Route Climbed: SW Ridge Date Climbed: July 25, 2004
Kara and I had a great time with our Samoyeds Yukon and Denali on their first 14er!! The dogs did awesome on the ridge and seemed like they were trying to prove that they were part mountain goat. We were back to the TH by 1:15 for a round trip time of just under 7 hours!
Route Climbed: East Ridge from Silver Creek TH Date Climbed: 15 July 2004
Nice, but strenuous hike up a beautiful, fairly airy ridge. Loose, ugly use trails fastidiously avoid every interesting obstacle along the ridge to keep the route class 2. If you like scrambling on solid rock, though, I recommend staying up on the ridge as much as possible. We downclimbed the ridge directly, and every major obstacle had a class 3 path.
Summit views were OK, but not as interesting as in the San Juans. The alpine wildflowers were fantastic between 12,500 and 13,500 feet, however.
Up in 3h40m, down in 2h45m, including some dawdling on both legs. Trail portion is fast; ridge is more tedious and slower. Started raining 5 minutes after we drove off.
Camped in the night before, BIG swarms of mosquitoes! Don't forget the bug spray!! Had an enjoyable hike the next day. The trail is a little loose in spots; could probably use some work. There were some spots where the trail was really wide from people trying to go up the grass on the side to avoid the loose dirt. We met some nice people with a dog that we ended up doing most of the hike with. The flowers were pretty and we had nice views of other nearby 14ers.
Packed in about 50 minutes the day before. That got us to about 10,700' and just above the wood sign for the turn to Yale. Started early the next morning and followed a nice trail. From about 11,500' to 12,500' the trail was very loose at times. CFI will need to do something about this or else this route up Yale will be closed in a few years also. The final push to the ridge was a little steeper, but for the most part was on a good trail. From the ridge to the summit was a little different than I had thought. As it turned out, we boulder hopped from the saddle to just below the summit. No exposure and was a nice change of pace. Then the final 50' to the summit was an easy walk. I had thought that the boulder climbing was just below the summit and you had to pull yourself up. Not the case and all and all a great day.
Route Climbed: Delaney Gulch (standard) Date Climbed: June 10, 2002
We were really getting in shape at this point in the season during super-dry 2002, reaching Yale's summit in great time. From the top, we had a bird's-eye view of the freshly erupted Hayman Fire, which formed a towering plume to the east. A sobering sight.
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 2002
This was actually my second time up. But I was helping at an aid station in North Cottonwood Creek during the now-deceased Nolan's 14 run...and maybe I shouldn't say this because the CMC might get on my @$$ for this (but I will anyways), so we followed the race course up the west ridge of Mount Yale - where there is no trail across the tundra and rockslopes to the summit. No storms - great day!
Route Climbed: Southwest Slopes Route Date Climbed: September 24, 2003
Climbed Yale via Southwest Slopes Route under perfect fall conditions with the Aspens at their peak. Bluebird skies, little wind, no crowds, three hours to the summit. Fun scramble if you stay on the highest point/ridge to the top from the saddle. Nice peak hike.
Route Climbed: SW Ridge from Denny Creek Date Climbed: 12 Sep 2003
Summer to winter in a couple hours. I certainly didn't have the right gloves for this foray into the mountains. The wind was fierce! Just enough snow that the 2 people ahead of me turned back between 13,500-14,000 ft, but it is melting fast. Made this summit although I cancelled the rest of my trip.
Route Climbed: SW via Denny Creek trailhead Date Climbed: July 22,2002
My first summit in the Collegiate Peaks. Terrific climb, took the harder scramble to the summit to the left of the false summit(great fun, but did not exactly impress myself with my routefinding skills!). Very impressive false summit.
Route Climbed: Denny Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: 7.19.03
Used the dispersed camping area across from the Avalanche parking lot and took on trail at Denny Creek at 6:30. Clear sky, beautiful day all the way to the summit which took me long 4 and 1/2 hrs to reach. Upper portion of the trail below the Boulderfield was steeper than anticipated and I would not consider this mountain one of the easier Fourteeners at all. Shorter to hike yes, but not easier! Grand view of Mt.Princeton to the South from the summit ; Mt.Columbia/Mt.Harvard and Three Apostles to the North among others obviously. Gorgeous views of even Pikes Peak in the distance. Descended at 12:30 and got hit by hail above timberline, then heavy rainfall all the way to the bottom. Several people up there from out of State with no gear at all. DON"T DO THAT!! Going up into a black cloudy sky.....waiting for the clouds to go away....DON"T DO THAT! Overall a great hike. Poles very helpful for this hike but a burden in the Boulderfield. I didn't mind the rain once in the trees. It felt good and cooled me off. Great day to be on Mt.Yale!
Route Climbed: Southwest Slopes Date Climbed: 1996
Yale was O.K. It was easy. I remember being on the summit and wishing that I would have come up from the east ridge and the Avalanche Gulch TH. It look more scenic then the standard route. It definately looked to have less people as well. because of the paved road to the TH, you get a lot of people as well.
Route Climbed: Denny Creek/Delaney Gulch Date Climbed: summer '97
Went up with my buddy Z on a 2-day tour-de-force that also included Mt. Princeton. On the way up there was sunshine mixed with rain, while it started raining & storming by the time we got above timberline. We managed to make it up, however, & had a good time.
coloradoiceclimber - Jul 25, 2004 8:30 pm
Route Climbed: SW Ridge Date Climbed: July 25, 2004Kara and I had a great time with our Samoyeds Yukon and Denali on their first 14er!! The dogs did awesome on the ridge and seemed like they were trying to prove that they were part mountain goat. We were back to the TH by 1:15 for a round trip time of just under 7 hours!
mpbro - Jul 16, 2004 12:40 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge from Silver Creek TH Date Climbed: 15 July 2004Nice, but strenuous hike up a beautiful, fairly airy ridge. Loose, ugly use trails fastidiously avoid every interesting obstacle along the ridge to keep the route class 2. If you like scrambling on solid rock, though, I recommend staying up on the ridge as much as possible. We downclimbed the ridge directly, and every major obstacle had a class 3 path.
Summit views were OK, but not as interesting as in the San Juans. The alpine wildflowers were fantastic between 12,500 and 13,500 feet, however.
Up in 3h40m, down in 2h45m, including some dawdling on both legs. Trail portion is fast; ridge is more tedious and slower. Started raining 5 minutes after we drove off.
Speedy - Jul 16, 2004 12:01 am
Route Climbed: Denny Gulch Date Climbed: 07/08/04Camped in the night before, BIG swarms of mosquitoes! Don't forget the bug spray!! Had an enjoyable hike the next day. The trail is a little loose in spots; could probably use some work. There were some spots where the trail was really wide from people trying to go up the grass on the side to avoid the loose dirt. We met some nice people with a dog that we ended up doing most of the hike with. The flowers were pretty and we had nice views of other nearby 14ers.
Bryan W - Jul 13, 2004 12:13 pm
Route Climbed: Denny Creek Date Climbed: 7/8/04Packed in about 50 minutes the day before. That got us to about 10,700' and just above the wood sign for the turn to Yale. Started early the next morning and followed a nice trail. From about 11,500' to 12,500' the trail was very loose at times. CFI will need to do something about this or else this route up Yale will be closed in a few years also. The final push to the ridge was a little steeper, but for the most part was on a good trail. From the ridge to the summit was a little different than I had thought. As it turned out, we boulder hopped from the saddle to just below the summit. No exposure and was a nice change of pace. Then the final 50' to the summit was an easy walk. I had thought that the boulder climbing was just below the summit and you had to pull yourself up. Not the case and all and all a great day.
Larry V - Jul 13, 2004 12:19 am
Route Climbed: southwest slopes, Denny Creek trailhead Date Climbed: October 1997Second time to summit, same route both times. First time was 14 years earlier. Nice weather. Lovely fall hike.
mountainmota - Jun 15, 2004 7:23 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Slopes Date Climbed: May 2003Nice easy 14er!
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:51 pm
Route Climbed: denny creek Date Climbed: 3/99, 2/00, and 5/01failed 1st winter attempt (avalanche conditions), successfull 2nd winter attempt (crazy wind), and again with FW climbers corner.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 4:50 pm
Route Climbed: Standard route (kind of) Date Climbed: May 24, 2003Got a bit off route due to huge snowdrifts, but turned out to be a great snowclimb. Postholing on the way back was heinous.
RyanS - Apr 9, 2004 5:13 pm
Route Climbed: Delaney Gulch (standard) Date Climbed: June 10, 2002We were really getting in shape at this point in the season during super-dry 2002, reaching Yale's summit in great time. From the top, we had a bird's-eye view of the freshly erupted Hayman Fire, which formed a towering plume to the east. A sobering sight.
sbkelley - Jan 25, 2004 2:09 am
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: August 2002This was actually my second time up. But I was helping at an aid station in North Cottonwood Creek during the now-deceased Nolan's 14 run...and maybe I shouldn't say this because the CMC might get on my @$$ for this (but I will anyways), so we followed the race course up the west ridge of Mount Yale - where there is no trail across the tundra and rockslopes to the summit. No storms - great day!
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 6:58 pm
Route Climbed: SW ridge Date Climbed: June 2002Fun, standard Sawatch 14er. Good first 14er.
Jim Clarke - Sep 25, 2003 10:34 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Slopes Route Date Climbed: September 24, 2003Climbed Yale via Southwest Slopes Route under perfect fall conditions with the Aspens at their peak. Bluebird skies, little wind, no crowds, three hours to the summit. Fun scramble if you stay on the highest point/ridge to the top from the saddle. Nice peak hike.
big_g - Sep 12, 2003 9:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2003
Route Climbed: SW Ridge from Denny Creek Date Climbed: 12 Sep 2003Summer to winter in a couple hours. I certainly didn't have the right gloves for this foray into the mountains. The wind was fierce! Just enough snow that the 2 people ahead of me turned back between 13,500-14,000 ft, but it is melting fast. Made this summit although I cancelled the rest of my trip.
dp - Aug 20, 2003 9:48 pm
Route Climbed: SW via Denny Creek trailhead Date Climbed: July 22,2002My first summit in the Collegiate Peaks. Terrific climb, took the harder scramble to the summit to the left of the false summit(great fun, but did not exactly impress myself with my routefinding skills!). Very impressive false summit.
rob_runkle - Jul 30, 2003 7:14 pm
Route Climbed: Dennys Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: July 24, 2003Great hike! Great class 3 potential at the top, along the ridge.
ben - Jul 21, 2003 6:44 pm
Route Climbed: ? Date Climbed: Nav 2001winter conditions, fun climb! We got lost on the way down in some heavy weather, so it turned into a long hike.
Helga - Jul 19, 2003 6:20 pm
Route Climbed: Denny Creek Trailhead Date Climbed: 7.19.03Used the dispersed camping area across from the Avalanche parking lot and took on trail at Denny Creek at 6:30. Clear sky, beautiful day all the way to the summit which took me long 4 and 1/2 hrs to reach. Upper portion of the trail below the Boulderfield was steeper than anticipated and I would not consider this mountain one of the easier Fourteeners at all. Shorter to hike yes, but not easier! Grand view of Mt.Princeton to the South from the summit ; Mt.Columbia/Mt.Harvard and Three Apostles to the North among others obviously. Gorgeous views of even Pikes Peak in the distance. Descended at 12:30 and got hit by hail above timberline, then heavy rainfall all the way to the bottom. Several people up there from out of State with no gear at all. DON"T DO THAT!! Going up into a black cloudy sky.....waiting for the clouds to go away....DON"T DO THAT! Overall a great hike. Poles very helpful for this hike but a burden in the Boulderfield. I didn't mind the rain once in the trees. It felt good and cooled me off. Great day to be on Mt.Yale!
jrf - Jun 16, 2003 7:05 am
Route Climbed: From Denny Creek Date Climbed: June 14, 2003This was my first fourteener this year. Absolutely beautiful day. No bad weather at all. Not a lot of snow left either.
Kane - May 27, 2003 7:44 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Slopes Date Climbed: 1996Yale was O.K. It was easy. I remember being on the summit and wishing that I would have come up from the east ridge and the Avalanche Gulch TH. It look more scenic then the standard route. It definately looked to have less people as well. because of the paved road to the TH, you get a lot of people as well.
Diggler - Apr 7, 2003 5:25 pm
Route Climbed: Denny Creek/Delaney Gulch Date Climbed: summer '97Went up with my buddy Z on a 2-day tour-de-force that also included Mt. Princeton. On the way up there was sunshine mixed with rain, while it started raining & storming by the time we got above timberline. We managed to make it up, however, & had a good time.