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I'm looking for advice on Hurd Peak. My friends and I hiked up to the Treasure Lakes area last summer, from which we could see a number of chutes ascending the west side of the mountain. Any advice as to which of those chutes is the easiest way to the summit, or are they all pretty much the same? We would like to stay Class 2 or easy Class 3.

Sounds like the route-finding is a bit challenging, based on Bob's report http://www.snwburd.com/bob/trip_reports/hurd_1.html. I've only been up there in early Spring with a substantial snowpack, so can't offer much in terms of a definitive chute to choose.

Ambret -

Unless you're hooked on a route from Treasure Lakes, the easiest route to Hurd Peak is the slog up the east side, above Long Lake (easier hike in too).

Otherwise, the west side chutes appear to get "easier" along the northern side of the ridge.

View from Treasure Lakes looking up the two most obvious routes:


View from Hurd Peak (ridge) looking down a chute:

good info here
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/hurd-peak/106870413

There's also a Class 3 chute on the northern end. In fact, it is skiable in late winter/early spring.

Thanks all for the links and especially the photos. Looks like we'll try to pick our way up from Treasure Lakes on the west side.

Deb -- I assume it won't be too skiable next week, right?

Ambret wrote:Thanks all for the links and especially the photos. Looks like we'll try to pick our way up from Treasure Lakes on the west side.

Deb -- I assume it won't be too skiable next week, right?

Give it another 6 months!