2nd 5/7/17: Solo ski of the East Face. Overcast day, so the snow never really softened up. Crust sastrugi up top, but the air temp was warm enough that below 12k the turns were decent. Some bare patches near the summit, so not a continuous ski off the top, but was able to piece snow together in the lower trees and didn't have to take the skis off until the car.
3rd: 5/7/22: Ski of East Face with Lindsay and Derek.
rmjwinters - Aug 7, 2016 7:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2016
With Father Dyer and Crystal
Nice traverse
xDoogiex - Jun 22, 2016 2:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2016
Start of traverse
Up the east face to start the traverse
BradBartick - Jun 18, 2016 8:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2016
East ridge...
A man, a woman, a goat, a ptarmigan, a deer, a pika.....
Kiefer - Feb 14, 2016 9:00 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2016
Windy day
Ascended East Ridge to Father Dyer and traversed the connecting ridge to Mt. Helen. Super windy day w/snow made the ridge a bit more spicy.
First climb of the year...it hurt a little. http://www.coloradoascents.blogspot.com/2015/06/mount-helen.html
Senad Rizvanovic - May 26, 2014 8:30 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2014
Memorial Day
Beautiful day, warm and no wind. Still lot of snow knowing its already end of may.Easy and very scenic hike.
Liba Kopeckova - Oct 20, 2013 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2013
very windy
Very windy day. East slopes were mostly free of snow - it was blown off, but at lower sections we got buried it deep snow.
From Spruce Creek TH.
Scott - Apr 29, 2013 2:50 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2013
Helen
April 26
Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly and I set off for Francies Cabin (11,360 feet) along Crystal Creek in the Tenmile Range. We got a later start than hoped for and didn’t leave until 8:10 PM, which is after sunset. Because it was after sunset and because we thought that we had forgotten our lights, we quickly snowshoed up the trail as quickly as possible.
We chose to take the shorter, but much steeper route. The second half of the route was completed by starlight. We were afraid that finding the cabin would be difficult, but luckily we found it without any problems. We had made the route in one hour, half of what the guidebook said it would take.
After getting to the cabin, we found out that we had actually had our lights stashed in Kessler’s backpack all along! There were several other people in the cabin as well.
April 27
No one else wanted to climb a peak, so I set off alone towards Mt Helen (13,164 feet). With the recent storms, I chose Mt Helen because I thought Peak 10 (which was the original plan) would carry less risk. The snow was now the deepest of the season and much deeper than it was in the mostly dry winter.
I chose to climb up the rock ribs in order to reach the ridge because I thought the snow would be shallow and not risky. The rock ribs actually turned out to be quite difficult and I had to use my iceaxe on the slope between the rocks. I probably should have taken the standard route. There was a little unstable snow, but most of it was more stable than expected.
Once on the ridge, the snow was stable and it was a direct climb straight to the summit. It was a bit windy, but otherwise the weather was great.
I took a rest on the summit in order to take several photographs. I was the first to sign the summit register since November 8 2012, but wondering how many ascents of the peak there were over the past winter season. Probably not that many, but at least a few.
I took the about the same route down, but had a nice glissade next to the trees. Because it was still fairly early, the snow was pretty stable, but I wouldn’t want to do it in the afternoon. The climb had taken 2 hours 20 minutes up and 40 minutes down.
Nice, easy slope. Made it to the high point on the ridge between Helen and Father Dyer on my way to Crystal. Clouds were building too fast for my comfort and I decided to bail down a grassy slope into the Spruce Creek drainage. It was the right call because the storms rolled in shortly after.
MattK - Nov 29, 2011 3:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2011
Fun Day
What a great day! Headed up the unrelenting slopes of Helen and then traversed to Father Dyer and then on to Crystal. Wanted to head over to Peak 9 and 10, but were stormed off at Crystal.
DharmaBum1984 - Jan 9, 2009 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2008
East Side
Climbed as part of the Helen-Father Dyer-Crystal Ridge in near perfect weather. Very fun ridge.
Sarah Simon - Aug 3, 2008 11:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
East Slope
My first attempt being twarted by late-morning lightening, I was happy to return to Mount Helen. The variety of wildflowers on her east slope make the uphill slog much less painful. I really enjoyed the views from the summit, and the weather held out allowing us to kick back for close to an hour and eat, sun ourselves and relax. Partner: Carol.
mtnhiker13 - Jul 20, 2007 6:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
East Face
Nice steep tundra to get your legs in shape. Great views of Father Dyer and Crystal and basin below. Enjoyable nap on the summit.
Eric Holle - Mar 22, 2007 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2007
East Slopes
Nice solo hike in early spring conditions.
Brian Kalet - Mar 5, 2007 6:34 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2007
Climbed with gurlyclimber as part of a traverse from Father Dyer Peak. The class 3 ridge that connects the two is really fun, a sort of mini-Ellingwood Ridge (LaPlata).
SarahThompson - Jul 19, 2018 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2018
Helen to Father DyerFun little traverse from Helen to Father Dyer. Saw 3 other parties on these unranked 13ers! What is Colorado coming to :(
chicagotransplant - May 8, 2017 11:12 am Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
East Face Ski2nd 5/7/17: Solo ski of the East Face. Overcast day, so the snow never really softened up. Crust sastrugi up top, but the air temp was warm enough that below 12k the turns were decent. Some bare patches near the summit, so not a continuous ski off the top, but was able to piece snow together in the lower trees and didn't have to take the skis off until the car.
3rd: 5/7/22: Ski of East Face with Lindsay and Derek.
rmjwinters - Aug 7, 2016 7:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2016
With Father Dyer and CrystalNice traverse
xDoogiex - Jun 22, 2016 2:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2016
Start of traverseUp the east face to start the traverse
BradBartick - Jun 18, 2016 8:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2016
East ridge...A man, a woman, a goat, a ptarmigan, a deer, a pika.....
Kiefer - Feb 14, 2016 9:00 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2016
Windy dayAscended East Ridge to Father Dyer and traversed the connecting ridge to Mt. Helen. Super windy day w/snow made the ridge a bit more spicy.
nickkarl - Jul 7, 2015 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2015
StandardFirst climb of the year...it hurt a little. http://www.coloradoascents.blogspot.com/2015/06/mount-helen.html
Senad Rizvanovic - May 26, 2014 8:30 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2014
Memorial DayBeautiful day, warm and no wind. Still lot of snow knowing its already end of may.Easy and very scenic hike.
Liba Kopeckova - Oct 20, 2013 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2013
very windyVery windy day. East slopes were mostly free of snow - it was blown off, but at lower sections we got buried it deep snow.
From Spruce Creek TH.
Scott - Apr 29, 2013 2:50 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2013
HelenApril 26
Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly and I set off for Francies Cabin (11,360 feet) along Crystal Creek in the Tenmile Range. We got a later start than hoped for and didn’t leave until 8:10 PM, which is after sunset. Because it was after sunset and because we thought that we had forgotten our lights, we quickly snowshoed up the trail as quickly as possible.
We chose to take the shorter, but much steeper route. The second half of the route was completed by starlight. We were afraid that finding the cabin would be difficult, but luckily we found it without any problems. We had made the route in one hour, half of what the guidebook said it would take.
After getting to the cabin, we found out that we had actually had our lights stashed in Kessler’s backpack all along! There were several other people in the cabin as well.
April 27
No one else wanted to climb a peak, so I set off alone towards Mt Helen (13,164 feet). With the recent storms, I chose Mt Helen because I thought Peak 10 (which was the original plan) would carry less risk. The snow was now the deepest of the season and much deeper than it was in the mostly dry winter.
I chose to climb up the rock ribs in order to reach the ridge because I thought the snow would be shallow and not risky. The rock ribs actually turned out to be quite difficult and I had to use my iceaxe on the slope between the rocks. I probably should have taken the standard route. There was a little unstable snow, but most of it was more stable than expected.
Once on the ridge, the snow was stable and it was a direct climb straight to the summit. It was a bit windy, but otherwise the weather was great.
I took a rest on the summit in order to take several photographs. I was the first to sign the summit register since November 8 2012, but wondering how many ascents of the peak there were over the past winter season. Probably not that many, but at least a few.
I took the about the same route down, but had a nice glissade next to the trees. Because it was still fairly early, the snow was pretty stable, but I wouldn’t want to do it in the afternoon. The climb had taken 2 hours 20 minutes up and 40 minutes down.
habaceeba - Sep 3, 2012 5:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2012
Had to bailNice, easy slope. Made it to the high point on the ridge between Helen and Father Dyer on my way to Crystal. Clouds were building too fast for my comfort and I decided to bail down a grassy slope into the Spruce Creek drainage. It was the right call because the storms rolled in shortly after.
MattK - Nov 29, 2011 3:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2011
Fun DayWhat a great day! Headed up the unrelenting slopes of Helen and then traversed to Father Dyer and then on to Crystal. Wanted to head over to Peak 9 and 10, but were stormed off at Crystal.
DharmaBum1984 - Jan 9, 2009 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2008
East SideClimbed as part of the Helen-Father Dyer-Crystal Ridge in near perfect weather. Very fun ridge.
Sarah Simon - Aug 3, 2008 11:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
East SlopeMy first attempt being twarted by late-morning lightening, I was happy to return to Mount Helen. The variety of wildflowers on her east slope make the uphill slog much less painful. I really enjoyed the views from the summit, and the weather held out allowing us to kick back for close to an hour and eat, sun ourselves and relax. Partner: Carol.
mtnhiker13 - Jul 20, 2007 6:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
East FaceNice steep tundra to get your legs in shape. Great views of Father Dyer and Crystal and basin below. Enjoyable nap on the summit.
Eric Holle - Mar 22, 2007 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2007
East SlopesNice solo hike in early spring conditions.
Brian Kalet - Mar 5, 2007 6:34 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2007
East SlopesSkied from the summit!
Gahugafuga - Sep 20, 2006 7:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2006
East SlopesFirst peak on my loop around the Spruce Creek drainage. Continued on to Father Dyer then Crystal and finally Pk 10.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Jul 26, 2006 1:13 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
..Nice
chicagotransplant - Jul 24, 2006 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
Father Dyer/Mt HelenClimbed with gurlyclimber as part of a traverse from Father Dyer Peak. The class 3 ridge that connects the two is really fun, a sort of mini-Ellingwood Ridge (LaPlata).