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 Peak:  Castle Peak
 Route:  Northeast Ridge
 Range:  Elk
 Posted By:  pprkr
 Date of Info:  6/11/2015
 Date Posted:  6/12/2015
Details

Attempted summit, the snow lower than the basin was melting (even at 3:00 AM) and extremely difficult to cross without snowshoes, lots of post holes and sliding all over. Once you reach the basin the snow is less wet but still post holing though. Snow was not firm enough to stay on top of except for some ice patches on the ridgeline.

Ridgeline conditions are somewhat precarious. We did not have much experience with winter ridgeline conditions, and although having microspikes and ice axes, we felt over exposed with the high amount of snow collecting on the ridge, with large overhanging snow spots and steep falls. We made it to all but the final push before turning around, probably more due to inexperience rather than conditions.

However all the spots that looked like avalanches could occur, already have. We were never feeling in danger of an avalanche.

If you have experience, go for it! Right now, the couloir route (#3 on Castle's page) is probably a much better bet than the long ridgeline traverse. Also if you take the northeast ridge, be careful following our footsteps near 2/3rds of the way along the ridge, crossed over to the wrong side at one point and got extremely exposed, immediately backtracked and found the right route



Comments or Questions
jrs1965
User
Fog?
6/12/2015 9:50am
Look’s foggy but did you get a look or picture of the Conundrum Couloir? Also, how far can a 4x4 make it up the road?


pprkr
Fog, snow, rain
6/12/2015 4:19pm
It was snowing the entire time. Might be better now, haven’t checked the weather report! And it was a bit too foggy to see the conundrum couloir but the castle couloir seemed good! Lots of snow everywhere and avi danger seems very low as there were past slides all over the place. An AWD vehicle with a lot of clearance could make it up about 1.5–2 miles before a creek crossing (That you could do with the right vehicle) Although heavy occasional snow bars start crossing the road soon after the creek anyways. Best bet is to just park at the campgrounds along the first 1–1.5 miles



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