Gahugafuga - Jun 21, 2007 6:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2007
S Ridge
Traversed over from Castle. Descended via a glissade of the standard route.
Ryan Kowalski - Jun 19, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
From Castle
The highlight for me was the 15 minute nap on top! A good day.
smason505 - Jun 11, 2007 12:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Route: Conundrum Couloir
Nice steep couloir climb with some ice at the choke. Very windy.
Britette - Jun 11, 2007 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Conundrum Couloir
Climbed and skied the Conundrum Couloir. It was cold and windy, so i wasn't sure if it was going to warm up or not, and since I also wanted to do Castle, I skied it when it was frozen. That choke is steep and narrow and not so much fun when it is icy!
Didn't make the summit, was my first unsuccessful attempt...gotta happen sometime right? My pontiac wasn't about to attempt going all the way, so we had an extra few miles on our hike...started so early that some clouds rolled through that looked questionable and we were off the trail. Of course once we got down it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day. I'll be back.
Brian Kalet - Oct 16, 2006 6:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
Climbed Twice
10/14/2006: South Ridge 10/25/2008: South Ridge (ascent); Conundrum Couloir (ski descent)
Climbed via Castle-Conundrum saddle, after summitting Castle. Accidentally kept going across the actual summit at first, then spotted the summit register, which no one had signed in several days. A good peak for solitude even when Castle is busy!
Headed back over Castle rather than contend with the snowless dirt slope below the Castle-Conundrum saddle
sdhager - Aug 8, 2006 9:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2006
Traverse from Castle
Short Trip from Castle. I love the glissade!
Mike Mc - Aug 7, 2006 3:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
West Slopes
Climbed west basin between Castle and Conundrum. Miserable Rock!
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 1996
Skeeeed It 3X
I'm no Louis Dawson yet but I get around!
Eric Holle - Jul 19, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Route Climbed: traverse from Castle
Climbed with Castle Pk. Glissade descent, wish I would have brought my axe.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South Ridge
Hiked as part of a two-fer with Castle. Crampons were helpful, but not necessary.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Traverse from Castle, ski descent of Conundrum Couloir
The traverse was easy, the skiing was sketchy. The choke was shaded and bulletproof with slush above and below. I side slipped through the ice, but my partner ate it and tumbled 300 feet downslope. Nothing hurt but his pride and his binding.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route Climbed: Traverse from Castle
Nice addition to the Castle climb. Snowfield was very sun-cupped.
Had a great glissade from the couloir between Castle and Conundrum.
Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip. I celebrated the sucess of the trip when I returned home with a bottle of Conundrum wine.
Route Climbed: Unnamed class 3 scramble from Montezuma Basin Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
My friend Matt and I scrambled from the montezuma basin up a fairly solid couloir to the climbers right of the conundrum couloir. Great scramble, lots of fun, beautiful peak despite the fact that its not an official 14er. Whatever!
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005
A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4 hours, and then headed over to Castle. Back to the car in 2.5 from the top of Castle. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004
Brad, Betsy, and I set out to climb Conundrum and Castle today. However, Betsy's feet were hurting and we encountered more snow high on the mountain. Thus, after an attempt to reach the Conundrum/Castle saddle, Betsy waited for us in the bowl below Conundrum and Castle, while Brad and I had a great time climbing Conundrum Couloir. We had great views.
See Brad's trip report for details on our trip and the conditions.
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004
My first real snow climb, and what fun! Never made it to Castle Peak as planned, but had a great introduction to the Elks! Weather was beautiful and clear, but later in the day it started to get annoyingly windy. Lots of skiers out today on the slope between Castle and Conundrum.
Gahugafuga - Jun 21, 2007 6:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2007
S RidgeTraversed over from Castle. Descended via a glissade of the standard route.
Ryan Kowalski - Jun 19, 2007 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2007
From CastleThe highlight for me was the 15 minute nap on top! A good day.
smason505 - Jun 11, 2007 12:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Route: Conundrum CouloirNice steep couloir climb with some ice at the choke. Very windy.
Britette - Jun 11, 2007 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Conundrum CouloirClimbed and skied the Conundrum Couloir. It was cold and windy, so i wasn't sure if it was going to warm up or not, and since I also wanted to do Castle, I skied it when it was frozen. That choke is steep and narrow and not so much fun when it is icy!
winterfae - Nov 9, 2006 1:02 am
started too earlyDidn't make the summit, was my first unsuccessful attempt...gotta happen sometime right? My pontiac wasn't about to attempt going all the way, so we had an extra few miles on our hike...started so early that some clouds rolled through that looked questionable and we were off the trail. Of course once we got down it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day. I'll be back.
Brian Kalet - Oct 16, 2006 6:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
Climbed Twice10/14/2006: South Ridge
10/25/2008: South Ridge (ascent); Conundrum Couloir (ski descent)
Vagabond Manifesto - Aug 25, 2006 6:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2006
Nice peakClimbed via Castle-Conundrum saddle, after summitting Castle. Accidentally kept going across the actual summit at first, then spotted the summit register, which no one had signed in several days. A good peak for solitude even when Castle is busy!
Headed back over Castle rather than contend with the snowless dirt slope below the Castle-Conundrum saddle
sdhager - Aug 8, 2006 9:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2006
Traverse from CastleShort Trip from Castle. I love the glissade!
Mike Mc - Aug 7, 2006 3:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
West SlopesClimbed west basin between Castle and Conundrum. Miserable Rock!
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 7:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 1996
Skeeeed It 3XI'm no Louis Dawson yet but I get around!
Eric Holle - Jul 19, 2006 3:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Route Climbed: traverse from CastleClimbed with Castle Pk. Glissade descent, wish I would have brought my axe.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 5, 2006 5:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
South RidgeHiked as part of a two-fer with Castle. Crampons were helpful, but not necessary.
crzyjt - Jun 24, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2006
Traverse from Castle, ski descent of Conundrum CouloirThe traverse was easy, the skiing was sketchy. The choke was shaded and bulletproof with slush above and below. I side slipped through the ice, but my partner ate it and tumbled 300 feet downslope. Nothing hurt but his pride and his binding.
roozers42 - May 15, 2006 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Route Climbed: Traverse from CastleNice addition to the Castle climb. Snowfield was very sun-cupped.
km_donovan - Apr 23, 2006 1:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2003
Route Climbed: Traverse from CastleHad a great glissade from the couloir between Castle and Conundrum.
Part of a 10 day 18 14,000 ft. summit solo climbing trip. I celebrated the sucess of the trip when I returned home with a bottle of Conundrum wine.
doumall - Aug 21, 2005 5:31 pm
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: August 21st, 2005Started at 11000' at 4 am under a full moon. Reached the couloir and ascended under the rising sun. Awsome day and great snow conditions. 52nd 14er!
Andrew McKenzie - Aug 16, 2005 3:16 pm
Route Climbed: Unnamed class 3 scramble from Montezuma Basin Date Climbed: August 13, 2005My friend Matt and I scrambled from the montezuma basin up a fairly solid couloir to the climbers right of the conundrum couloir. Great scramble, lots of fun, beautiful peak despite the fact that its not an official 14er. Whatever!
bc44caesar - May 30, 2005 11:57 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4 hours, and then headed over to Castle. Back to the car in 2.5 from the top of Castle. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
georgbetsy - Oct 24, 2004 5:30 pm
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004Brad, Betsy, and I set out to climb Conundrum and Castle today. However, Betsy's feet were hurting and we encountered more snow high on the mountain. Thus, after an attempt to reach the Conundrum/Castle saddle, Betsy waited for us in the bowl below Conundrum and Castle, while Brad and I had a great time climbing Conundrum Couloir. We had great views.
See Brad's trip report for details on our trip and the conditions.
Brad Snider - Oct 24, 2004 4:08 am
Route Climbed: Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: October 23, 2004My first real snow climb, and what fun! Never made it to Castle Peak as planned, but had a great introduction to the Elks! Weather was beautiful and clear, but later in the day it started to get annoyingly windy. Lots of skiers out today on the slope between Castle and Conundrum.