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Since we've never spent any time poking around the collegiate range we figured it would be a good spot to head early in the year so a couple months ago we booked a room in Buena Vista for the upcoming holiday weekend. It looked like things were progessing nicely but after the storm I think there may be more snow then we're expecting. It's been a while since we've been out and I'm rehabing a sore knee but we figured with all the pretty easy stright forward options it be a great place to knock out a couple 14ers. Only one Snotel site around and the TH updates on 14ers seem a week or two old (maybe some updates after this weekend). Anyone have local beta or route opinions? I was thinking Angel of Shavano but may be early from what I've seen and Princton or Harvard. Looking for two half to most of a day hikes/climbs but with my knee I'd probably like to keep the milage under 12 RT each day. Thanks for any help.

Tony,

Saturday we climbed Aetna & Taylor via Grand Coulior. The cramponing was PERFECT.

There is a TON of snow in the Southern Sawatch. We only got .4 mile up the Jeep road from US 50 before running into deep drifts too much for my Rubicon to handle in 4-low with front and rear lockers engaged.

The snow is still FEET deep in basins and in the trees.

Angel of Shavano would have delightful cramponing, though the approach will promise some brutal snow...likely ok because frozen and firm in the AM, but posthole hell in the afternoon.

I'll try to get some photos posted to share via Google...I'm also pressuring a climbing partner to build a route page for the Grand on SP, so maybe you'll have some uber beta soon!

Sarah