Log In 
 Peak:  Handies Peak
 Route:  Southeast ridge via Boulder Gulch.
 Range:  San Juan
 Posted By:  Nelson
 Date of Info:  2/14/2015
 Date Posted:  2/15/2015
Details

The road from Cataract Gulch TH is well packed. Two streams crossing the road are open. From 10700 (where you turn off to Boulder Gulch) to 11200 is the "death zone", i.e. Bushwacking and postholing. In the a.m. it is mostly supportable and in the p.m. It is not. From there it is continuous snow coverage to 13000. Flotation is a must. Above that to the ridge snow coverage is intermittent. You can only ski from the summit in an east/north east direction and that is not for the faint of heart. We left our skis at 13000 and skied down from there. Because of multiple melt/freeze cycles there is every kind of crust and condition imaginable but it beats walking.

It was a glorious day.



Comments or Questions
DoctorBreaks
User
Wow
2/16/2015 3:44pm
Great job Nelson! Thanks for the condition update!


Nelson
User
Questions
3/9/2015 7:31pm
Natalie,

I’m glad to see you’re still getting after it! You have had an amazing winter.

I am not sure what you mean by "Fish Hatcery". Is that the east ridge but from farther way? Do you know the mileage and vert of what you did?

As this high pressure seems to be back and stubborn I’m thinking of making yet another winter trip.
Nelson


SnowAlien
User
Indeed
4/2/2015 7:45pm
Nelson, you are the fittest 68 y.o. on the planet! Also, check out OpenSnow.com - as a powhound, you might like it Cheers!
https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/utah



   Not registered?