Colorado Alpine Rock Conditions Summer 2014

Diamond

Howdy, as we approach alpine rock season up in RMNP (and, to be fair, a few other areas), I thought it would be helpful to have a conditions thread similar to the Ice/Snow climbing threads.

Use this thread to post up approach conditions, route conditions, and all the various other miscellaneous details (like, are the bivy caves still full of snow) that you've encountered up in the alpine.

RMNP Live Web Cams

That picture can't be current...did you just grab an old one?

GLD wrote:That picture can't be current...did you just grab an old one?

That looks like a painting.

It's actually the painted backdrop of a diorama at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. So it shows current conditions, maybe 1970!

A marmot scopes out the Diamond.

It is cool that this thread was started by Peyton Manning!!

George Bell wrote:It's actually the painted backdrop of a diorama at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. So it shows current conditions, maybe 1970!

A marmot scopes out the Diamond. It is cool that this thread was started by Peyton Manning!!

It's one of my favorite paintings of the diamond, I tried to snag a picture from the Long's Peak webcam, but there was zero visibility.

George Bell wrote: It is cool that this thread was started by Peyton Manning!!

My profile picture is less about Peyton Manning, than the more significant ideas of regret and frustration that his smirk therein signifies.

Does anyone have info on the trail conditions in RMNP? Approaches to Petite, Sharkstooth, Diamond, Mt Evans (the black wall)?

Just climbed Le Petit yesterday. I think this has been said in the RMNP Conditions topic, but its pretty much dry all the way to the Loch. Then, you start to hit some snow. If you get after it early enough, it is usually pretty firm from the night before, however hiking out at the end of the of the day was silly sloppy postholing. There's a lot of snow from the Loch up to Sky Pond, but then it is clear from Sky Pond to the base of the Petit (with maybe a little bit of snow to get to the start of the South Face). We did the Southwest Corner and it was awesome! I'd say if you time it right and don't mind getting your feet a little wet, the alpine season in the Park is slowly starting!

Anyone know how Spearhead looks about now?

Anyone know if the black wall at mt. evans is wet?

Eliot Augusto wrote:Anyone know how Spearhead looks about now?

I was up there for the last two days.

Spearhead approach, 6/20/2014.

Here's the snowfield leading up to Syke's. it extended all the way down to the bivy caves. However the path leading up from the bivy area to the North ridge of Spearhead was more or less snow free.

But, most importantly....

Spearhead descent.

The descent was snow free!

Bring a trekking pole or an ultra light ice axe and you should be good to go for anything you want to do in the area.

The Blueprint Part Dank wrote: Bring a trekking pole or an ultra light ice axe and you should be good to go for anything you want to do in the area.

Thanks Peyton, that's some stellar news! Do you think a walking stick would suffice?

Current conditions of the Petit and Shark's tooth are great! A little snow getting to the base of each but it actually helps with the talus approach.

The Petit Grepon.

I'm also interested in the black wall @ mt. evans if anyone has a condition info.

Eliot Augusto wrote: Thanks Peyton, that's some stellar news! Do you think a walking stick would suffice?

Absolutely. Or Wes Welker, he's short enough to be used in place of an ice axe in most situations

Anybody have any info on the creston's? I was looking to get out there in about 3 weeks. Wondering if it's worth a trip yet, or if I should wait for a while longer?

Flying Buttress on Meeker was bone dry on Saturday. Plunging steps on the descent up high still looked a little sketchy so we down-climbed next to the snow for most of the way and plunged the lower section where it was lower angle and the snow was softer.

Blitzen ridge was mostly dry as of Sunday. Still lots of snow up top.

Looking down lower portion of Blitzen Ridge.

How about Halletts. How is the approach? Boots and an ice axe? Or just tennis shoes?

Thanks. Wally

Climbed Hallett on Sunday. Just a bit of snow to cross. I could kick steps with high-top approach shoes and used poles for balance, but I wouldn't recommend low-top sneakers. Second Buttress was dry and great climbing.

Any one know how the conditions are on Kieners Route? We are going to Boulder for 2 weeks from the 8th to the 24th, and I wanted to try Kieners in our second week.