All Locations > Colorado > Alpine Rock > RMNP - Rock > Powell Peak

Northeast Ridge II

Name: Northeast Ridge II
Rating: 3.1

Easy 5th YDS 1+ French 3 Ewbanks I UIAA 5 ZA M 1c British R

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Routes in Powell Peak

	Northeast Ridge II T Easy 5th 1+ 3 I 5 M 1c R
	Snark T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b

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Type:	Trad, Alpine, Grade II
GPS:	40.2658, -105.664
FA:	unknown
Page Views:	4,560 total · 19/month
Shared By:	Ernie Port on Aug 19, 2007 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Closures Details

Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."

For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.

General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.

Description

This is the long, jagged ridge connecting Thatchtop to Powell Peak. This ridge traverse starts out easy but becomes very exposed for a hundred meters or so.
Steep on the northwest side and near vertical on the southeast side, make for some interesting class 4 and 5 slab and crack climbing in a spectacular, remote alpine setting. The position and length of ridge here are hard to beat.

Location

Rocky Mountain National Park
Start by hiking/bushwacking to the summit of Thatchtop Mountain at 12,668', head west from the summit toward the ridge and the continental divide. Powell Peak is on the other side of this ridge.
To descend from the summit of Powell Peak, follow the divide north (for approx. 2 miles) to Andrews Glacier and descend back to Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge TH.
This is a long Grade II outting, 12 hours for us as we bagged Taylor Peak for good measure under ideal conditions. Expect epic under adverse conditions.