Buckskin Benchmark, from the Willow Lake Trail.
The standard Class 2 route to the summit is via the saddle to the left. However, on this August day there was still enough snow blocking this route that an ice axe would have been needed. We proceeded up to Willow Pass via the standard trail up the dark gray rock to the right. We descended back to the Willow Pass/Buckskin Pass junction and I summitted Buckskin Benchmark via Buckskin Pass.
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
August 9, 2009