BKiser90 - Aug 4, 2022 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2022
Up the SW Ridge
Started from the outhouse parking at 5:41 am. Made it with a stock Subaru Outback but did bottom the rear bumper out twice in the ascent up the 4X4 road. The recent monsoonal rains have made the basin extremely wet. The road had many puddles in it after the parking area. We took the Wrights Lake trail to Blue Lake Pass. A couple was exchanging wedding vows on the pass. The Southwest Ridge route was covered in graupel from either yesterday or the day before. This made the climb a little tricky but we managed. Super fun route up. Summited just before 9:00 am. Views were wide and far. We decided to descend the South Slopes route due to the icy nature of the SW ridge. We descended fairly quickly and ended our hike at 11:14.
Day hike from Blue Lakes TH. Started a little before 5, summited at 8:30. Traverse was very fun - a few route finding challenges and parts where I to backtrack a bit. Might have helped if I had done any research at all - oh well. I didn't feel like anything was particularly difficult, the only sections that required real climbing had quite stable rock. But I could see how this would be a real challenge for someone not used to Class 3 scrambling.
ozarkmac - Sep 29, 2020 9:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2020
From Blue Lakes.
Super fun scramble in perfect fall conditions.
captainbuuda - Feb 8, 2017 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2009
A dizzying high
This was my first and (currently) only Colorado 14er. I wanted a fun and challenging class 3 route with some scrambling-- NOT class 4 climbing, which to me is just a bit too much fun. Life threatening exposure still scares me. This route was the perfect match for my "fun" criteria. I was out of shape so, even though I was acclimatized to about 10,000 ft, I began experiencing light AMS symptoms on the upper portion of the route. When I paused to rest on the most narrow section I could look down between my legs and see maybe 1,000 ft down on both sides of the ridge. The view alone was dizzying. It was amazing. And that's why I climb.
climbed twice to date, fun scramble. wonder how many of the local towers are climbable?
jamie
cdog - Aug 24, 2013 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
fun scramble
Fun climb! I enjoyed this route and found mostly solid rock where it mattered.
Senad Rizvanovic - Feb 25, 2013 11:30 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Great Route
Great route, nice scrambling, amazing vies, i'll come back for another round.
Matt Lemke - Nov 21, 2012 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
Fun route
Climbed the whole way dodging thunderstorms. Thunder and lightning broke out over Teakettle while we were on summit. Boy we ran down the Lavender route like animals!
Trailboss88 - Oct 26, 2012 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2012
better than scree!
Had a fun time climbing the SW ridge out of Yankee Boy Basin after some snow a week earlier to make it beautiful.
meclimber - Jul 7, 2012 11:39 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
Scenic and more exposed route
Started off from the Blue Lakes TH mid day and camped out at the Upper Blue Lake. Headed up the Blue Lakes Pass in the morning and took the ridge as it looked like the more interesting route. A lot of route finding to make your way through the gullies to the main ridge. After that you can either work your way up some switchbacks just to the side of the ridge or follow the true ridge to the summit (mostly 4th class). I recommend bringing a helmet as it is all loose rock piles basically the whole way up from the pass and we had a number of people ahead of us kicking stuff loose. No snow at all right now (though this is a year of very low snowpack). Would be very interesting and probably easier if the gullies were filled with snow (an axe would likely be all you would need). First trip hiking in the San Juans and incredibly scenic and satisfying ascent.
Rocky Alps - Jun 26, 2012 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2009
Southwest Ridge / Lavender Col Loop
I'd been looking forward to climbing another 14er after a four year hiatus, and Mount Sneffels was my first choice. It was the first big mountain my younger brothers Chris and Johnny have climbed, and they did quite well considering it was their first time scrambling as well. The rocks were a bit loose on the lower sections of the southwest ridge, but the final few hundred yards were really solid and a blast to climb on. The views from the summit were among the best I've seen. Despite not going though Blue Lakes Basin (which I've heard has some great scenery), Yankee Boy Basin was still quite nice as well. I wussed out and didn't park all the way at the top of the 4WD road, but the hike back down was still quite enjoyable. See "Long-Awaited Return to Colorado" trip report for details.
Kiefer - May 28, 2012 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Awesome Route!
I'm usually inclined to signing anything below 4th class but this ridge was so fun, I had to! An excellent route on Sneffels. Thus far, the best...until I climb The Snake! ;o)
BKiser90 - Aug 4, 2022 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2022
Up the SW RidgeStarted from the outhouse parking at 5:41 am. Made it with a stock Subaru Outback but did bottom the rear bumper out twice in the ascent up the 4X4 road. The recent monsoonal rains have made the basin extremely wet. The road had many puddles in it after the parking area. We took the Wrights Lake trail to Blue Lake Pass. A couple was exchanging wedding vows on the pass. The Southwest Ridge route was covered in graupel from either yesterday or the day before. This made the climb a little tricky but we managed. Super fun route up. Summited just before 9:00 am. Views were wide and far. We decided to descend the South Slopes route due to the icy nature of the SW ridge. We descended fairly quickly and ended our hike at 11:14.
aarobkol - Sep 11, 2021 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2021
Sw Ridge from Blue Lakes THDay hike from Blue Lakes TH. Started a little before 5, summited at 8:30. Traverse was very fun - a few route finding challenges and parts where I to backtrack a bit. Might have helped if I had done any research at all - oh well. I didn't feel like anything was particularly difficult, the only sections that required real climbing had quite stable rock. But I could see how this would be a real challenge for someone not used to Class 3 scrambling.
ozarkmac - Sep 29, 2020 9:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2020
From Blue Lakes.Super fun scramble in perfect fall conditions.
captainbuuda - Feb 8, 2017 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2009
A dizzying highThis was my first and (currently) only Colorado 14er. I wanted a fun and challenging class 3 route with some scrambling-- NOT class 4 climbing, which to me is just a bit too much fun. Life threatening exposure still scares me. This route was the perfect match for my "fun" criteria. I was out of shape so, even though I was acclimatized to about 10,000 ft, I began experiencing light AMS symptoms on the upper portion of the route. When I paused to rest on the most narrow section I could look down between my legs and see maybe 1,000 ft down on both sides of the ridge. The view alone was dizzying. It was amazing. And that's why I climb.
shanahan96 - Feb 18, 2015 11:46 pm
july and augustclimbed twice to date, fun scramble. wonder how many of the local towers are climbable?
jamie
cdog - Aug 24, 2013 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
fun scrambleFun climb! I enjoyed this route and found mostly solid rock where it mattered.
Senad Rizvanovic - Feb 25, 2013 11:30 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Great RouteGreat route, nice scrambling, amazing vies, i'll come back for another round.
Matt Lemke - Nov 21, 2012 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
Fun routeClimbed the whole way dodging thunderstorms. Thunder and lightning broke out over Teakettle while we were on summit. Boy we ran down the Lavender route like animals!
Trailboss88 - Oct 26, 2012 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2012
better than scree!Had a fun time climbing the SW ridge out of Yankee Boy Basin after some snow a week earlier to make it beautiful.
meclimber - Jul 7, 2012 11:39 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
Scenic and more exposed routeStarted off from the Blue Lakes TH mid day and camped out at the Upper Blue Lake. Headed up the Blue Lakes Pass in the morning and took the ridge as it looked like the more interesting route. A lot of route finding to make your way through the gullies to the main ridge. After that you can either work your way up some switchbacks just to the side of the ridge or follow the true ridge to the summit (mostly 4th class). I recommend bringing a helmet as it is all loose rock piles basically the whole way up from the pass and we had a number of people ahead of us kicking stuff loose. No snow at all right now (though this is a year of very low snowpack). Would be very interesting and probably easier if the gullies were filled with snow (an axe would likely be all you would need). First trip hiking in the San Juans and incredibly scenic and satisfying ascent.
Rocky Alps - Jun 26, 2012 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2009
Southwest Ridge / Lavender Col LoopI'd been looking forward to climbing another 14er after a four year hiatus, and Mount Sneffels was my first choice. It was the first big mountain my younger brothers Chris and Johnny have climbed, and they did quite well considering it was their first time scrambling as well. The rocks were a bit loose on the lower sections of the southwest ridge, but the final few hundred yards were really solid and a blast to climb on. The views from the summit were among the best I've seen. Despite not going though Blue Lakes Basin (which I've heard has some great scenery), Yankee Boy Basin was still quite nice as well. I wussed out and didn't park all the way at the top of the 4WD road, but the hike back down was still quite enjoyable. See "Long-Awaited Return to Colorado" trip report for details.
Kiefer - May 28, 2012 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Awesome Route!I'm usually inclined to signing anything below 4th class but this ridge was so fun, I had to! An excellent route on Sneffels. Thus far, the best...until I climb The Snake! ;o)
Liba Kopeckova - May 27, 2012 12:05 am
the best route up SneffelsMy favorite route up Sneffels, scenic, great views.
Lovely even with the snow and ice.