Beta shot for posing down hard on the summit of Ypsilon, Sam Flournoy and Ryne Greene.

All Locations > Colorado > Alpine Rock > RMNP - Rock > Ypsilon Mountain > Blitzen Ridge (5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c)

Beta shot for posing down hard on the summit of Ypsilon, Sam Flournoy and Ryne Greene.

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The Aces, July '04.

The upper section of Blitzen Ridge.

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sam flournoy

Mar 29, 2005

“Beta shot for posing down hard on the summit of Ypsilon, Sam Flournoy and Ryne Greene.”

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July 3rd, 2004.

The clouds break over the Aces.

Wade Morris and I shouldered 40lb+ training packs and jumped on the Blitzen Ridge in the winter of 2017. It proved to be a very productive, and full-on AK training mission.

Lower Spectacle Lake.

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The full cirque (with most of the traverse we did).

Good view of the Aces.

Easy going so far on Donner.

From First Ace, killer views!

En route to the summit. Spectacular! 6/06.

Meaty part of the Blitzen Ridge.

Kepley on the Blitzen's airy final approach.

'Aces high' and the final approach ridge of the Blitzen.

Donner Ridge (descent we used).

Just below the summit, on the descent. Blitzen on the left and Donner on the right.

Approach gully from lower Spectacle Lake.

Spectacle Lakes from the approach gully.

Tony M. on Ace 1.

Another view of Spectacle Lakes and Donner Ridge.

Donner Ridge (routefinding was fairly easy; we made a couple of mid-class 5 downclimbing moves).

Progress so far.

The Four Aces and final headwall - the meat of the route

The Aces, July '04.

Beta shot for posing down hard on the summit of Ypsilon, Sam Flournoy and Ryne Greene.

The upper section of Blitzen Ridge.

Ypsilon from Chipmunk Lake.

Looking down Blitzen Ridge.

Blitzen track with Chapin TH descent.

Looking back at the fouth and third ace from the top of the headwall.

Bill Duncan and the Blitzen Ridge.

The final section of Blitzen Ridge, photo taken 7/4/2018. Minimal snow and blue skies all day for a great day of independence. It was at this point that I was feeling happy to see hikers on the summit - was able to hitch a ride from the Chapin side.

Hard to see the Aces from this angle.

Looking across the cirque.

I took this while belaying a climber down the 4th Ace. In background see a lead climber on the final headwall.

Most of the rock on the exposed bits was good (for CO).

Bypassing the tower on the ledge system.

The Blitz.

Ryne Greene about done with the thousand feet of 4th class. Photo taken just before he couldn't take the exposure and asked to be short roped by partner, Sam Flournoy.

Looking across to Blitzen Ridge as we start the descent down Donner Ridge.

Keen Butterworth enjoying the smashing view of the lower Ypsilon cirque from atop the Blitzen Ridge headwall.

Traversing around The Fourth Ace.

Back to lower Spectacle Lake.

Blitzen meeting the "Y". July '04.

About to start the 4 Aces.

Final descent down to the Spectacle Lakes.

The Third Ace as seen from the fourth.

Fast and light afternoon ascent of Blitzen ridge with Stefan Griebel. Downclimbing one of the aces before continuing up.

Keen traversing around the Fourth Ace.

The downclimb on the back of the third Ace.

And the ridge goes on.

A good 5.5-5.6 option on the 4th ace. Soloists, watch for those loose flakes.

Ypsilon from the top of the direct approach from Ypsilon Lake.

Tony M. with Spectacle Lakes below.

Almost past the Aces.

Exposure.