Took me 3 tries to get this ridge. First attempt we ran into lightning about 1/2 way through and had to scale down the north cliffs, 2nd time we started at Sundial and finished at Superior and missed the middle. Third time got the whole thing! Love the knife edge ridges, and exposure:) Good challenge, and a long day! Hiked with Lisa Kolanko
Maybe not the most noteworthy or elegant way of doing this, but I have finally been on all points of this route...
1) Summited Broads a couple of years before I knew about the ridge,
2) Solo effort from Broads:Sunrise saddle to peak 11,033 above Sundial, quit due to time, exhaustion, being nervous to do the crux alone & being low on water. I think this was in 2010?
3) Sept 2014 WMC trip from Sundial to Superior & back out via lake Blanche.
yadahzoemtn - Jul 17, 2014 9:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007
The "Fin" is Fun
Intensity describes this one.
scgrant - Aug 12, 2012 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
Awesome Ridge
7/20/2014 With WMC.
8/11/2012 Climbed with WMC. We came up Broads Fork and summited East and West Twin before working our way to Superior. We completed the loop by descending to Lake Blanche and out Mill B.
byates - Dec 2, 2008 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
5 traverses to date.
I first did it July of 95, Broads and Down Blanche, 96 did the same route. In 2005 I did a route I called Sunrise to Sunset. Up Broads, over Jepsens Folly to Sunrise, then ran the ridge to Sunset Peak. Did the regular traverse July 19 2008 with the WMC descended to Alta on that trip. Did my fifth yesterday 8/11/12, Seventeen years after my traverse, it hurts a bit more the day after at this age!
Matthew Van Horn - Jul 19, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008
rugged and tough
Started trail at 5:30 AM up Broad's fork, summited both Twins, and then descended to Alta after climbing Monte Cristo & Superior. Very hot day. Cottonwood Ridge is a real test of endurance. I ran out of water just before Blanche Peak. My companions rationed some of theirs, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble
On 9-18-07: Twelve hours and seven minutes of non-stop action and fun. With Matt, Dennis and Lana. Not a route for beginners or those afraid of heights. Cool conditions made for a very nice day, but the incessant south wind was at times aggravating. The Sunrise west buttress and the west face of Monte Cristo are stimulating little challenges. :) Second time, 7-19-08, on the hottest day of the year, and I recommend the cooler fall date. This time we hit both of the Twin Peaks and the total time was 12+40. If you do this in heat, take more water than you think you will need! With Brent, Matt, Lee, Brad and Rich. #3 on 7-3-10 Ideal day, both Twin Peaks, a ton of lingering snow from the cool May temps. WMC with Dave, Greg, Jake, Brent, Lubos, Julia and Tanner. Return via Lake Blanche drainage. 13+55 total. #4 8-11-12 WMC hike w/ Brad Y. and Sam G. Warm but not sweltering. Loop from Mill B South TH. Total time a little over 12+30. I now remember why it is has been two years since doing this. :)
Matthew Van Horn - Sep 19, 2007 11:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007
Cottonwood is King
Broads Fork to East Twin, Sunrise, Dromedary, then Blanche Peak, Monte Cristo, Superior, and Cardiff Pass. I was with Lana, Michael and Dennis. Great day, and with this route I finished all of my outdoor goals or 2007. Lots of exposure along the way, especially on the approach to Monte Cristo after Blanche Peak. Awesome ridge.
Steve Elmer - Sep 9, 2007 9:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007
Lisa Falls to Mt. Superior
Climbed up the Lisa Falls Direct route to Broad Fork West Twin. Good weather and temperatures but a little smoky/hazy out. Scrambling on the ridge was awesome. I descended down to Cardiaff pass and then to Alta. Did the whole trip in just under 9 hrs solo. The nice thing about starting at Lisa Falls (3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon) was that when I finished in Alta I just coasted down on bike to where my car was parked. I guess that's what have to do when you hike by yourself with no shuttle...
Jeremy Franchow - Jul 7, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2007
Ferguson Canyon to Mt. Superior
Hiked with Greg(gjagiels.) Lots of fun, interesting scrambling and found it more challenging than Wildcat Ridge or the Beatout. Despite being sprayed by a skunk and picking up a tick in Ferguson, had an absolute blast! Joseph Bullough's description was spot on for the scrambling as you approach Monte Cristo's west face.
This is one of my favorite ridge traverses in the Wasatch along with the Alpine Ridge to the south. It's a long day of scambling on a narrow ridgeline and climbing over several peaks along the way. There are great views in every direction.
sandramhickey@yahoo.com - Oct 9, 2015 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2015
3rd times the charmTook me 3 tries to get this ridge. First attempt we ran into lightning about 1/2 way through and had to scale down the north cliffs, 2nd time we started at Sundial and finished at Superior and missed the middle. Third time got the whole thing! Love the knife edge ridges, and exposure:) Good challenge, and a long day! Hiked with Lisa Kolanko
edge - Sep 26, 2014 10:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2014
Cottonwood RidgeAn awesome hike on the last day of good weather. Good people, good times.
AjaxHiker - Sep 8, 2014 12:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014
cobbled this together...Maybe not the most noteworthy or elegant way of doing this, but I have finally been on all points of this route...
1) Summited Broads a couple of years before I knew about the ridge,
2) Solo effort from Broads:Sunrise saddle to peak 11,033 above Sundial, quit due to time, exhaustion, being nervous to do the crux alone & being low on water. I think this was in 2010?
3) Sept 2014 WMC trip from Sundial to Superior & back out via lake Blanche.
yadahzoemtn - Jul 17, 2014 9:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007
The "Fin" is FunIntensity describes this one.
scgrant - Aug 12, 2012 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
Awesome Ridge7/20/2014 With WMC.
8/11/2012 Climbed with WMC. We came up Broads Fork and summited East and West Twin before working our way to Superior. We completed the loop by descending to Lake Blanche and out Mill B.
Mooner - Oct 29, 2010 5:57 am
Up I Go07/04/10 with WMC
byates - Dec 2, 2008 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2012
5 traverses to date.I first did it July of 95, Broads and Down Blanche, 96 did the same route. In 2005 I did a route I called Sunrise to Sunset. Up Broads, over Jepsens Folly to Sunrise, then ran the ridge to Sunset Peak. Did the regular traverse July 19 2008 with the WMC descended to Alta on that trip. Did my fifth yesterday 8/11/12, Seventeen years after my traverse, it hurts a bit more the day after at this age!
Matthew Van Horn - Jul 19, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008
rugged and toughStarted trail at 5:30 AM up Broad's fork, summited both Twins, and then descended to Alta after climbing Monte Cristo & Superior. Very hot day. Cottonwood Ridge is a real test of endurance. I ran out of water just before Blanche Peak. My companions rationed some of theirs, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble
Moogie737 - Sep 19, 2007 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008
West to EastOn 9-18-07: Twelve hours and seven minutes of non-stop action and fun. With Matt, Dennis and Lana. Not a route for beginners or those afraid of heights. Cool conditions made for a very nice day, but the incessant south wind was at times aggravating. The Sunrise west buttress and the west face of Monte Cristo are stimulating little challenges. :) Second time, 7-19-08, on the hottest day of the year, and I recommend the cooler fall date. This time we hit both of the Twin Peaks and the total time was 12+40. If you do this in heat, take more water than you think you will need! With Brent, Matt, Lee, Brad and Rich. #3 on 7-3-10 Ideal day, both Twin Peaks, a ton of lingering snow from the cool May temps. WMC with Dave, Greg, Jake, Brent, Lubos, Julia and Tanner. Return via Lake Blanche drainage. 13+55 total. #4 8-11-12 WMC hike w/ Brad Y. and Sam G. Warm but not sweltering. Loop from Mill B South TH. Total time a little over 12+30. I now remember why it is has been two years since doing this. :)
Matthew Van Horn - Sep 19, 2007 11:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2007
Cottonwood is KingBroads Fork to East Twin, Sunrise, Dromedary, then Blanche Peak, Monte Cristo, Superior, and Cardiff Pass. I was with Lana, Michael and Dennis. Great day, and with this route I finished all of my outdoor goals or 2007. Lots of exposure along the way, especially on the approach to Monte Cristo after Blanche Peak. Awesome ridge.
Steve Elmer - Sep 9, 2007 9:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007
Lisa Falls to Mt. SuperiorClimbed up the Lisa Falls Direct route to Broad Fork West Twin. Good weather and temperatures but a little smoky/hazy out. Scrambling on the ridge was awesome. I descended down to Cardiaff pass and then to Alta. Did the whole trip in just under 9 hrs solo. The nice thing about starting at Lisa Falls (3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon) was that when I finished in Alta I just coasted down on bike to where my car was parked. I guess that's what have to do when you hike by yourself with no shuttle...
Jeremy Franchow - Jul 7, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2007
Ferguson Canyon to Mt. SuperiorHiked with Greg(gjagiels.) Lots of fun, interesting scrambling and found it more challenging than Wildcat Ridge or the Beatout. Despite being sprayed by a skunk and picking up a tick in Ferguson, had an absolute blast! Joseph Bullough's description was spot on for the scrambling as you approach Monte Cristo's west face.
mountaingazelle - May 4, 2006 1:04 am
Great ridge traverseThis is one of my favorite ridge traverses in the Wasatch along with the Alpine Ridge to the south. It's a long day of scambling on a narrow ridgeline and climbing over several peaks along the way. There are great views in every direction.