Mountain Project Logo

Cirque of Towers?

Original Post
rpc · · Portland, OR · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 775

wondering about the conditions...snowline & are the rock routes mostly dry? Going in via B. Sandy, Jackass Pass. Pardon the dumb questions - never been in there this early. thanks!

brittany kruger · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 0

Bump. I'm also interested to hear how it's looking in there.

Peter Pitocchi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 70

Skeeters?

Carl Pelletier · · Jackson, WY · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 45

Planning on heading in on Saturday night... Crossing my fingers on skeeters.

Mike F · · Arden, NC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 56

Love to hear about conditions when you return! I'm heading up there July 5th for ~ 6 days. Have a good one!

Cheers,
Mike

Brad Stap · · Asheville, NC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

Yeah, I'm heading up there too about the same time. Hoping I don't get carried off by the bugs. Let me know!

Carl Pelletier · · Jackson, WY · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 45

Just got back from the Cirque.

Skeeters were out, but not too bad (I've seen worse)....the wind kept them at bay. That being said, I was super happy to have the high-powered DEET. Between the wind and the DEET the bugs didn't pull some "Lord of the Flies" on us.....

Climbed NE Pingora completely dry.

The meadows camping area was completely clear of snow. We didn't see a soul back there....had the entire meadow to ourselves.

If you are planning on doing something off of Wolf's Head or Sharks Tooth...you may want to consider something for self-arrest...as there is still a snowfield from the base of the rock down to the Cirque Lake.

There were a few patches of snow on the hike in....mostly up by the climber's trail across from Arrowhead Lake.

Brad Stap · · Asheville, NC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

Sweet brotha! Thanks for the update. Looks like we will be good to go!

Peter Pitocchi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 70

7/14-7/21 mosquitos were minimal at the cirque, trout biting strong at Big Sandy. Not much snow at all.

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450

Hi all: a post above mentioned some snow to be dealt with up on the slopes below Wolf's Head and Shark's Tooth. Anyone know if that's still an issue?
Also, would it be fair to call summertime nighttime temps in the Cirque similar to or colder than Tuolumne? (Sleeping bag planning...)
Thanks,
David

Eli.M · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

hey david,
i was in the cirque during the week of july 9th, and though there was still small snow patches beneath wolf's head/shark's nose, there was no problem navigating around them on the talus. An ice ax is definitely not necessary for the slopes between cirque lake and wolf's head/shark's nose.

As far as a sleeping bag, I unfortunately haven't been to Tuolumne but it is quite warm in the Winds this time of year. I was comfortable in a 45 degree bag.

Valerie A B · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 37

Hi all.

What about bears? A friend told me I should bring bear spray because bears were "really bad" in the cirque area but I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else. We are planning on bringing bear cannisters for food storage but is bear spray really necessary?

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41
Valerie Bachinsky wrote:Hi all. What about bears? A friend told me I should bring bear spray because bears were "really bad" in the cirque area but I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else. We are planning on bringing bear cannisters for food storage but is bear spray really necessary?
I visited the Cirque in 1995, 2010 and 2011, and never saw a bear, nor did I hear any reports/stories of bear activity. It's possible that the bears prefer to get their food from the hikers at Big Sandy Lake. Having said that, I would still favor a bear canister over hanging food in the Cirque. The canisters are a nuisance to carry in, but once you're there they are easier to access than properly hung food, and they're nice to sit on when you're hanging out in camp. I wouldn't bring bear spray.
Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114

Valerie- Bear spray is only necessary if you need it. I did see scat two weeks ago in the cirque, FWIW. As there are plenty of places to hang food, I'd skip the canister and bring the spray.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

hey val,

i have gone to the cirque at least 5 different times.
usually in august. never seen a bear in the cirque.
actually i never seen a bear ever in the winds.

they are there, and i would guess that they stay lower,
you know where the food is... you can always call the
pinedale ranger office to ask some questions as to activity
reports on the bears.

so anyway, i never really worried much about it.
(hopefully that doesn't bite me in the ass one day!)

oh and by the way, who told you that they were "really bad"?
and when were they in the cirque?

to david: i have never been cold at night in the cirque.
the warmest bag i ever took was a 15deg.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

oh yeah, i have a question for peeps that were recently at big sandy trailhead..

i have always taken the truck up there. we also have a car now, which gets 50miles to the gallon.

i have seen cars get up to the trailhead before, but was wondering if a vw jetta would make it, or should i stick with the trusty old truck?

thanks much!
cor

Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114

Cor- The Jetta would do fine. The road isn't that bad.

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

The road is quite good, I've done it twice with a very low clearance modern car.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

thanks jason & mark!

it will be nice to ride in the car, but didn't want to break the new thing... only has 5k on it. :)

i know the road overall is good, it is just that last section up the hill from sagebrush land to forest.

BackAtItAgain · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 15

hang the food. i have seen bears in the cirque more than once, however the last time was 1994 and I have been there maybe 5 times since with no sightings..first time I went, sept 1990, we were pummled by rain and snow - and woke up to our unhung food stash completely consumed by one of these fellows.. don't let that happen..

Peter Pitocchi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 70

Saw one small track near lonesome lake like probably a juvenile. We camped along the meadows about two miles southeast of Pingora and saw no bears. We found some good high trees to hang food. I would avoid camping near lonesome lake, also since there were lots of campers there.
The hike in is strenuous. Pack light. Climbers trail is a bit easier than jackass pass imo.
Good water is everywhere. Trout were ravenous at big sandy lake.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
Post a Reply to "Cirque of Towers?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.