Two gullies on either side of a prominent rib are options for ascending the standard route to the summit of South Maroon Peak. Most people vie for the wider gully on the left, but both routes apparently go well. We used the left gully for ascent and descent, and it's obviously the most dangerous part of the route, with exception of the "great slope," where rock fall danger is much more apparent and severe, as rocks can fall there unimpeded for thousands of feet. For many, the "great slope" is the crux of the route.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, August 23, 2008

Photo by Ellen Ritt