seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 1996
Skeeeed It 3X
I'm no Louis Dawson yet but I get around!
Eric Holle - Jul 19, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Route Climbed: traverse from Castle
Climbed with Castle Pk. Glissade descent, wish I would have brought my axe.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South Ridge
Hiked as part of a two-fer with Castle. Crampons were helpful, but not necessary.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Traverse from Castle, ski descent of Conundrum Couloir
The traverse was easy, the skiing was sketchy. The choke was shaded and bulletproof with slush above and below. I side slipped through the ice, but my partner ate it and tumbled 300 feet downslope. Nothing hurt but his pride and his binding.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route Climbed: Traverse from Castle
Nice addition to the Castle climb. Snowfield was very sun-cupped.
Had a great glissade from the couloir between Castle and Conundrum.
Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip. I celebrated the sucess of the trip when I returned home with a bottle of Conundrum wine.
Route Climbed: Unnamed class 3 scramble from Montezuma Basin Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
My friend Matt and I scrambled from the montezuma basin up a fairly solid couloir to the climbers right of the conundrum couloir. Great scramble, lots of fun, beautiful peak despite the fact that its not an official 14er. Whatever!
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005
A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4 hours, and then headed over to Castle. Back to the car in 2.5 from the top of Castle. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004
Brad, Betsy, and I set out to climb Conundrum and Castle today. However, Betsy's feet were hurting and we encountered more snow high on the mountain. Thus, after an attempt to reach the Conundrum/Castle saddle, Betsy waited for us in the bowl below Conundrum and Castle, while Brad and I had a great time climbing Conundrum Couloir. We had great views.
See Brad's trip report for details on our trip and the conditions.
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004
My first real snow climb, and what fun! Never made it to Castle Peak as planned, but had a great introduction to the Elks! Weather was beautiful and clear, but later in the day it started to get annoyingly windy. Lots of skiers out today on the slope between Castle and Conundrum.
Route Climbed: Castle Creek TH - Snow Slopes Date Climbed: September 18, 2004
A fun snow / ice climb to the saddle between Conundrum and Castle. Had to do the last 200 feet or so to the saddle on the loose scree. Not fun! Ascended Conundrum, made the traverse to Castle, and then descended the north ridge. A nice tour.
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 1996
Skeeeed It 3XI'm no Louis Dawson yet but I get around!
Eric Holle - Jul 19, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Route Climbed: traverse from CastleClimbed with Castle Pk. Glissade descent, wish I would have brought my axe.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South RidgeHiked as part of a two-fer with Castle. Crampons were helpful, but not necessary.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Traverse from Castle, ski descent of Conundrum CouloirThe traverse was easy, the skiing was sketchy. The choke was shaded and bulletproof with slush above and below. I side slipped through the ice, but my partner ate it and tumbled 300 feet downslope. Nothing hurt but his pride and his binding.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route Climbed: Traverse from CastleNice addition to the Castle climb. Snowfield was very sun-cupped.
km_donovan - Apr 23, 2006 1:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2003
Route Climbed: Traverse from CastleHad a great glissade from the couloir between Castle and Conundrum.
Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip. I celebrated the sucess of the trip when I returned home with a bottle of Conundrum wine.
doumall - Aug 21, 2005 5:31 pm
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: August 21st, 2005Started at 11000' at 4 am under a full moon. Reached the couloir and ascended under the rising sun. Awsome day and great snow conditions. 52nd 14er!
Andrew McKenzie - Aug 16, 2005 3:16 pm
Route Climbed: Unnamed class 3 scramble from Montezuma Basin Date Climbed: August 13, 2005My friend Matt and I scrambled from the montezuma basin up a fairly solid couloir to the climbers right of the conundrum couloir. Great scramble, lots of fun, beautiful peak despite the fact that its not an official 14er. Whatever!
bc44caesar - May 30, 2005 11:57 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4 hours, and then headed over to Castle. Back to the car in 2.5 from the top of Castle. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
georgbetsy - Oct 24, 2004 5:30 pm
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004Brad, Betsy, and I set out to climb Conundrum and Castle today. However, Betsy's feet were hurting and we encountered more snow high on the mountain. Thus, after an attempt to reach the Conundrum/Castle saddle, Betsy waited for us in the bowl below Conundrum and Castle, while Brad and I had a great time climbing Conundrum Couloir. We had great views.
See Brad's trip report for details on our trip and the conditions.
Brad Snider - Oct 24, 2004 4:08 am
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004My first real snow climb, and what fun! Never made it to Castle Peak as planned, but had a great introduction to the Elks! Weather was beautiful and clear, but later in the day it started to get annoyingly windy. Lots of skiers out today on the slope between Castle and Conundrum.
Ed F - Sep 20, 2004 8:18 am
Route Climbed: Castle Creek TH - Snow Slopes Date Climbed: September 18, 2004A fun snow / ice climb to the saddle between Conundrum and Castle. Had to do the last 200 feet or so to the saddle on the loose scree. Not fun! Ascended Conundrum, made the traverse to Castle, and then descended the north ridge. A nice tour.
thebeave7 - Sep 10, 2004 3:23 am
Route Climbed: Traverse from Castle Date Climbed: August 1st, 2004An odd little peak, with no real summit to it. Though it gives you nice views of Castle, and its routes. Just gotta love the scrambling.
Eric J Lee
DaveC - May 20, 2004 9:22 pm
Route Climbed: montezuma mine Date Climbed: july 03return trip, not having bothered back when i did castle. excellent glissading, even this late in the year. loose and nasty above the glacier, though.
f360driver - Apr 14, 2004 6:38 pm
Route Climbed: Montezume Basin Date Climbed: July/03Easy climb.
pphlux - Mar 19, 2004 11:37 pm
Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: Sep. 20th, 2003Climbed up _before_ castle.
Castle seems very imposing from this vantage point, and we
were a little worried about the ascent.
However, it did not take much more than an hour to make the
traverse.
Once we were on top of Castle, it was easy to see how this
is considered a sub-peak, since it is very small, and seems to
simply be part of Castle's north ridge.
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:22 pm
Route Climbed: via Castle Date Climbed: September 2003Why not stop by after Castle? PS Condundrum Hot Springs in December snow is a looooong tiring hike.
big_g - Jul 28, 2003 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2003
Route Climbed: traverse from CastleCame over from Castle via the saddle. A speedy glissade from the saddle back down! Fun, fun.
bernardhohman - Jul 28, 2003 8:02 pm
Route Climbed: Castle Connecting Ridge Date Climbed: June 8, 2003Fun little climb from the saddle after summiting Castle. There were several people around. A few even hoofed skis up. Nice small summit area.