chicagotransplant - Jun 11, 2007 10:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
Snow field to ridge
Climbed with Shanahan96, Jamie Nellis and Denalibound from Snowmass Lake. Long hike in/out with heavy pack, but this is the route we wanted. What's Snowmass without climbing the namesake snow field? Due to hard snow on the back of the ridge we opted to stay as close to the crest as possible. This resulted in some extra scrambling than normal, and several short class 4 moves at the various gendarmes. Great fun!
Also traversed out to tag "North Snowmass", excellent views of Capitol and Pierre Lakes from the north summit. Its worth the extra 20 minutes!
Britette - Jun 4, 2007 12:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
From Snowmass lake
Hiked in Snowmass Creek route and camped at the lake. Wish it was earlier since there wasn't much snow - that damn talus field is tough in tele boots. Anyway climbed to the ridge and skied from there. Did not fancy climbing the ridge to the summit in tele boots so neglected to summit. Ski was fun though. Long hike out with 50lb pack.
sbkelley - May 24, 2007 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Lake Geneva
TalusMonkey, Greg, and I camped above Lake Geneva, traversed over to the trail and went up the west slopes route. Steep talus and amazing lakes on the way up.
TiogaBradford - Sep 23, 2006 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
What a day!
Incredible day! This was my 2nd 14er and my first Class 3 peak. We started hiking that day at about 2am, made it to the lake by sunrise, and summitted around 10am. I think we finished hiking that day around 5pm, after about 15 hours and 20 miles. My friend Dave and I were dead exhausted.
The scenery and scrambling were great, but the scree field was less than fun....
The most technical climb thus far, and physically demanding. I had heard of the Elk Range being rather rugged and remote, but I had no idea. The entire hike to base camp was gorgeous, filled with marmots and columbines. Lake is suberb, and fishing was great!
Mike Mc - Jul 19, 2006 3:04 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Snowmass Lake
Straight up the snowfield to the saddle between Snowmass and North Snowmass...Gorgeous!
Asphazell - Jul 3, 2006 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2006
Snowmass Lake/East Couloir
Great trip with two great friends! Hike to the lake was long, but the lake and the East Couloir were INCREDIBLE! Snowmass is in my top 5 favorite summits. Definitely glad we did this while there was a good deal of snow up there, wish it had been a little cooler though.
altitude14er - Jun 26, 2006 6:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake
A Great Day & Summit. The 8 mile backpack out was a little rough with blistered feet. Well worth it though.
Mountain Jim - Mar 23, 2006 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 1968
From Lead King Basin
Nice ridge scramble.
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 1999
Standard Route
Beautiful mountain. An enchanting wilderness experience.
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake Date Climbed: August 21, 2005
I'm new at this stuff. My 2nd 14K peak. Did Mt. Whitney last summer while completing JMT.
This was day four of a 5-day backpacking trip (w/ wife and another couple). The hike up Snowmass wasn't too bad. Had trouble w/ snowfield on way down. Slipped 3 times & broke hiking pole arresting myself. Didn't use an ice axe. Mistake. The scree at the bottom was difficult to come down for me and my buddy. Did a lot of 'butt sliding.'
Hope to do more peaks next summer (w/ ice axe and possibly crampons).
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake Date Climbed: 7/16/05
The backpack in to the lake is possibly my favorite fourteener approach hike - fantastic! Great climb, except for the miserable scree slope just above the lake.
Route Climbed: west face, east slopes Date Climbed: September 1996 & July 2004
Climbed with Aaron P. from Lead King Basin at 9600'. It's shorter this way, but not nearly as scenic as the Snowmass Lake approach on the east side. Did the traditional approach and route in 2004, with Alan, Ron, and Michael. A real treat.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September, 1995
Climbed with Aaron and Mark. Probably this (the West Ridge) is the most direct route, but it's still a long day, with much class three bouldering, and some class four manuevering to lift yourself onto the summit. It's worth it--this is one of my favorite Colorado mountains!
Aaron and I went to the upper basin earlier (I don't remember the year), and spent what to my mind is the most memorable night I've ever had in the mountains. A front stalled out directly over Snowmass, and as it kind of ebbed and flowed over us formed thunderstorm after thunderstorm. We were camped right at timberline, and the lightning and thunder were so intense I remember it sounding like huge marbles were rolling across the sky! Maybe I should have been afraid, but it was too huge a sounding night to do anything but listen, and be amazed! I'll never forget it...
Next morning, the peak was covered with snow, so we turned around.
chicagotransplant - Jun 11, 2007 10:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007
Snow field to ridgeClimbed with Shanahan96, Jamie Nellis and Denalibound from Snowmass Lake. Long hike in/out with heavy pack, but this is the route we wanted. What's Snowmass without climbing the namesake snow field? Due to hard snow on the back of the ridge we opted to stay as close to the crest as possible. This resulted in some extra scrambling than normal, and several short class 4 moves at the various gendarmes. Great fun!
Also traversed out to tag "North Snowmass", excellent views of Capitol and Pierre Lakes from the north summit. Its worth the extra 20 minutes!
Britette - Jun 4, 2007 12:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
From Snowmass lakeHiked in Snowmass Creek route and camped at the lake. Wish it was earlier since there wasn't much snow - that damn talus field is tough in tele boots. Anyway climbed to the ridge and skied from there. Did not fancy climbing the ridge to the summit in tele boots so neglected to summit. Ski was fun though. Long hike out with 50lb pack.
sbkelley - May 24, 2007 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Lake GenevaTalusMonkey, Greg, and I camped above Lake Geneva, traversed over to the trail and went up the west slopes route. Steep talus and amazing lakes on the way up.
TiogaBradford - Sep 23, 2006 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2005
What a day!Incredible day! This was my 2nd 14er and my first Class 3 peak. We started hiking that day at about 2am, made it to the lake by sunrise, and summitted around 10am. I think we finished hiking that day around 5pm, after about 15 hours and 20 miles. My friend Dave and I were dead exhausted.
The scenery and scrambling were great, but the scree field was less than fun....
km_donovan - Sep 7, 2006 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2006
Standard RouteIt was more like "Snowmassless" Fun climb, great weather.
jclements - Aug 10, 2006 5:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Standard RouteWould rather have had snow to ski/glissade down. Weather stayed nice all day, just cloudy enough.
crzyjt - Aug 9, 2006 6:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Snowmass LakeA fun scramble.
Brian Kalet - Aug 7, 2006 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2006
The S-Ridge (ascent), West Face via Marble (descent)10 hours roundtrip. Trip Report
sdhager - Aug 5, 2006 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2005
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake via Snowmass Creek TrailheadAwesome Trip! Great stream crossing near oxbow lake. Loved the ridge scramble. Lots of snow!
mountainzen107 - Jul 28, 2006 4:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Route Climbed: Snowmass LakeThe most technical climb thus far, and physically demanding. I had heard of the Elk Range being rather rugged and remote, but I had no idea. The entire hike to base camp was gorgeous, filled with marmots and columbines. Lake is suberb, and fishing was great!
Mike Mc - Jul 19, 2006 3:04 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Snowmass LakeStraight up the snowfield to the saddle between Snowmass and North Snowmass...Gorgeous!
Asphazell - Jul 3, 2006 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2006
Snowmass Lake/East CouloirGreat trip with two great friends! Hike to the lake was long, but the lake and the East Couloir were INCREDIBLE! Snowmass is in my top 5 favorite summits. Definitely glad we did this while there was a good deal of snow up there, wish it had been a little cooler though.
altitude14er - Jun 26, 2006 6:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Route Climbed: Snowmass LakeA Great Day & Summit. The 8 mile backpack out was a little rough with blistered feet. Well worth it though.
Mountain Jim - Mar 23, 2006 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 1968
From Lead King BasinNice ridge scramble.
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 5:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 1999
Standard RouteBeautiful mountain. An enchanting wilderness experience.
CarlZ - Sep 3, 2005 10:41 pm
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake Date Climbed: August 21, 2005I'm new at this stuff. My 2nd 14K peak. Did Mt. Whitney last summer while completing JMT.
This was day four of a 5-day backpacking trip (w/ wife and another couple). The hike up Snowmass wasn't too bad. Had trouble w/ snowfield on way down. Slipped 3 times & broke hiking pole arresting myself. Didn't use an ice axe. Mistake. The scree at the bottom was difficult to come down for me and my buddy. Did a lot of 'butt sliding.'
Hope to do more peaks next summer (w/ ice axe and possibly crampons).
hhsilleck - Jul 18, 2005 6:24 pm
Route Climbed: Snowmass Lake Date Climbed: 7/16/05The backpack in to the lake is possibly my favorite fourteener approach hike - fantastic! Great climb, except for the miserable scree slope just above the lake.
doumall - Jul 18, 2005 12:09 pm
Route Climbed: Snowmass Snowfield Date Climbed: 7/17/05Backpacked into Snowmass Lake, summited the following day and hiked out. Long trip with great scenery. Well worth the hike. 46th 14er!
Larry V - Jan 9, 2005 9:12 pm
Route Climbed: west face, east slopes Date Climbed: September 1996 & July 2004Climbed with Aaron P. from Lead King Basin at 9600'. It's shorter this way, but not nearly as scenic as the Snowmass Lake approach on the east side. Did the traditional approach and route in 2004, with Alan, Ron, and Michael. A real treat.
Saintgrizzly - Aug 11, 2004 12:19 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September, 1995Climbed with Aaron and Mark. Probably this (the West Ridge) is the most direct route, but it's still a long day, with much class three bouldering, and some class four manuevering to lift yourself onto the summit. It's worth it--this is one of my favorite Colorado mountains!
Aaron and I went to the upper basin earlier (I don't remember the year), and spent what to my mind is the most memorable night I've ever had in the mountains. A front stalled out directly over Snowmass, and as it kind of ebbed and flowed over us formed thunderstorm after thunderstorm. We were camped right at timberline, and the lightning and thunder were so intense I remember it sounding like huge marbles were rolling across the sky! Maybe I should have been afraid, but it was too huge a sounding night to do anything but listen, and be amazed! I'll never forget it...
Next morning, the peak was covered with snow, so we turned around.