It was a great snow/scree climb. The weather was pleasant basically the whole time except for right when we reached the top clouds surrounded us so we didnt spend much time up there. Overall it was a blast, great views, exciting atmosphere, and a good experience for the first time summiting a fourteener.
Second time's a charm, after failing due to weather three weeks ago. Also climbed Conundrum as well, headed to Buena Vista and did Huron Peak the following day.
The only thing with this peak is that the scree gets annoying on the descent! Beautiful mountain though.
Mike Mc - Aug 7, 2006 3:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
West Slopes
Miserable! Never attempt the west talus slopes when they are snow free! From Conundrum Hot Springs this route is 3000 vertical feet of rotten, steep, mobile rocks. No me gusta.
sdhager - Aug 5, 2006 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
Route Climbed: NE ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2006
Great day in the Montezuma Basin. Ascent of the North Ridge, with Kris and Madaline. Continued to the summit of Conundrum, and glissade descent of the coulior.
F Bomb - Jul 5, 2006 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
NE Ridge
Good fun, parked at 10,2 in the Saturn, couldn't get accross the creek.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South Ridge/NE Ridge
Nice easy climb starting with Conundrum on the way up via the South Ridge route. I descended using the NE Ridge and had a great glissade down below the NE ridge. I drove to ~11,000 feet and parked at the junction with the Pearl Pass road.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
NW ridge, snow
Got this one on my second attempt. Parked at 12,500 and climbed to the saddle via non standard detour with my skis. Snow was continuous to saddle. Dumped pack, ran up castle, then, back at the saddle, grabbed my pack, headed up Conundrum and skied the Conundrum Couloir. Partner ate it in the choke and tumbled 300 feet. Very scary, but he was alright.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route climbed: NE Ridge
Continued to Conundrum, descent of NW ridge on scree for a couple hundred feet and then the snowfield.
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge via North Buttress varation
I drove my 4x4 all the way to the parking area 12,800 feet, got an early start before the holiday hordes arrived Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip.
Scott - Apr 17, 2006 2:32 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2006
Winter conditions
Climbed with Brock.
April 14:
We climbed up to 11,430 feet and camped. Stormy all day, and we saw on small avalanche.
April 15th:
It was 9F in the morning and we climbed Castle via the Northeast Ridge and descended the north face couloir. Climb was mostly easy, but parts of the ridge traverse had some treacherous sugar snow, that was impossible to get a bite with the ice axe. Very warm day, and the snow was soft, so we arrived back at the car at 9 pm, a long day.
I drove all the way to the mine for this one. The weather was pretty strange. No problem going up but at the summit, the clouds moved in quick, it got fairly dark but it was as quiet and still at the top as I've ever witnessed. Very strange. It downpoured as soon as i got back to the truck. Perfect timing.
zachary_dc - Sep 7, 2006 11:07 pm
Variation of the StandardIt was a great snow/scree climb. The weather was pleasant basically the whole time except for right when we reached the top clouds surrounded us so we didnt spend much time up there. Overall it was a blast, great views, exciting atmosphere, and a good experience for the first time summiting a fourteener.
Vagabond Manifesto - Aug 25, 2006 6:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2006
Lots of screeSecond time's a charm, after failing due to weather three weeks ago. Also climbed Conundrum as well, headed to Buena Vista and did Huron Peak the following day.
The only thing with this peak is that the scree gets annoying on the descent! Beautiful mountain though.
osatrik - Aug 18, 2006 12:34 am
Summer 1993 - soloed N Coulour scrambleSee report on route page
Mike Mc - Aug 7, 2006 3:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
West SlopesMiserable! Never attempt the west talus slopes when they are snow free! From Conundrum Hot Springs this route is 3000 vertical feet of rotten, steep, mobile rocks. No me gusta.
sdhager - Aug 5, 2006 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
Route Climbed: NE RidgeFirst 14er! Been up 3x since. Awesome glissade!!
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2006
2nd Fourteener, 5x2nd fourteener. I have been back five times and love it and Connundrum everytime. Skiing/boarding is always fun adn lasts in to the summer!
Eric Holle - Jul 19, 2006 2:58 am
Route Climbed: NE ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2006Great day in the Montezuma Basin. Ascent of the North Ridge, with Kris and Madaline. Continued to the summit of Conundrum, and glissade descent of the coulior.
F Bomb - Jul 5, 2006 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
NE RidgeGood fun, parked at 10,2 in the Saturn, couldn't get accross the creek.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South Ridge/NE RidgeNice easy climb starting with Conundrum on the way up via the South Ridge route. I descended using the NE Ridge and had a great glissade down below the NE ridge. I drove to ~11,000 feet and parked at the junction with the Pearl Pass road.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
NW ridge, snowGot this one on my second attempt. Parked at 12,500 and climbed to the saddle via non standard detour with my skis. Snow was continuous to saddle. Dumped pack, ran up castle, then, back at the saddle, grabbed my pack, headed up Conundrum and skied the Conundrum Couloir. Partner ate it in the choke and tumbled 300 feet. Very scary, but he was alright.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route climbed: NE RidgeContinued to Conundrum, descent of NW ridge on scree for a couple hundred feet and then the snowfield.
km_donovan - Apr 23, 2006 1:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2003
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge via North Buttress varationI drove my 4x4 all the way to the parking area 12,800 feet, got an early start before the holiday hordes arrived Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip.
Scott - Apr 17, 2006 2:32 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2006
Winter conditionsClimbed with Brock.
April 14:
We climbed up to 11,430 feet and camped. Stormy all day, and we saw on small avalanche.
April 15th:
It was 9F in the morning and we climbed Castle via the Northeast Ridge and descended the north face couloir. Climb was mostly easy, but parts of the ridge traverse had some treacherous sugar snow, that was impossible to get a bite with the ice axe. Very warm day, and the snow was soft, so we arrived back at the car at 9 pm, a long day.
TM - Apr 10, 2006 5:57 am
good spotNice hike, great skiing all around. Made some nice turns from up high.
Mountain Jim - Mar 20, 2006 3:01 am
North Face CouloirNo snow in the couloir, just lots of very loose rock. Descended via NE Ridge.
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 5:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1994
NE RidgeMy second 14er, and the one that started the obsession. Five years later, I had climbed them all.
foreverwild - Feb 21, 2006 1:02 am
good dayGreat climb with perfect snow from 2WD, one of my favorite climbs.
Kiefer - Jan 28, 2006 1:20 am
Route Climbed: NE ridge Date Climbed: August 2003I drove all the way to the mine for this one. The weather was pretty strange. No problem going up but at the summit, the clouds moved in quick, it got fairly dark but it was as quiet and still at the top as I've ever witnessed. Very strange. It downpoured as soon as i got back to the truck. Perfect timing.
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:07 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: September 11, 2005The rock was surprisingly solid on this route
Lost Creek Farms - Nov 28, 2005 9:20 pm
Date Climbed: 7/26/05Blake my 9 year old was sick from altitude sickness so we were 300 ft short of the summit.