I find the Coulior to be easier and shorter than the other routes in Montezuma Basin. It is aslo a good warm up for something such as Bell Cord on the Maroon Bells . It is also not a heavily used if you are climbing Castle on a weekend while snow condtions are good . Castle is more heavily climbed than other Elk 14 k peaks
Back in the early 1980's my partner and I ascended and descended this route when dry. There were many fewer people on the 14ers then and the left ridge route was not obvious, so we went by it. The NW ridge needed axes which we had left behind thinking they wouldn't have been needed in September. I would not recommend this route without snow cover as it is a bowling alley of loose rock. We weren't buzzed by any, but we were the only two climbers in it.
Rick F - Nov 27, 2004 7:32 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentI find the Coulior to be easier and shorter than the other routes in Montezuma Basin. It is aslo a good warm up for something such as Bell Cord on the Maroon Bells . It is also not a heavily used if you are climbing Castle on a weekend while snow condtions are good . Castle is more heavily climbed than other Elk 14 k peaks
ColoradoScott - Jun 10, 2008 5:25 pm - Hasn't voted
N Face CouloirBack in the early 1980's my partner and I ascended and descended this route when dry. There were many fewer people on the 14ers then and the left ridge route was not obvious, so we went by it. The NW ridge needed axes which we had left behind thinking they wouldn't have been needed in September. I would not recommend this route without snow cover as it is a bowling alley of loose rock. We weren't buzzed by any, but we were the only two climbers in it.