This is fun - at least once you get up to the saddle.
bryangast - Jan 7, 2010 10:33 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2001
Up
The route from the Maroon Bells parking lot is straight up. This peak also holds some special secrets for me as well.
JB99 - Dec 9, 2009 6:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2009
Solo Summit
One of my favorite days in summer 2009. My fiance came up to the shoulder with me and then I was alone to the top. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6808&parmuser=JB99&cpgm=tripuser
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:25 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2009
West slope
Hideous choss maze from Crater Lake. There were ducks once I hit the WNW ridge, and a mountain goat who knew the route.
Diggler - Sep 2, 2009 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
NE ridge
My last 14er (& climb) for this Colorado trip. Did with Faith (her 2nd 14er!). Left the trailhead at 7.11. Made good time. Interesting climbing from pass. While rock far from great, was really not too bad. Passed 15 people on the way up/down. Route-finding interesting- NE 'ridge' somewhat misleading, as the actual route sort of zig-zags up the path of least resistance. Summited at 11.59, & hung out for ~.5 hour before descending. Views great, & that of the Bells abolutely phenomenal. MUST do the Bell Cord Couloir (& Maroon-N Maroon traverse)! Clouds looked threatening upon starting descent, but turned out to be benign (we did see a few snowflakes which, however, soon ceased). Saw 1 or 2 herds of mountain goats (maybe 10 total), which I always feel blessed for (there was a cute little kid (literal) too!). Those things are amazing climbers! Back at TH at 4:20. Excellent day, amazing peak, & great company! 20 more to go.
rleclair - Aug 9, 2009 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
NE Ridge
This was my first Class 4 14er and it tested me mentally and physically. Climbed with fellow SPer, Alan Arnette, on the NE Ridge route. The biggest difference between this mountain and all others I've hiked/climbed is the last 1000' - attention to detail, hold tests, exposure just doesn't stop. Overall a great mountain!
Pete Castricone - Aug 1, 2009 9:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
Great hike/climb. There are some exposed and a little scary section, but reaching the top is definitively worth it!
Panthera uncia - Jun 29, 2009 9:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2009
Pyramid NE Ridge
Awesome mountain! Steep but not as difficult as I expected... tons of cairns up there. The view of Snowmass, Capitol and the Bells is incredible from the summit! A curious mountain goat followed me for quite a while during my descent.
COhawkeye - Mar 18, 2009 1:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
NE Ridge
Spectacular mountain an dperfect conditions. Well cairned.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 1, 2008 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
NE Ridge Route
Pyramid is a demanding mountain and requires your complete attention. The Green Couloir is probably the sketchiest part of the route.
CFI did a great job on the route up the slope to the basin and the entire route was well cairned. Very easy to follow.
What a great mountain and well deserved of its reputation as one of the more challenging 14ers.
cftbq - Aug 29, 2008 10:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2008
NE ridge route
Did the standard route on a beautiful day. Difficult but very rewarding.
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 23, 2008 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
NE Ridge
Fun stuff - except that gully up to 12,800ft. :) Agreed - only a handful of class 4 moves on the summit ridge, and that's really only if you want them. The "easy route" is very well-marked with cairns.
alpspitze - Aug 11, 2008 4:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2008
Northeast Ridge
This was an awesome treat for my first Elk peak. I would not suggest this approach, but I flew in from RI the day before and went straight to Maroon Lake, then got up at 4am and climbed Pyramid. The altitude didn't bother me too much but I was tired.
Kiefer - Aug 4, 2008 2:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
traverse from Thunder..
Summitted for approxamately 3 minutes (bad weather) en route on the traverse from Thunder Pyramid. Gnarly traverse. This mountain has some of the best views though!
ajfraser - Jul 25, 2008 2:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
4th class?
A wonderful day and overall enjoyable scramble via the NE ridge. Kudos to the 14er initiative for great work on the approach trails. I would say that the difficulty is a bit overrated, as it can easily be kept at class 3 without too much routefinding struggle. If you are looking for more of a challenge, however, you can enjoy some 4th and 5th class excitement nearer to the ridge, provided you don't mind the exposure. The rock is not as rotten as I had anticipated, especially compared to scrambles in the San Juans. Given the abundant snowfall, there is still a possibility to glissade most of the gullies on the return, shaving up to an hour off your descent. Enjoy!
Up & down the NE Ridge Route. Great weather for a late start. Everyone else there was already coming down, which gave us the whole place to ourselves for most of the day. Pretty sweet on a Sunday, especially on a peak like this. This route is certainly not very sustained class 4 if you pay attention to where you're going. Crumbly, though the rock under the crud actually isn't so bad, it's just covered with a layer of mess that forces you to think more about your placements. I brushed the gravelly stuff aside several times to reveal a hold that was plenty solid. A thoroughly enjoyable climb, a little sketchy, but far less than I had prepared myself for.
heather14 - Jul 13, 2008 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Up the NW & Down the NE
This was a great way to do Pyramid! This one offered a little of everything today including snow. Despite the crumbling rock, this is one of my favorites.
pile of crumbling rocks. We had several close calls with rock fall. Not only is it important to be the first ones up the last stretch, but it helps to get down before the next group too. We dodged several medium-sized boulders and numerous plate sized rocks on the descent.
dclimb14me - Apr 26, 2010 12:16 am
ChallengeChallenged by route finding but made the summit. Sat on top on a beautiful day and watched a pilot in a glider circle the peak. What it's all about!
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2009
I'll do this one againThis is fun - at least once you get up to the saddle.
bryangast - Jan 7, 2010 10:33 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2001
UpThe route from the Maroon Bells parking lot is straight up. This peak also holds some special secrets for me as well.
JB99 - Dec 9, 2009 6:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2009
Solo SummitOne of my favorite days in summer 2009. My fiance came up to the shoulder with me and then I was alone to the top. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6808&parmuser=JB99&cpgm=tripuser
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:25 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2009
West slopeHideous choss maze from Crater Lake. There were ducks once I hit the WNW ridge, and a mountain goat who knew the route.
Diggler - Sep 2, 2009 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
NE ridgeMy last 14er (& climb) for this Colorado trip. Did with Faith (her 2nd 14er!). Left the trailhead at 7.11. Made good time. Interesting climbing from pass. While rock far from great, was really not too bad. Passed 15 people on the way up/down. Route-finding interesting- NE 'ridge' somewhat misleading, as the actual route sort of zig-zags up the path of least resistance. Summited at 11.59, & hung out for ~.5 hour before descending. Views great, & that of the Bells abolutely phenomenal. MUST do the Bell Cord Couloir (& Maroon-N Maroon traverse)! Clouds looked threatening upon starting descent, but turned out to be benign (we did see a few snowflakes which, however, soon ceased). Saw 1 or 2 herds of mountain goats (maybe 10 total), which I always feel blessed for (there was a cute little kid (literal) too!). Those things are amazing climbers! Back at TH at 4:20. Excellent day, amazing peak, & great company! 20 more to go.
rleclair - Aug 9, 2009 1:18 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
NE RidgeThis was my first Class 4 14er and it tested me mentally and physically. Climbed with fellow SPer, Alan Arnette, on the NE Ridge route. The biggest difference between this mountain and all others I've hiked/climbed is the last 1000' - attention to detail, hold tests, exposure just doesn't stop. Overall a great mountain!
Pete Castricone - Aug 1, 2009 9:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
NE RidgeExciting and demanding climb.
Liba Kopeckova - Jul 21, 2009 11:54 pm
a little scaryGreat hike/climb. There are some exposed and a little scary section, but reaching the top is definitively worth it!
Panthera uncia - Jun 29, 2009 9:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2009
Pyramid NE RidgeAwesome mountain! Steep but not as difficult as I expected... tons of cairns up there. The view of Snowmass, Capitol and the Bells is incredible from the summit! A curious mountain goat followed me for quite a while during my descent.
COhawkeye - Mar 18, 2009 1:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
NE RidgeSpectacular mountain an dperfect conditions. Well cairned.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 1, 2008 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
NE Ridge RoutePyramid is a demanding mountain and requires your complete attention. The Green Couloir is probably the sketchiest part of the route.
CFI did a great job on the route up the slope to the basin and the entire route was well cairned. Very easy to follow.
What a great mountain and well deserved of its reputation as one of the more challenging 14ers.
cftbq - Aug 29, 2008 10:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2008
NE ridge routeDid the standard route on a beautiful day. Difficult but very rewarding.
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 23, 2008 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
NE RidgeFun stuff - except that gully up to 12,800ft. :) Agreed - only a handful of class 4 moves on the summit ridge, and that's really only if you want them. The "easy route" is very well-marked with cairns.
alpspitze - Aug 11, 2008 4:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2008
Northeast RidgeThis was an awesome treat for my first Elk peak. I would not suggest this approach, but I flew in from RI the day before and went straight to Maroon Lake, then got up at 4am and climbed Pyramid. The altitude didn't bother me too much but I was tired.
Kiefer - Aug 4, 2008 2:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
traverse from Thunder..Summitted for approxamately 3 minutes (bad weather) en route on the traverse from Thunder Pyramid. Gnarly traverse. This mountain has some of the best views though!
ajfraser - Jul 25, 2008 2:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
4th class?A wonderful day and overall enjoyable scramble via the NE ridge. Kudos to the 14er initiative for great work on the approach trails. I would say that the difficulty is a bit overrated, as it can easily be kept at class 3 without too much routefinding struggle. If you are looking for more of a challenge, however, you can enjoy some 4th and 5th class excitement nearer to the ridge, provided you don't mind the exposure. The rock is not as rotten as I had anticipated, especially compared to scrambles in the San Juans. Given the abundant snowfall, there is still a possibility to glissade most of the gullies on the return, shaving up to an hour off your descent. Enjoy!
GeorgeJames - Jul 21, 2008 1:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2008
Climb like an EgyptianUp & down the NE Ridge Route. Great weather for a late start. Everyone else there was already coming down, which gave us the whole place to ourselves for most of the day. Pretty sweet on a Sunday, especially on a peak like this. This route is certainly not very sustained class 4 if you pay attention to where you're going. Crumbly, though the rock under the crud actually isn't so bad, it's just covered with a layer of mess that forces you to think more about your placements. I brushed the gravelly stuff aside several times to reveal a hold that was plenty solid. A thoroughly enjoyable climb, a little sketchy, but far less than I had prepared myself for.
heather14 - Jul 13, 2008 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
Up the NW & Down the NEThis was a great way to do Pyramid! This one offered a little of everything today including snow. Despite the crumbling rock, this is one of my favorites.
DrewB - Jul 8, 2008 12:05 pm
One large...pile of crumbling rocks. We had several close calls with rock fall. Not only is it important to be the first ones up the last stretch, but it helps to get down before the next group too. We dodged several medium-sized boulders and numerous plate sized rocks on the descent.