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"Northwest Pole"

Peak Condition Updates  
7/27/2023
Route: Cataract Lake
Posted On: 7/29/2023, By: dwoodward13
Info: Loop of NW Pole, Pole Creek, and 13,580 From Cataract Lake, headed up to the Colorado Trail and then east to the junction with trail #820 (although signed as #787, its the Pole Creek Trail). Descended this trail until about 12,200 picking a line across the meadow and headed up to the obvious saddle on NW Pole's N ridge. Was able to keep feet dry but YMMV. Followed the straight forward terrain until the summit block. Took the class 4 option in Furthermore's TR. Just one or two moves, but with the exposure and remoteness wouldn't want to slip. Very cool summit register. Descended directly east toward the saddle with Pole Creek. Found game trails here and there to utilize on the way up to Pole. There are faint trails in the talus on the upper sections of the mountain if you are looking closely. Descended back down to the lowest point of the broad saddle, and then picked my way down heading toward trail #822. I took a line very similar to Wild Wanderer's, skirting a point marked as 13,066 on the USFS topos on the south/east sides before dropping into the drainage on the northeast side of this point. Was able to make use of various game trails to make pretty easy work all things considered back to the human trail. Headed up trail #822 to the crossing of Pole Creek. I waited near some willows here to wait out a small shower then headed up 13,580's obvious northwest ridge. Very nice ascent route (much more gradual than directly from the pass on #822). Descended the same way and headed back to camp. Approx 14 miles, 5,300 although with all of the off trail time, felt harder than those would indicate. 
7/2/2023
Route: Carson Pass
Posted On: 7/5/2023, By: kwhit24
Info: We parked/camped just below the snow blocking the top of Carson Pass about 100'down. There were a few snow fields to cross on the CT/CDT but everything has good steps. On the way up NW Pole we crossed a few more snow fields that were firm to walk on and other snow areas were avoidable. The last 20' to the summit is the only tough part. I took the Class 4 route up and down. My hiking partner went up Class 3 but down the Class 4. Very airy on the backside. From the summit we dropped west into the valley and picked our way up the north ridge of Pole. Most of the snow is avoidable. If you follow the ridge direct you may want micros. After Pole make sure to head directly south around the cliff section and take the good bench over the East Pole. There are a few more snow fields to cross but between us and the elk the steps are there. All dry up to East Pole Creek. To get back we had to retrace our steps back over Pole Creek since we didn't see a good alternative to the north with the cliff bands and steep snow. After resummiting Pole we dropped back into the valley and picked our way to the West Lost Trail Creek and Trail. There was a few hundred feet elevation lost, a lot of bushwhacking to get over to the trail, and everything was flooded/muddy from run off. If I were to do it again I would probably contour 13,000 back to the NW until I rejoined our initial route up NW Pole. Once back on the trail is was easy to get back to CT/CDT. (22.76 mi; 6,119' gain; 12:17:45 time) Start at TH 5:20am; NW Pole Creek Mtn 9:20am; Pole Creek Mtn 11:00am; East Pole Creek Mtn 11:50am; Re-summit Pole 12:35pm; Back to TH 5:35pm 
11
9/26/2022
Route: From Carson Pass
Posted On: 9/27/2022, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: Climbed Northwest Pole & Pole Creek Mtn on 09/26. Hiked in the day before from Carson Pass on CD trail to intersection with Lost Creek trail. It was chilly and evening rain showers created slick rocks in the morning. More of that expected through the week, as the seasons are definitely changing up there. Most trip descriptions (e.g. climb13ers) describe Northwest Pole first and then over to Pole Creek Mtn, but we reversed the route and were happy with that decision, as Pole Creek is super far out and takes a long time to reach but was easier/safer to manage earlier before the sun melted the ice glaze on the slick rocks. We then did Northwest Pole on the return back towards our camp and Carson Pass. Northwest Pole has a couple of "no fall zone" spots and we were happy for dry rocks a couple hours later on the short Class 3 up on top of that. These peaks are pretty remote but well worth the effort! Get them soon or put them on your list for next summer -- these are some cool bicentennials! 
6/21/2022
Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/23/2022, By: supranihilest
Info: Summer conditions. Took "Northwest Pole"'s south ridge to the east side of the mountain, then under the east facing cliffs below the summit. Took the east ridge slightly northeast of the summit, then the obvious summit scramble. The scrambling isn't hard but the rock is kinda meh and the exposure to the west is extreme and unrelenting. Easier going up than down, but we down climbed facing out which to us means Class 3. There's a few ups and downs along the summit ridge and they involved butt scooting on the downs. Small summit big enough for two but that's about it. 
3 1
6/15/2022
Route: Via Cataract Gulch
Posted On: 6/16/2022, By: zootloopz
Info: Big day. Fun summit block. Took a 4th class variation directly from the ridge. Pretty sure we saw a bald eagle fly away that chills on the summit. Lots of feathers and bird poo. Original register from 1992 is super cool. Summer conditions. W/ vertical_volume 
3
6/3/2022
Route: Cataract Gulch TH
Posted On: 6/4/2022, By: TheHikingTexan
Info: Dirt road from the 149 turnoff to the TH is in great shape right now. No traction needed the entire way as snow is minimal. Trail was very muddy in sections, especially before I made it to the CDT junction above the Cataract Lake. Nice traverse on grass and rock over to the airy summit block! Summit register is there from 1992, first to sign in '22. 
6/20/2020
Route: From Carson Pass
Posted On: 6/21/2020, By: WildWanderer
Info: The basin before the ridge has melted out but is very marshy, so expect to sink your steps unless you get there while it's still frozen in the morning. The ridge/summit is all dry. No traction needed.