7/5/2020 Route: Comanche/Spring/Venable/12,873 Posted On: 7/5/2020, By: supranihilest Info: From Spring Mountain the ridge to Venable is kind of crappy - not difficult, just poor quality. Loose rock and scree everywhere, care must be taken. From the pass where the Phantom Terrace begins to descend, I went straight up the middle of Venable's south face which is steep and mostly grass/dirt with a couple of easy rock bands in the middle. No scrambling if you take care to avoid it. I descended back to the Phantom Terrace and took that across to the Venable Trail - I highly recommend the Terrace, it's super cool. From there, instead of just taking the trail back down, I cut across to a grassy ramp up to the ridge with Point 12,873 and up to its summit, then backtracked a bit across the ridge to the slopes directly above the upper, larger of the two Venable Lakes. The slope to the lake was steep and loose but it goes, though it's not super pleasant. Hike to the lower lake and the trail is right nearby. |
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6/4/2020 Route: Comanche-Venable Loop Posted On: 6/4/2020, By: tjf242424 Info: Summer conditions aside from two small traverses on snow on the Comanche Trail, easily crossed in approach shoes (no traction). There is still a significant cornice at the Comanche saddle, but it is easy to climb straight up to the ridge just before reaching the snow. The ridge on Comanche, the traverse over Spring, the ascent of Venable, and the Venable Trail back to the trailhead are all completely dry. |
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5/14/2018 Route: Venable Trail & Phantom Terrace Posted On: 5/17/2018, By: RWinters Info: Just a few small patches of snow up to Phantom Terrace but all are avoidable. phantom Terrace is melting out but still a 30 yard section of snow. I crossed it carefully without axe or spikes but I wouldn't recommend it until it melts out more. |
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10/28/2017 Route: Venable Trail Posted On: 10/30/2017, By: TakeMeToYourSummit Info: We went for this classic loop (Venable Trail up, Comanche Trail down) knowing snow might alter our high plans. Sure enough - the Phantom Terrace is holding a bit of snow & ice currently. We waited until we were sure it was a bad idea; then ascended to the NE ridge above us to obtain Venable. The connecting ridges to Spring & Comanche had no snow of consequence. A few patches of snow greeted us on the trail section just below the ridge on the Comanche Trail as we returned to willowline. |
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7/20/2016 Route: Venable-Comanche Trailhead Posted On: 7/23/2016, By: JasonKline Info: Snow-free summer conditions. |
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11/11/2015 Route: Veneble Lake Trail Posted On: 11/11/2015, By: jimwei Info: I have only moved here from North Carolina three weeks ago, and this was my first time venturing into the mountains, just so you know where my perspective is. Started on Venable Lake Trailhead at 10am today. Started seeing snow on Venable Lake trail at around 9,700 ft. After 10,300 ft, the trail was complete covered with snow, sometimes knee deep. Got to the fallen shelter on the right at 11,500 ft or so, couldn‘t find the trail anymore since I did not know which way it was suppose to go and I end up going down to the small lake on the left and completely lost the trail. Wind was gusting really good there and decided it was a good place to turn around. |
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6/19/2011 Route: Venable Creek Trail Posted On: 6/20/2011, By: IHikeLikeAGirl Info: Summer hiking conditions with a few, very small, patches of snow that were easily walked through or around. No need for snow gear of any kind: gaitors, ice axe, micro spikes, snowshoes, etc. Beautiful trail, some wild flowers were in bloom and the aspen trees have leaved out. Venable Lake is completely thawed with some big fish swimming about. |
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6/14/2011 Route: Comanche-Venable Loop Posted On: 6/15/2011, By: miztflip Info: I climbed Pt 12,873, Venable, Spring and Comanche. I approached via Venable Creek and descended Comanche Creek. Snow is not a problem and can be avoided in the few cases where it is across the trail. Didn‘t do Phantom Terrace but I could see all of it and it looks completely snow free. |
