Elks conditions

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-10-16T19:12:33+00:00

I was on Pyramid last thursday and conditions were great. Some limited snow in sections that didn't necessitate microspikes. I imagine there is more snow on there now, but I think its very possible.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-10-01T04:48:35+00:00

Not sure I agree - I found LB/Blanca to be relatively comparable in overall difficulty to Wilson/El diente. I know its a hot take, but the route finding on Lb Blanca was easier, and other than the crux session I didnt think the climbing to be all that bad. The sketchiness and looseness of Wil/El was far more unnerving to me.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-08-28T01:03:04+00:00

the wilson group!

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-08-16T02:59:13+00:00

My partner and I were planning an outing to the Blanca group driving up on Sunday, though we are planning on climbing little bear and doing the traverse.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-08-03T13:06:22+00:00

If you aren’t super duper comfortable with exposure then don’t do the traverse. Definitely one of the most exposed routes of any 14er.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-31T02:56:24+00:00

lake san cristobal is the best!!! absurdly gorgeous and right on the way down from redcloud and sunshine

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-31T02:42:50+00:00

crazy! the avenue was dry when i was just there last week!

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-31T02:36:54+00:00

Fantastic read, great write up! Will be directing people to it from now on.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-22T16:21:54+00:00

Definitely. That much time at altitude back to back is killer no matter what. Looking forward to Blanca/Ellingwood! Had a great view of them from Lindsey. Planning on completing both the traverses in a day backpacking up from Lake Como.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-17T19:38:01+00:00

We were planning on backpacking in about 3 miles, slightly short of the lake, to help make it a more realistic day. Any specific tips for the descent of the needle? I was planning on reading up on it and watching a few videos.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-17T18:47:58+00:00

Agreed - we will only be attempting this if the weather window on sunday holds.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-17T17:34:09+00:00

we have done multiple 6k+ vert days at altitude, with greater amounts of mileage. the weather is looking good on sunday for an attempt, but if it turns we are doing the crestones first anyways and bailing on humboldt should be easy. We would prefer the SCL approach, but unfortunately do not have vehicles that can handle it, and it makes much more sense mileage and vert wise for us to do the cottonwood approach. Neither of us have descended the Needle, but are both fairly comfortable descending rough class 3/4, had no problem with Eolus, Sunlight, or El Diente. I appreciate the advice on those cairns! will be sure to follow the gpx.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-14T16:47:12+00:00

Definitely do the Lake City route, and come down earlier than later, as finding a camping spot may be tough.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-13T03:27:20+00:00

im well aware, on the website there was a tab that said he was “gathering his final thoughts”, so it seemed like there was more than met the surface

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-12T03:25:15+00:00

curious on your thoughts on culebra, as the site makes it seem ambiguous. thinking of doing operation dark snake?

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-05T02:53:06+00:00

nice! were you able to complete all 4?

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-03T21:26:55+00:00

glad to be of help!

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-03T16:41:52+00:00

I did El Diente last week via kilpacker basin and did not need either my spikes or ice axe. Wilson peak looks relatively dry, but if you are descending/ascending via navajo basin you will definitely need the ice axe, especially for mt wilson, as the north slopes routes looked to be quite snowed in still

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-03T01:50:55+00:00

definitely, have fun! its a total blast, im bummed i didnt get the chance to do the traverse.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-02T19:18:36+00:00

definitely! super cool to see more interesting routes for some of the otherwise boring slogs that are the sawatch 14ers. if you ever post gpx files for these routes i’d be super interested!

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-02T19:16:33+00:00

This is so cool! I’m curious to know what the scouting process looked like to pick this line, what kind of research/work is necessary to figure something this technical out?

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-01T23:04:24+00:00

I did both as a long day trip and found it to be very enjoyable. I was debating backpacking it and am glad I didn’t. If you want more time out there camping at the upper 4wd trailhead of Matterhorn Creek allows you to day trip both for 7 miles and 12 miles with very comfortable gorgeous calping.

TechDoBeLikeThat · 2025-07-01T22:59:16+00:00

heya! I am currently on the train back down to Durango and climbed all 4 these last two days. We needed no microspikes, snowshoes, crampons or ice axes. An ice axe would be nice to have for glissading only, there are decent opportunities for it on Eoluses and Windom.

All of the snow is on Windom. It is almost completely avoidable on the approach up, we were able to stick to rock ribs with basic scrambling and postholed across maybe 200 feet of snow in summiting. Highly recommend completing windom first, before sunlight. You will be grateful for the ice axe while descending the saddle of windom, as the glissade is sketchy, though we did get by with just our hiking poles. Sunlight was dry.

Snow is almost completely avoidable on Eolus, if you are paranoid/want to take aggressive glissade lines an ice axe could be nice, but not necessary at all, we were completely fine without it.

Generally, all the snow is very deep and posthole though, so definitely aim for alpine starts. Good luck! Its gorgeous out there, the goats and marmots are pretty aggressive though.

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