wyomtman - Sep 20, 2022 6:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2022
Hourglass to Boulder-Grand Pass
Nice loop, easy route finding class 2-3. Beautiful lake and wildlife. Had the mountain all to ourselves.
JesseSumrak - Aug 2, 2020 3:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, Chief's Head Combo
After sumitting Tanima, Ben, Andrea, and I made our way through thick clouds over to Alice. Easy hike up from Boulder-Grand Pass, but too many clouds for any good views. Still, beautiful morning!
Summitted Alice on a backpacking trip to Thunder Lake. We left camp at 4:40 am and climbed up Boulder-Grand Pass. Once on the pass at 6:10 morning clouds rolled in, obscuring our entire ascents of Tanima and Mount Alice. Luckily the clouds broke as we were descending Alice around 8:30. The hourglass ridge traverse was listed as Class 3 but felt closer to hard class 2. After reaching the saddle, we summitted Chiefs Head. This was definitely one of the best views in the park. Absolutely stunning views of Longs Peak, Wild Basin, Glacier Gorge, and the far northern and western reaches of the park. We decided to make it a loop and descended down the Lion Lake basin. Luckily, on our glissade down the ice shelf that deposits into Snowbank Lake, we stuck to the right and avoided a potential 25 foot plunge off the ice shelf into the lake. These lakes are probably some of the prettiest in the park.
chicagotransplant - Jun 20, 2016 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2016
NE Bowl
Climbed a snow route up the NE bowl and joined the Hourglass. Intent was Rabbit Hole, but it was in bad shape, a black runnel ran down most of it and we decided it was not in the condition we were looking for. Traversed to Tanima and out via Thunder Lake. With Scot.
MarkDidier - Sep 24, 2015 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
3rd time was the charm...
Third real attempt. Up Boulder-Grand Pass and down the Hourglass this time around. A beautiful route with plenty of solitude.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Aug 24, 2013 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
Hourglass
Hourglass Ridge with a descent to the steep, bouldery south east. Done in a day from Wild Basin. I agree with Kane. The route feels 2+.
wmolland - Jun 28, 2012 12:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2012
Hourglass
Up the ridge then onto Chiefshead. A fine scramble!
mikekadow - Dec 15, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
Up Hourglass down Boulder Grand Pass
Camped solo at Siskin campsite, rounded through Lion Lakes and Snowbank Lake. Gorgeous views and a great enjoyable hike overall. Up Alice, over to Pilot, and descended Boulder Grand Pass. Boulder Grand Pass was snow covered and I wished I had crampons as glissading down could have gotten out of control in a hurry. I hugged the eastside all the way down.
Met two guys at Thunder Lake - they were the only people I saw all day.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip that I would love to take some friends through. Camping the day before afforded me a hike to Ouzel and Bluebird Lake. Hit Ouzel Falls on the way out, as I took the unimproved trail in. There is a trail to get atop Ouzel Falls on the east side.
*Above Snowbank Lake there are a couple drainages to filter water before ascending Alice.
Brian Kalet - Sep 7, 2010 1:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Triple Crown
With McHenrys & Chiefs Head.
JoeyBagoDonuts - Aug 8, 2010 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Via Boulder-Grand Pass
A quiet day by myself with one of my favorite mountains in The Park.
SarahThompson - Jun 19, 2010 8:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2010
Rabbit Hole Couloir
Climbed the interesting Rabbit Hole Couloir (aka S Couloir) on the northeast face. Descended Hourglass Ridge. Long day but well worth it.
Nelson - Aug 15, 2009 1:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Hourglass to Boulder-Grand
Enjoyable hike with SP'er brenta. Lion Lakes area is spectacular and deserves return visits. Agree with others that Hourglass ascent route is easier and less exposed than some guidebooks suggest. Boulder-Grand Pass descent is tedious loose scree, but not very long. Took us exactly 12 hours car-to-car. Great day.
argothor - Jul 28, 2009 10:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2009
South Ridge ascent - Hourglass descent
Hiked up to Thunder Lake and set up camp. The next morning hiked up past Lake of Many Winds to the Boulder-Grand Pass. Then headed up the relatively gentle southern slopes. After saying hello to some marmots at the summit, headed down the steep northern face and headed across the Hourglass Ridge. Eat lunch in the saddle between Alice and Chiefs Head. Shared the saddle with 6 male Bighorn Sheep. Had planned on doing Chiefs Head as well but the weather wasn't cooperating. So headed down the ridge towards Lion Lakes, but instead of returning to Thunder Lakes via the established trails we headed to the small unnamed lake above Fan Falls, which by the way is quite beautiful. Thought about heading down beside the falls but way too difficult, so we headed down the gully just to the west and then brushcrashed back to Thunder Lake. Hiked out the following day.
The most incredible hike I ever did. The Lion Lakes were incredible. This trip took quite a few hours as it is a lot of miles but will never be forgotten
Hiked both peaks after a camp at the North Saint Vrain backcountry campsite. This was one of the most beautiful hikes of my life, passing by two waterfalls (Trio Falls and Fan Falls) and four lakes (Lion Lake Number 1, Lion Lake Number 2, Snowbank Lake, and unnamed lake above Fan Falls).
Combined with East Ridge of Tanima; climbed from the Pass and descended via Southeast Slopes.
Timothy Pearl - Aug 19, 2007 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Up hourglass, down Boulder-Grand
Hourglass section is a walk. Definitely a nice area, but the climb is not as exciting/exposed as it is described. North face is a fun huff-and-puff scurry. Running shoes were ideal, the trail is far too long to lug along solid boots. 9.5 hours.
thebeave7 - Jul 15, 2007 1:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2007
Hourglass/Boulder Grand Pass
A nice training run in a beautiful setting. Agree that the standard route up the hourglass has little class 3, though some can be found on the extreme right of the ridge. Boulder grand pass has a snow free passage down it, no gear required.
Huge mountain. Combines well with Chiefs Head. Hourglass isn't much a a 3rd class climb, more like a class 2+. A little messier than I anticipated too. Great Mountain.
wyomtman - Sep 20, 2022 6:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2022
Hourglass to Boulder-Grand PassNice loop, easy route finding class 2-3. Beautiful lake and wildlife. Had the mountain all to ourselves.
JesseSumrak - Aug 2, 2020 3:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, Chief's Head ComboAfter sumitting Tanima, Ben, Andrea, and I made our way through thick clouds over to Alice. Easy hike up from Boulder-Grand Pass, but too many clouds for any good views. Still, beautiful morning!
BKiser90 - Jul 31, 2020 3:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, and Chiefs HeadSummitted Alice on a backpacking trip to Thunder Lake. We left camp at 4:40 am and climbed up Boulder-Grand Pass. Once on the pass at 6:10 morning clouds rolled in, obscuring our entire ascents of Tanima and Mount Alice. Luckily the clouds broke as we were descending Alice around 8:30. The hourglass ridge traverse was listed as Class 3 but felt closer to hard class 2. After reaching the saddle, we summitted Chiefs Head. This was definitely one of the best views in the park. Absolutely stunning views of Longs Peak, Wild Basin, Glacier Gorge, and the far northern and western reaches of the park. We decided to make it a loop and descended down the Lion Lake basin. Luckily, on our glissade down the ice shelf that deposits into Snowbank Lake, we stuck to the right and avoided a potential 25 foot plunge off the ice shelf into the lake. These lakes are probably some of the prettiest in the park.
rmjwinters - Jul 30, 2017 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2017
Wild BasinGreat Mountain
chicagotransplant - Jun 20, 2016 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2016
NE BowlClimbed a snow route up the NE bowl and joined the Hourglass. Intent was Rabbit Hole, but it was in bad shape, a black runnel ran down most of it and we decided it was not in the condition we were looking for. Traversed to Tanima and out via Thunder Lake. With Scot.
MarkDidier - Sep 24, 2015 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
3rd time was the charm...Third real attempt. Up Boulder-Grand Pass and down the Hourglass this time around. A beautiful route with plenty of solitude.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Aug 24, 2013 10:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
HourglassHourglass Ridge with a descent to the steep, bouldery south east. Done in a day from Wild Basin. I agree with Kane. The route feels 2+.
wmolland - Jun 28, 2012 12:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2012
HourglassUp the ridge then onto Chiefshead. A fine scramble!
mikekadow - Dec 15, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
Up Hourglass down Boulder Grand PassCamped solo at Siskin campsite, rounded through Lion Lakes and Snowbank Lake. Gorgeous views and a great enjoyable hike overall. Up Alice, over to Pilot, and descended Boulder Grand Pass. Boulder Grand Pass was snow covered and I wished I had crampons as glissading down could have gotten out of control in a hurry. I hugged the eastside all the way down.
Met two guys at Thunder Lake - they were the only people I saw all day.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip that I would love to take some friends through. Camping the day before afforded me a hike to Ouzel and Bluebird Lake. Hit Ouzel Falls on the way out, as I took the unimproved trail in. There is a trail to get atop Ouzel Falls on the east side.
*Above Snowbank Lake there are a couple drainages to filter water before ascending Alice.
Brian Kalet - Sep 7, 2010 1:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Triple CrownWith McHenrys & Chiefs Head.
JoeyBagoDonuts - Aug 8, 2010 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Via Boulder-Grand PassA quiet day by myself with one of my favorite mountains in The Park.
SarahThompson - Jun 19, 2010 8:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2010
Rabbit Hole CouloirClimbed the interesting Rabbit Hole Couloir (aka S Couloir) on the northeast face. Descended Hourglass Ridge. Long day but well worth it.
Nelson - Aug 15, 2009 1:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Hourglass to Boulder-GrandEnjoyable hike with SP'er brenta. Lion Lakes area is spectacular and deserves return visits. Agree with others that Hourglass ascent route is easier and less exposed than some guidebooks suggest. Boulder-Grand Pass descent is tedious loose scree, but not very long. Took us exactly 12 hours car-to-car. Great day.
argothor - Jul 28, 2009 10:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2009
South Ridge ascent - Hourglass descentHiked up to Thunder Lake and set up camp. The next morning hiked up past Lake of Many Winds to the Boulder-Grand Pass. Then headed up the relatively gentle southern slopes. After saying hello to some marmots at the summit, headed down the steep northern face and headed across the Hourglass Ridge. Eat lunch in the saddle between Alice and Chiefs Head. Shared the saddle with 6 male Bighorn Sheep. Had planned on doing Chiefs Head as well but the weather wasn't cooperating. So headed down the ridge towards Lion Lakes, but instead of returning to Thunder Lakes via the established trails we headed to the small unnamed lake above Fan Falls, which by the way is quite beautiful. Thought about heading down beside the falls but way too difficult, so we headed down the gully just to the west and then brushcrashed back to Thunder Lake. Hiked out the following day.
ash80 - Feb 16, 2009 11:53 pm
From Lion Lakes>Thunder lake loopThe most incredible hike I ever did. The Lion Lakes were incredible. This trip took quite a few hours as it is a lot of miles but will never be forgotten
tomlauren - Jul 28, 2008 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2008
Alice - PilotHiked both peaks after a camp at the North Saint Vrain backcountry campsite. This was one of the most beautiful hikes of my life, passing by two waterfalls (Trio Falls and Fan Falls) and four lakes (Lion Lake Number 1, Lion Lake Number 2, Snowbank Lake, and unnamed lake above Fan Falls).
slowpoke - Jul 27, 2008 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
From the PassCombined with East Ridge of Tanima; climbed from the Pass and descended via Southeast Slopes.
Timothy Pearl - Aug 19, 2007 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Up hourglass, down Boulder-GrandHourglass section is a walk. Definitely a nice area, but the climb is not as exciting/exposed as it is described. North face is a fun huff-and-puff scurry. Running shoes were ideal, the trail is far too long to lug along solid boots. 9.5 hours.
thebeave7 - Jul 15, 2007 1:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2007
Hourglass/Boulder Grand PassA nice training run in a beautiful setting. Agree that the standard route up the hourglass has little class 3, though some can be found on the extreme right of the ridge. Boulder grand pass has a snow free passage down it, no gear required.
Kane - Jan 12, 2007 8:33 pm
Hourglass RidgeHuge mountain. Combines well with Chiefs Head. Hourglass isn't much a a 3rd class climb, more like a class 2+. A little messier than I anticipated too. Great Mountain.