Fletcher Mountain

Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse
Posted On: 8/16/2021, By: CoHi591
Info: Route up Fletcher is dry and easy to follow. Beginning of the traverse is easy to follow, I took the ridge direct and hated the down climb into the notch because I'm short, but on the way back it was an easy climb up. Beautiful fun day, though the rock is looser than I'd like. Also I'm sure this is been confirmed a dozen times over but quandary parking restrictions don't affect the upper Blue Lake trailhead. Definitely saw someone ticketing cars parked on the side of the dirt road though FYI. 

Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse
Posted On: 7/29/2021, By: cougar
Info: Lots of water flowing on trail and muddy stretches in basin. Route avoids remaining snow. Lots of loose roller talus on Drift. Tread lightly. Didn't see anything at Blue Lakes trailhead or campsites related to Quandary reservations, just the warning sign about the west ridge. 

Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse
Posted On: 7/20/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: The large snowfields are entirely avoided by the cairned route. Plenty of water and moisture below 13,000. Basin above Blue Lakes is gorgeous right now -- wildflowers are at their best! 

Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse
Posted On: 7/11/2021, By: 14er101
Info: Mostly Summer Conditions. All snow on the route avoidable using some decent route-finding skills. The headwall near 13K is still holding a lot of snow. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/21/2021, By: Scott P
Info: Bring an ice axe for the headwall starting at 13K. I was with the family in the area, but didn't bring my ice axe since the girls had no desire to do a snow climb. This was a big mistake since they ended up turning back much earlier anyway. I made an attempt on the peak anyway, but couldn't safely climb the slope above 13,000 feet with out an axe. Bring an iceaxe if you want to summit. 

Route: Fletcher+Drift Traverse
Posted On: 6/20/2021, By: Jorts
Info: I took the Blue Lakes TH to the Quandary-Fletcher saddle then on to Fletcher and over to Drift starting at 0800. Fairly snow choked across the slopes leading up to the saddle and the trail is muddy in places with high stream flow. Opted to climb up to the saddle with a piolet and strap on crampons. Firm snow made it the efficient choice. Mostly snow-free in the basin beneath Fletcher. Easy walk up Fletcher's SE ridge with little snow. The traverse to Drift was uneventful. Took the 3rd cl bypass. Didn't encounter snow or wet rock anywhere. On the way back took the low 5th direct. Also dry through there. Glissaded down from the Drift-Fletcher saddle into the upper basin and then again from the Fletcher-Quandary saddle into the lower basin. Conditions were starting to soften but it was a good pitch for a boot glissade down both. Encountered dozens of hikers on the way out along the lake. Back to the car at 11:45. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/14/2021, By: mvandergrift
Info: We were only planning on hiking up to the gulch, so started late at 8am. The trail was mostly clear of snow until 12,400' with only a few annoying drifts that could probably be avoided. The snow was surprisingly firm with some minor postholing. Lots of runoff and small streams forming. We were wearing trail runners and it wasn't too much of an issue. Snow increased around 12,400' but was still mostly avoidable by sticking to rocky terrain. There were a couple of snowy traverses that didn't require spikes. Looking at my gpx track, it looks like we did have to weave around a lot. Getting up to the ridge around 13,200' required some work. We used spikes and poles and just went straight up from one rock formation to another. There was deep postholing around the edges of the rocks where the snow was beginning to melt. This was a fun glissade on the way down, and I think it would be challenging to get down any other way right now. Once we cleared the ridge there were occasional large snowfields that could be avoided. Once you're within 100-200' of the summit, you will need to traverse some more snow. It was soft and a little slippery, but I was comfortable doing it without spikes. Even with the late start, warm temperatures and full sun the snow stayed reasonably supportive throughout the day. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/11/2021, By: vvalentin18
Info: Beautiful but windy day, snow conditions deteriorated quickly after the sun rose. Trail is basically clear until it ends at the west side of the lower basin, above that micro-spikes and ice axe were essential for some of the steeper snow slopes, for the snowy and super windy summit ridge, and for the glissades coming down. Firm snow early, super-slick coming down, minor post-holing; best to stay on the rocks as much as possible. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/9/2021, By: graberz
Info: We were rewarded with a beautiful day and outstanding snow conditions. Road is snow free from the closure to the dam. We took snow shoes and never used them as the snow was relatively supportive all day. We did use crampons and ice axe to gain the high basins and summit, but lesser traction could probably be used per your preference and conditions. Several decent glissades. We started at 5:30 am and finished at 11 am. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 4/30/2021, By: durkan
Info: Redeemed myself a week later on a windless day - Went up the drainage and crested the last incline before the sun hit it (started at 05:45am, earlier would've been better in my opinion). - Postholing was minimal up to 12,300. Snowshoes were on from 12,300 to 13,500 (might not be needed, but I enjoyed the heel lift and traction on the steep climbs). - Microspikes and ice axe from 13,500 to summit at 08:20 (Crampons would've been slightly better than microspikes on the summit descent, but not necessary with an axe and downclimbing cautiously) - Once back to 13,500, I didn't use any of the above since I descended via the grassy ridge just west of the drainage and bowl. Postholing was minimal in the late morning still and back at car by 10:45am 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 4/25/2021, By: durkan
Info: Great day, poor decisions. Did not listen to my gut and left snowshoes in the car. Poor choice as I was postholing up to my knees (more on slopes) once in the basin just above Blue Lakes. Also saw signs of what looked like wet slides and wind loaded snow above the route, but was hard to tell since I turned around. Evaluate and be cautious. Ice Axe came out above Blue Lakes. But didn't use traction all day. Brought crampons as well and I'd say they'd be needed later... just wish I had snowshoes. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 4/25/2021, By: Thevirtualsherpa
Info: Fletcher is in full blown winter conditions still. Blue Lakes TH closed 1.75 miles from summer access adding about 4 miles to this hike. Saw someone go for a ride in a small wind slab avi on one of the south couloirs of Quandary (not Christo). Appeared to be okay though but just a reminder that wind slabs are still very much an issue, even on south slopes. Put in a nice booter following summer route. Snow felt stable in all sections it might slide but we moved one at a time and quickly when we had to cross. Two in particular: first climb past up to the higher bowl and then the second climb to the flats before the ridge. Lots of signs of old natural slides to the south when ascending. Snowshoes 100% needed and gaiters a must. From upper bowl to ridge itself there are some MASSIVE cornices you will want to avoid. Pictures attached. Snow here was 2 inches of dust on ice. Axe and crampons necessary, especially for final 200 yards before summit where a fall would be not v fun. Beautiful day on Fletcher even with winds kicking our ass every once in a while, got the fire going for some more “spring” lines. Edit: If skiing/boarding - summit to car might be possible depending on tolerance for risk and scraping. Lots of good snow still up there, just might involve a few sections of transitioning/walking. I stashed my board above the reservoir and was able to ride basically from there to the car with one small walk to get past damn. Snow on road is melting very quickly though and even 1-3 more days might change this. 

Route: NE Face
Posted On: 4/10/2021, By: JulianSmith
Info: Climbed up to saddle between Quandary and Fletcher from McCullough Gulch, and then summited up the Southeast Ridge. Skied the couloir on the NE face that drops from the summit. Snow coverage everywhere is pretty good, as we skinned from the Quandary TH, and boot packed just a little bit up to the saddle and then up to the summit. The choke requires a little billy goating, but is doable facing either direction, without taking off your skis. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 3/18/2021, By: blazintoes
Info: From Blue Lakes. Got on Quandary ridge ASAP. Snow was stable. Squeaked out an afternoon quickie before the storm. Couldn't get Drift. Too windy. Too chicken to glissade. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 10/20/2020, By: psa954hiker
Info: Dry conditions all the way to the summit. Some old snowfields in the steep sections that are easily avoided. Winds not too strong. Followed a large mountain goat down the upper basin.