tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599149059290473851.post8003801039481824123..comments2023-07-30T04:33:54.990-07:00Comments on It's a Big Sky: Week in Review: August 26 – September 1—The Joys of Route FindingKendrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470643702089068805noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599149059290473851.post-67215505653135512992013-09-09T06:10:22.190-07:002013-09-09T06:10:22.190-07:00Thanks. It certainly was a good week in the mounta...Thanks. It certainly was a good week in the mountains. I've been thoroughly enjoying my little 14er project. <br /><br />In my opinion, the Elks weren't that bad...I think all you need to approach the Elks and come out unscathed is confidence in your climbing/scrambling abilities and the mental strength to stay within those abilities. The rock really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be...I've been on far, far worse rotten rock when ascending South Wilson (unranked 14er). <br /><br />-Capitol is solid rock on all of the difficult climbing (which you can keep at 3rd class if you want). The knife edge isn't as horrible as it's made out to be and it's only 100 feet long. The worst part was a boulder field that you use to skirt around some technical portions of the ridge from the saddle to K2, which was terribly loose. <br />-Snowmass is apparently not that bad from the standard route. I approached from the west side, which was loose as can be, but you can keep it all 3rd class with little to no exposure to the summit. <br />-Maroon Peak was by far the worst in terms of route finding, but it's all 3rd class with minimal exposure to the summit. You basically just skirt around some ledges. There is one semi-steep and loose gulley that I used on the ascent, but somehow managed to skirt around it during the descent. Don't ask me how I did that because I have no idea. <br />-North Maroon was surprisingly easy and straightforward. You can bypass all 4th Class moves and keep the entire route 3rd class should you choose. This is great for the downclimb. Roach and 14ers.com refer to the exposure on North Maroon, but I never felt or noticed it until I decided to go off route and approach the summit from the east side. <br />-Pyramid was pretty straightforward as well in terms of route finding, but I would call it more difficult technically than any other peak I did in the Elks. The 3rd class terrain is pretty sustained from the saddle to the summit. I'm not sure what the actual route contains since I went off route most of the way to the summit and tried to get in 4th/low-5th class terrain. To me, it seems that Pyramid presented the most opportunities for likely fatal falls, but the likelihood of that happening should still be near zero. <br />-Castle and Conundrum...Well, sounds like you know these already. My least favorite part was the talus/boulder field leading to the trail that gains the ridge leading to the summit of Castle. Talus fields are still uncomfortable on my ankle. Definitely "to each their own" on routes up/down mountains. What sketches one out is totally within the comfort zone of another. I'm learning this more and more with every trip up a mountain. <br /><br />I was actually just chatting with a friend last night who told me a story about seeing a wolf somewhere in the Elks. He had a similar comment about the howling versus the typical yipping of a coyote. Fortunately, I haven't experienced any of that yet, but I did hear several coyotes while descending Castle/Conundrum. I've been known to run with rocks and/or sticks in my hands in case of a mountain lion sighting. <br /><br />I was surprised at how uncrowded Thomas Lakes was for it being Labor Day weekend. Once I got above treeline I only saw a handful of people who were all descending. I tried to get up Sopris last fall, but an early season snow storm left me post holing up to my knees. So I turned around shortly after getting above treeline. I still need to get back on West Sopris since the lightning made me bail...<br /><br />Kendrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470643702089068805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599149059290473851.post-57786265058936754962013-09-03T21:17:17.316-07:002013-09-03T21:17:17.316-07:00Damn, those are some great outings and photos. Goo...Damn, those are some great outings and photos. Good times.<br /><br />The Elks in general scare the crap out of me. Not even sure I'm up to it.<br /><br />Castle: I had not problem with the ridge, which was fun, but I hate scree so much that instead of descending from the Conundrum-Castle saddle (a nasty scree slope at the time), I chose to ascend back over Castle and down the ridge. To each their own I guess.<br /><br />Actually I was more worried about the wolf howls I heard at the trailhead when I started (that was a couple of years ago). Stereotypical howls right out of a nature documentary. Never verified it, and even emailed the local ranger, but I think I know coyotes at this point and those were not coyotes. No idea. I ran like a cave man, with a sharpened pine bough. And bear spray.<br /><br />Thomas Lakes Tr. is great, great variety and rarely too crowded. I was hoping to finally summit the Sopris-es this fall.<br /><br /><br />mtnrunner2https://www.blogger.com/profile/10974435572236740294noreply@blogger.com