7/2/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 7/2/2025, By: GSODJA Info: Summer conditions. One snowfield just below ridge. Can cut across just below it. |
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6/30/2025 Route: Buckskin-Democrat ridge Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: MMAfightingClimber Info: Did Loveland, buckskin and Democrat. Pretty much snow free on our route today. There’s not too much info on this ridge but it is pretty straightforward, we stayed pretty much on the ridge crest the whole time and it was pretty tame I thought. I will say the rock was pretty loose in a lot of areas and I didn’t trust a lot the rocks on this ridge. There are lots of workarounds on this ridge to the west if you don’t want to stay directly on the ridge though! I’d say it’s easier or similar to Kelso ridge |
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6/28/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 6/29/2025, By: ProfetaP Info: The willows at the bottom kinda suck, but you can navigate your way around and through them ( I chose to stay high, go towards the power lines and then cross the creek). Once past them, I stuck to the power lines for a bit and then went up between Loveland mountain and buckskin. There is a very very faint trail, more of a choose your own adventure. It’s easy to get to the summits of both; short and steep tho until you hit the saddle. Be cautious for the wild flowers as they are everywhere, and it’s beautiful. Also there were no snow crossing unless you just wanted to do it. |
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6/23/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 6/23/2025, By: awpalmer27 Info: Summer conditions. No flotation or traction necessary. The snow field near the summit can easily be avoided above (by staying on the summit ridgeline) or below. The crux of the route IMO is the marshy area where you leave the Lake Emma trail and cross Buckskin Creek. I couldn’t find a good way through on either the ascent or descent. Just had to bush bash and accept getting the boots wet. |
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6/13/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 6/13/2025, By: sehessler92 Info: You can avoid all snow aside from around the lake (short glissading opportunities on the way back) . You can also avoid snow up to the summit but it requires a bit more work ( just dealing with loose rock) so I put on my microspikes and walked on the snow on the descent. Other than that no other traction needed. Might not even need microspikes but I err on the side of caution. Did post hole a little bit near the lake/Th on the way to and from Buckskin, but nothing where I felt having snowshoes would have saved time. Side note: looked like the gate was open at 8:30 this morning. Not sure if it is officially open or was just open for the town of Alma worker to get to the TH. Figured if the worker didn’t want people to go up to the TH he would have closed the gate behind him. |
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6/1/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 6/2/2025, By: L1zzz1ee Info: Climbed Buckskin and Loveland. The road is closed at the winter gate. Started off with Buckskin because we didn’t see an easy ford for the creek by the parking lot. Wore snowshoes for a good chunk from about Kite Lake TH area with some postholing. The last 1000’ ft of elevation gain are clear with just a few small snow patches to the summit. Clear traverse to Loveland. Avoided snow on the way down until the very end when we snowshoed again through willow and tree patches. Ended fording the creek just below the parking. |
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5/24/2025 Route: From Loveland, loop Posted On: 5/24/2025, By: d_baker Info: Started at 6:20am from the closed gate next to signs for Fee Area. Carried snowshoes, didn't use them. Carried microspikes (in favor of crampons for this route) but didn't need them either. Axe stayed on pack too. Dropped from the road at the gate and ascended E slopes of Loveland. On firm snow starting off from bottom but quickly got on dry slopes to ridge. Patches of snow along ridge to Buckskin's former "summit" (pre-LiDar) but traction with boots worked well for us. Descended NE slopes of Buckskin to the road, connecting a little below summer TH for Kite Lake. Snow stayed firm on descent for most part for us. Tried staying in wideopen areas with snow vs. getting close to vegetation/willows. ~5 miles ~2500' gain, per gaia track I was slowww. 6.5hrs. 2nd time doing this loop. (1st time followed Roach loop description for these two.) |
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4/16/2025 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 4/16/2025, By: rocks512 Info: Pretty good conditions, traction is nice depending on your experience, floatation was nice when coming back down the valley after the sun softened the snow. Road open until about 1.5 miles from Kite Lake so adds about 3 miles RT. Fantastic views and had the whole mountain to ourselves, no one even on the 14ers. |
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6/1/2024 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 6/1/2024, By: jeffh7 Info: Road is dry to the closed gate at 39.31615, -106.12183. Snow starts shortly after but we dropped into the marsh to go up when it was firm. I was able to skin all the way to the summit and ski on continuous snow back to the car, but it is starting to get thinner out there. Some rock dodging was required during the descent, sharks lurking for sure. The face is no longer as filled in as the last report, and you kinda have to stick to snow-filled lines now. We skied from the NW false summit where coverage was better. |
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5/17/2024 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 5/17/2024, By: Veory Info: Skied well, great coverage on pretty much all aspects except W straight off the summit. The decalibron bunch are looking super filled in, plan on going for Democrat and Bross combo tomorrow so we'll see. Basin was amazing corn at 11am, had a good overnight freeze. I climbed back up a few slopes for extra skiing. |
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12/22/2023 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 12/25/2023, By: dolfh Info: Parking at gate closure is accessible for most cars. Road past gate to Kite Lake is dry. Small amount of post-holing on the flats between Kite Lake and Buckskin. Northeast Slope a mixture of talus and unconsolidated snow. Ridge to summits has some shallow snow. Crux of the route is a 300 foot climb up a 35 degree slope after the flats close to the 3 legged power line pole. Poor footing on the steep section may require traction. |
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12/9/2023 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 12/11/2023, By: kyrawhitworth Info: Road is decently dry to summer Kite Lake TH and there was only one spot we needed a run at in the FJ to get to the gate. Some posthole misery in the basin but snowshoes would not have been that helpful as it was all very unconsolidated. Slope getting up the ridge is pretty windblown with rock and snow. The ridge to Buckskin had a descent amount of snow in a few spots but nothing that needed traction. We descended via Loveland and the slopes were pretty stable today but too soft to glissade. More posthole misery in the willows getting back to the car. Very cold day! |
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11/18/2023 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 11/18/2023, By: ktfoote628 Info: Great conditions for Buckskin, similar to last report. Road is dry, gate is closed to add ~1 quick mile each way. A couple inches of snow in most places. Of course in the places you bushwhack, there are some deep spots but not deep or consistent enough to warrant snowshoes. I found spikes helpful and wish I had my poles since a lot of it was a snow-rock mix. |
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11/12/2023 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 11/12/2023, By: sarahmariekirk Info: Climbed Buckskin and Loveland today from Kite Lake. The ascent up to Buckskin was snowy, but not enough snow to warrant microspikes or snowshoes. The ridge up to the summit was pretty variable, with sections of deeper snow and some hardpack - but mostly postholing. From the old summit of Buckskin, it was about twenty minutes on the ridge to the new and updated summit. Gorgeous views today and fantastic weather. The ridge to Loveland was completely dry. Attached some photos of the nearby peaks. Some snow on Democrat but extremely dry on Bross. |
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10/14/2023 Route: Northeast Slope Posted On: 10/15/2023, By: ncxhjhgvbi Info: Sugar snow basically the entire way up the slope. Put spikes on going up to avoid slipping but not really necessary yet with careful footing. Ridge is mostly dry/snow can be avoided, and even more dry on the way to Loveland. Hardest part is the steep slope under the power lines. Knee deep drifts in the flat area crossing the creek, just put my joggers over my boots to act like gaiters for that short area. |
