10/16/2022 Route: From Ute Ridge Posted On: 10/17/2022, By: supranihilest Info: From the saddle with Ute Ridge the route is obvious up a steep slope. I assume the slope is kitty litter like most of the area but it was covered in an inch or two of snow and ice. I put microspikes on about two thirds of the way up because it got so steep and icy that I was sliding downhill. After gaining the ridge crest the ridge narrows and becomes quite rocky with big blocks of andesite all over. It was a snowy Class 2+ scramble to the summit for me, then I scree skied the south slopes to the saddle with 13,308. I would highly recommend NOT going up the south slopes of this peak, it's nothing but kitty litter and would be a soul destroying experience to go up it. Going down it makes far more sense, I lost like 800 feet of elevation in a matter of minutes. Microspikes were helpful due to snow but I'd recommend them even when dry on this and 13,308, the kitty litter is a lot easier with some traction. For snow southern aspects will probably dry out quickly but others will take a while, and northern aspects will remain snowy for the season. |
