We climbed the East Ridge of Mt. Yale on Friday, January 9th. We left Albuquerque on Thursday morning and got to the Avalanche Gulch TH around noon. It took us 4 1/2 hrs to get to the saddle @ around 11,700 ft. We laid a good trench all the way, but got slightly off route towards the end and wandered around probably more than necessary. There is one funky section right after the switchbacks, where the trail makes a hard turn to the west, where you will definitely want traction, as you're traversing a steep, frozen snow drift with fall potential. Left high camp at 0630, summited at 1030, back to camp at 1330, packed up and back to the truck at 1700. The ridge itself is kind of a choose your own adventure, with the south side holding wind blasted snow, and the north side being loose, sometime snow covered talus (generally). Be extra cautious on the descent, as a fall pretty much anywhere on the ridge proper would be no bueno. Winds were absolutely brutal above 13K..... Happy to answer any questions anyone might have. Be safe. Peace.
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