West Ridge

Approach

Begin at the Stevens Gulch Trailhead and follow the Grays Peak Trail.

Route Description

Begin at the Stevens Gulch Trailhead and follow the Grays Peak Trail to about 13,500 feet at the base of Grays Peak's East Ridge. Head west along the ridge on a developing trail. There are no cairns, but if you stay as close to the ridge line as possible, you will find your way with few problems. The West Ridge, rises and falls over two false summits of about 13,700 feet. The North side of the ridge is more exposed than the South, but don't be tempted to avoid the false summits by staying below the ridge line to the south. It looks like you can save energy by traversing the south side of the ridge, but the loose talus and scree is more dangerous and will slow you down dramaticly. The last section of the hike up to the summit requires some slight scrambling (2+), but it is really not a problem. Reach the summit and enjoy the views of Grays, Torreys, Kelso Mountain.

Essential Gear

Bring an ice axe and crampons in the Winter and early Spring. No technical gear is necessary for summer hikes. I like to bring Vienna Sausages for a snack whenever I climb in the United States. However, I encourage everyone to explore which canned meat is best for them.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Images

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