straight Creek Trail
Posted On: 8/10/2019, By: Chelsea
Info: Totally snow free from the Straight Creek Trail that starts at the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Beautiful wildflowers, gradual climb. 

Route: From Hagar peak
Posted On: 7/13/2019, By: RyGuy
Info: Golden Bear has some decent snow fields on it, but crossing them isn't a big deal. The ridge from Hagar is mostly snow free, but there are a couple places you'll need to cross. It was pretty mushy by 10AM. Bring gaiters! Picture 1: The ridge to Golden Bear from Hagar Picture 2: Looking out towards where the Tunnel passes under. Picture 3: Looking down the East Ridge towards Mount Trelease 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/12/2019, By: nedryarson
Info: Climbed and skied Golden Bear from Loveland Ski Area today. Parked at a lot adjacent to the exit ramp for US6 from EB 70 but there were several cars parked outside the gate when I got back. Crossed under 70 using the skier tunnel and then booted up The Face run. After that, was able to skin the rest of the way to the summit. Ascended chair 8 lift line and then traversed over to the east ridge. Winds got nasty at that point. Approx three hours to summit. Began descent just south of summit and continued down the Awesome run back to the empty Ginny Lee Cabin for a victory beer and snack. Didn't see a soul on the mountain, not sure where the owners of the gate cars were. Highly recommend this one, still plenty of snow up there. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 2/3/2019, By: dolfh
Info: A few parking spots were available at the West Portal of Eisenhower Tunnel. Sign at the parking area warns that "avalanche blasting can occur at any time". Easy path to follow north up the basin to 12,000 feet. Some floatation required. Relatively difficult to gain the ridge because of steepness and deep snow. I followed a skin track to gain the ridge on the west side of the basin 3/4 of a mile north of Coon Hill (12,200). Straightforward hiking on the ridge around to "Golden Bear" with shallow snow and a couple of minor points to negotiate. Lots of backcountry skiing and snowboard activity in the area.