Announcement
I'm pleased to announce the release of Alpine Ascent 2.6. This version includes a more modern looking template which tries to maintain simplicity while still staying stylish. There are some minor additions that need to take place, but it's mostly done. Feel free to let me (Josh) know what you think.
Featured Trip Reports
Little Bear Peak SW Ridge in Winter Created By Little Peak Peak in Winter Peak: Little Bear Peak - 14,037’, South Little Bear Peak – 14,020’
TH/Route: SW Ridge from Tobin Creek
Distance: 8mi
Elev Gain: 5800'
Time: 13:30 (4:45am - 6:15pm)
Technical Gear: Microspikes
Travelers: Jed, Matt Lemke, Josh, Sarah
So this was it! This would be my 2012 finale and what a way to end a dynamic year in the mountains for me than climbing Little Bear Peak in calendar winter. I had made the 1,400 mile drive from Seattle to do this climb. The day after I arrived in Denver I met with Josh around noon and we drove down to Fort Garland and got there just before the sun set. I had been in contact with Jed and Sarah about this climb and Jed planned to meet us there later that night since he had to work and Sarah was just going to meet us at the trailhead coming from Vail. I shot a nice photo of Little Bear from town at sunset and was getting really excited to see the entire SW ridge was just about completely wind blown. Josh and I...
The Three Apostles Created By Ice Mountain Information Ice Mountain has a long reputation for being a dangerous and loose climb worthy of the heartiest climbers. Overall this reputation lives up however there is a route on this mountain that has much less class 4 climbing then the standard Northeast Ridge route. This is the southwest face. Although the climbing and traversing is much more sustained on this route, is is technically easier and less exposed than the standard route. There are two ways to do this climb depending on the season. I will describe them both. In the spring and early summer, variation 1 is recommended which takes advantage of the Apostle couloir. In late summer and fall, variation 2 is recommended which takes you up and over West Apostle from Lake Ann.
A map of the routes is shown below:
Juggling Jagged Created By Table of Contents Introduction Off to Jagged Mountain and Beyond - August 16th Off to Chicago Basin - August 17th Jupiter Mountain and out - August 18th Conclusion Images Introduction So my long trip to Montana had just finished and Stephan and I finished our trip with a climb of the Grand Teton before he headed home for a while. I saw a post by Kevin asking for partners for jagged Mountain in the Weminuche Wilderness. I had hoped to do this peak in 2012 so I jumped on the chance and quickly responded. Since I was still in Wyoming I mentioned I would just meet them in Durango. Coincidentally, I had friends who were in Vernal and since I was passing through I decided to meet with them and we did a long day climb in the Uintas covering six 13ers including Kings Peak. But that's another story.
As I went on my way south to Durango, I made another stop in Grand Junction so I could reserve tickets for the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge train. Since Kevin and Keegan wanted to take the train I...
A Blessing in Disguise Created By Introduction This trip certainly was a defining moment for me in my ever so fast paced and quickly evolving mountaineering career. Here I would be tested mentally and I needed to use my previous experience and knowledge to make this trip the success it was, despite not making the summit. I had been getting messages on the NWHikers forum from someone who has been wanting to go on a climb. However since he was a true vagabond he wasn't up in northern Washington until later in September. The time finally came when he made his way north and I tried to think of a potential group of Bulgers in the North Cascades we could do knowing he was new to snow travel and such. I thought about the Ragged Ridge Traverse, Mount Logan, Golden Horn and Tower Mountain but I finally decided halfway to Burlington that we should do Primus Peak. This decision was both good and bad but turned out to be a huge blessing in disguise. Below is the story about our adventure and a good accomplishment for me despite missing the summit.
Father-Son Ascent of Mount Constance Created By Planning a successful trip As a 17 year old kid, it's often very difficult to find people to go into the mountains with me. Luckily both my parents enjoy hiking, and my dad has some mountaineering experience. Over the years we've done a few peaks here and there, but nothing to the caliber of Mount Constance. So when my dad mentioned that he might be interested in climbing Constance, I jumped on the idea. He had climbed it a few times, the last being around 1990, so he was somewhat familiar with the route. The forecast looked OK, he was able to find some time off work, and with some insistence we got my mom's permission to go. Everything seemed to be in our favor. The worst part of the climb: The approach We arrived at the washout in the early afternoon, shouldered our packs and hopped on our mountain bikes. We had about 4 miles and 900 feet of elevation gain of biking to the trailhead. The grade was steadily uphill, and balancing on a mountain bike with a 35 pound pack wasn't an easy task. After about 45 minutes of biking, we reached the trailhead, completely out of breath. My quads were already burning and we hadn't even started the climb...
Featured Mountains
Spread Eagle Peak Started By Overview Spread Eagle Peak is ranked the 306th highest peak in Colorado and towers over the beautiful Lakes of the Clouds basin. The peak dominates the western skyline while approaching the Gibson Creek trailhead from Westcliffe. It's close proximity to the Wet Mountain Valley makes it a nice dayhike with less crowds or a great winter climb. The summit contains a CMC summit register showing that the summit sees a few folks on summer weekends with light mid-week traffic. The easiest route on Spread Eagle Peak from the Lakes of the Clouds is steep Class 2 with a faint climbers trail for part of the way up to the saddle. From the saddle up to the south ridge never exceeds steep Class 2 but there is some exposure for the last 200 vertical feet of...
Mount Daly Started By Overview Mount Daly Mount Daly Mount Daly Mount Daly under snow Mount Daly from near K2 Mount Daly under spring snow Mount Daly and Capitol Lake Mount Daly twilight glow Located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, Mount Daly is the most prominent peak as seen from Snowmass Village, Colorado. It's elevation is 13,300 ft. One of it's most distinguishing features is a broad diagonal layer of rock running through the mountain's east face. The standard route up is the third class south ridge from the Daly...
Gladstone Peak Started By Overview Sunrise on Gladstone Peak Gladstone from Wilson Peak Gladstone and Wilson Peaks Sunset over the Wilson group Gladstone Peak from Mt. Wilson Gladstone Peak E face Gladstone Peak from Mt. Wilson Gladstone Peak from Mt. Wilson Note: Page best viewed in 900 X 1600 Resolution Gladstone Peak is ranked number 67 of the Colorado Centennials and is part of the San Miguel Mountains located in the Lizard Head Wilderness and sits halfway in both Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan...
Sky Pilot Mountain Started By Overview Sky Pilot Mountain is one of the lowest 12,000 foot peaks in the Montana Beartooth Mountains. It does have 587 feet of clean prominence though and the view from the summit is nothing short of spectacular. Looking north towards Castle Mountain and Castle Rock Spire and east towards Whitetail Peak give this peak the feeling of being right in the middle of the best peaks in the Beartooths. Actually, Sky Pilot Peak is right smack in the center of all the best Beartooth Mountain summits despite having a lower elevation. Also nice to know is that an ascent doesn't take any technical knowledge. Although the approaches are long, they are also very scenic. Sky...
Mount Sneffels Started By Overview Sneffels is often said to be Colorado's best and most beautiful mountain. Viewed from Dallas Divide, Mount Sneffels really looks like a "mountain" and has all the good features of one including symmetry, spires, pinnacles, rugged ridges and beautiful slopes of aspens and flowers. Mountaineers cringe at the climbing possibilities, Nature enthusiasts glory at its beauty and generic travelers are awed upon viewing this gorgeous mountain. Second in elevation only to Uncompahgre Peak in the San Juan range, Sneffels is affectionately known as the “Queen of the San Juans.” You will find photos of Mount Sneffels in stores, calenders, postcards and wallets! (Yes, I have a photo of it in mine). Sneffels has also made appearances in a number of westerns, notably...