Hasn't voted | Here's a circle route starting and ending in RMNP that I've done twice.
We started at the Colorado River Trailhead, and hiked to the Grand Ditch. We ascended Richtofen by walking the ridge between Skeleton Gulch and Box Canyon. This was long, but not terribly difficult. One thing to note (and beware of) concerning Richtofen is that the closer you get to the summit, the more rotten and broken the rock is.
From Richtofen, we crossed the ridge to Static Peak. This is a narrow ridge, and if you do not like exposure, this is not the route for you. It is slow going, and you'll want to check the weather very carefully before starting this.
From Static, we descended the knife ridge to Snow Lake. In places, this truly is a knife ridge, and it is extremely exposed. You pretty much must stay along the top, because there are cliffs below. The ridge isn't steep at the top, but towards Snow Lake, it becomes much steeper, though you can pick routes through it. For comparison, it is similar, though a little more difficult, than the difficult section of the non-technical route to Stone Man Pass in Glacier Gorge, and unlike on Richtofen, the rock is fairly solid. It is not as exposed or dangerous as the Nokhu Crags.
From Snow Lake, we climbed back over Thunder Pass, and returned to the Colorado River Trailhead.
This route is possible, but it is dangerous and it requires good weather. Make sure you are experienced, have proper equipment, and are ready for exposure. |
Rocky Mountain National Park > Mount Richthofen > Additions and Corrections