Snowmass Mountain

I had requested Monday off with no specific plans, and I was still feeling good after my climb of Mt. Wilson. On the spur-of-the-moment I decided to try to climb Snowmass Mountain, another remote peak that is over eight miles from the trailhead just to get to the "start" of the climb.

Again I left town late on Friday, letting much of the weekend traffic clear out, and stopped in a rest area just before Glenwood Canyon. Twice in the last week the canyon has closed due to mudslides as a result of the fire last year, so I wanted to limit the risk of being blocked from getting through. I got to the trailhead early, but it was already full and I had to park further down the road.

The hike to Snowmass Lake is a little over 8 1/2 miles with 2,800 feet of climb – almost as much as climbing a peak, except that you are doing it with a full pack. That is why I'm doing it as a three-day trip anyway — 22 miles and 5,800 feet of climb (and descent) in one day is just asking for several sick days to recover. It's still an enjoyable hike when you don't try and do too much. There are great views of Snowmass Mountain up Bear Creek , flowers everywhere, and of course the infamous logjam.

Snowmass Lake is a pretty busy area. There must be a dozen campsites already occupied, and another dozen groups arrived during the course of the day. Most groups seem to be hikers doing the Four Pass Loop, a 26 mile trip through the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness that traverses. four 12,000' passes. I found a small site and for the first time in a long while didn't hang a bear bag — this wilderness area requires bear canisters (which I had just purchased yesterday!)

I'm up at 4:00 am and hiking by 4:15. I had scouted out the beginning of the trail around the lake yesterday, but in the dark I still managed to get off the established trail and into the marshes and willows. Eventually I made it to the far side of the lake and started up the boulder field. About half-way up this section the trail degrades to scree that slips and slides faster than you can climb. I notice some cairns across the creek, but no way to get across, and it just seems to lead into the willows, so I continue up the scree.

Finally above the scree, the terrain eases. Normally this area is covered by snow (hence the name) but July is late enough in the season that it's just some scattered snowfields now. Despite the number of campers at the lake, there is only one other couple climbing that I occasionally see behind me. The "normal" trail is on the snow so without it there are multiple trails, depending on where snow has melted and the ground is clear.

The "trail" weaves below some cliffs to gain the ridge, then a scramble along the ridge to the summit . The views were a bit hazy due to the western wildfires, but that also kept the sunshine limited, which is a plus when on snow. I can make out Capital Peak further to the west , and the Maroon Bells to the east, with Pyramid Peak barely visible through the haze. I'm still making plans to climb all four of those peaks, but trying to find someone to climb them with. Still working on that....

Coming back down I took advantage of the view from above and figured out a path to link up the snowfields using my micro-spikes to avoid much of the rock hopping. But when I got back to the scree slope I found myself unable to proceed. After scrambling high on the ridge with nothing but air below me, I found that I couldn't find a way down a section of trail with no exposure. Ground that slides with the slightest move and not a single handhold made each step the beginning of an avalanche of rock with no idea when (or where) it will end. Even sitting on the ground it didn't feel safe. Eventually I figured out a step and slide motion that kept me from falling too often.

Back at camp I was thankful that I didn't have to rush and hike all the way back to the trailhead too. Instead I was able to relax and recover. I probably shouldn't have taken my time the next morning though, as I was feeling the heat of the day as I hiked back out. Just as I reached the trailhead I passed a large group of hikers starting the Four Pass Loop — a scout troop from back east that had done the loop three years ago when Philmont closed due to the Ute Park Fire — they enjoyed it so much they were back to do it again.

Pictures

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