6/30/2012 Route: N Apostle > Ice > W Apostle Posted On: 7/1/2012, By: forbins_mtn Info: Snow free. We did the traverse from N Apostle > Ice > W Apostle and we all brought axes just in case. They stayed firmly on our packs. No traction needed either. |
|
6/24/2012 Route: Refrigerator Couloir Posted On: 7/3/2012, By: kmensch Info: The refrigerator couloir is still in condition as of 6/24/12. There is an area around the choke point (2/3 of the way up) that is melting out and has a lot of loose rock that can be dangerous. The bottom 1/3 is hard snow with some ice (stay in the runnel), the middle 1/3 has solid and melting ice, and the upper 1/3 is packed snow. Overall a great route, but the ice isn‘t solid in the thin areas and rockfall through the constriction is a given. I wouldn‘t climb this past mid July. See my facebook photos at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4156814919269.175872.1250853067&type=1&l=46b3f7f67f |
|
5/30/2012 Route: Apostle couloir and SW face Posted On: 5/31/2012, By: Matt Lemke Info: I climbed Ice Mountain and West Apostle yesterday from the Apostle couloir and the SW face of Ice. Let me be the first to say this was one fantastic climb! The Apostle couloir is in fantastic condition and much of the rock glacier extending below it it still snow covered. The Apostle Trail that veers left off the main Lake Ann trail is snow free all the way to 11,500 at the meadows. Great cramponing up the snow we got up the whole couloir...800 feet in 19 minutes!!! We took off from the saddle and did the long, loose traverse over the SW face of Ice and only saw a couple thin snow patches. We crossed rib after rib seperated by gullies and finally located the large gully leading up to the summit. We decided to take the left branch on this gully because it was much more solid and had some harder class 3 with a little class 4 climbing. Upon reaching the saddle between the main and false summits, we had to descend a little to avoid an overhanging cliff on the ridge...which was beautiful by the way. Once at the summit we lounged in the gorgeous weather and setting for a half hour before descending the main gully which was so loose and crappy we alternated descending going only one at a time. There was no way to avoid setting rocks loose and during our time on ice we accidently set off two huge rockslides that both tumbled off the cliffs way below. DO NOT climb below someone on this route at any time! We were so happy to be on the summit of ice and on such a great day. Descending the route back to the West/Ice saddle was a challenge but after a gruling 2 hours we were back at the saddle where we stashed our packs and ran up the easy class 2 West Apostle which also had a great if not better summit view we lounged here for about a half hour as well as the temps were so warm! As the day was winding down we glissaded the Apostle couloir and it was FUN! The hike out was a nice warm down and this brings me to the end of another great day in the mountains...my favorite Sawatch peak and the best one hands down! 10 hours RT, 10 miles...a great couloir and lots of class 3. First photo shows the Apostle couloir (on left side) from about 12,300 feet Second photo shows west apostle from the traverse of the SW face on Ice Third photo shows N Apostle and Huron from the summit of Ice Forth photo shows the SW face of Ice from West Apostle |
|
8/21/2011 Route: Southwest Ridge Posted On: 8/22/2011, By: rockymountaindiva Info: Entire trail clear of snow - no crampons or ice ax needed. |
|
6/11/2011 Route: Refrigerator Couloir Posted On: 6/12/2011, By: Climbdent Info: Clearcreek road is passable all the way to the forest service cut off with a 4X4. The approach is in good shape until the Lily Lake/Apostle Basin Split. At the point the trail is impossible to follow and snowshoes are needed. (Add additional time as the approach is really slow going.) Refrigerator Couloir is in excellent condition and probably will remain that way for weeks to come. The route down the NW ridge was difficult with a mixture of snow and rock. We went up N Apostle. You can pretty much stay on Class II rock from the saddle to the summit. We glissaded most of the way into the basin from the Summit of N Apostle. There were past signs of massive avalanches but we saw no avalanche or rock fall. If you want pics shoot me an message. |
|
6/11/2011 Route: Refrigerator Posted On: 6/16/2011, By: Climbdent Info: Pics of Refrigerator Couloir |
