Grizzly Peak Trip Report 05/27/2008

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Grizzly Peak - 13,435 feet
Date Posted	05/27/2008
Date Climbed	05/25/2008
Author	emcee smith

Grizzly Peak from Loveland Pass
Grizzly Peak from Loveland Pass Peak elevation - 13,427' Approximate roundtrip distance - 5.2 miles Start time - 7:00 am Summit - 10:00 am Return - 12:30 pm Context for report: I have done five 14ers, including the Kelso Ridge and the Sawtooth. This was my first outing above tree line this year, but I have been working out and taking some local hikes near Golden. I had tried to hike from Loveland Pass on Saturday 5/24/08, but didn't know whether I would attempt Sniktau or Grizzly Peak. It turned out that the weather was very cold (20F) and very windy. I made it up to the ridge, sat in the wind shelter for a bit, eventually went over to the hump before Sniktau and then gave up for the day. This photo is of the trail up to the ridge line (only photo from Saturday). Most of that morning, I couldn't even see Grizzly peak, as it was covered in clouds. I got up Sunday morning 5/25/08 and decided to give it another chance. I took off from the parking area at 7:00 am and walked up to the ridge. A lot of snow had melted just from yesterday. The wind wasn't blowing that hard, so I took off to the south over the false summits toward Grizzly This photo shows the initial route down from the wind shelters on the ridge. The hiking so far had been pretty easy going. The snow, in the places where windblown, was firm and solid. Making my way around each of the false summits was a bit challenging, as I couldn't tell whether the correct way was up and over or around to the west side. Generally, I went around to the west side on the way to Grizzly and up and over on the way back. The general route over the last false summit From the last saddle, a route (not the trail) up to Grizzly was easy to find, stay to the right (west) of the snow and on the rocks as much as possible. Here I began to slide back a bit in the snow, and to question whether there was too much snow to proceed, as the route was getting fairly steep. The last bit of trail below the summit of Grizzly (you can see the snow blowing off to the east (left) I ended up stopping about ¾ of the way to the top of the last photo, near the large rock, to contemplate continuing or turning back. At this time, the woman in the third photo came down from the top and mentioned that the hard part was over and I was close. I really appreciated her comments, as I was very close to turning around. From that point to the summit was very easy walking. There is a small cornice at the summit; I took the route to the west around it. I arrived at the summit at 10 am. Lame summit shot with Torreys and Grays in the background View of Torreys and Grays Shot from the summit showing some of the overall route The way back, down from Grizzly was easier than I expected. I generally held onto the rocks and let my feet slide down in the snow. Coming back over the false summits was very tiring. The snow was getting softer and I postholed quite a bit. I ran into Meteor and Scanner on one of the false summits. They were heading over to Grizzly as well. It was a bit comical, as they asked if I had done any 14ers and suggested that I look at 14ers.com. Good word of mouth for the website. Bonus shot of some people skinning up the NW face of Grizzly The last saddle and false summit before heading down the slopes to the west. Coming down the west slopes back to the car was uneventful. I arrived back at the car at 12:30 pm. Thoughts and Comments I thought that this was a good hike, but requires commitment. From the car/trail, the trail up to Grizzly looks very steep. This perception of steepness and the need to climb three false summits (counting the initial ridge) twice are daunting, and I think the reasons that I haven't been successful on this climb in the past. It is just too easy to turn left and take the easier walk to Sniktau. I don't think that I ever really had the commitment for Grizzly before this morning. The ups and downs on this trail were tiring to me. I would recommend saving some energy for the walk back, as the climb up the 3 false summits to get back is hard. This spring I have walked 12 miles in Denver and have done some 8 - 9 mile foothill hikes, but these 5.2 miles were tough. I probably felt more exposed on this hike (snow and slipping) than I did on either Kelso or the Sawtooth (dry). There were some places where I could not kick in a step and a slip would have been painful. The wind up on the ridgeline was fierce. Although today was less than yesterday, there were times that my footing somewhat depended on the wind gusts. I had enough gear to cover everything windproof and wore ski goggles the whole way. Perhaps overkill, but I stayed warm and didn't get any wind burn. However, all that said, I think that it is good preparation for further hikes, as this trail gives good great feedback on conditioning, and provides an opportunity for a beginner to chose a line that may not be obvious (at least when snow covered). Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Grizzly Peak from Loveland Pass

Grizzly Peak from Loveland Pass
Peak elevation - 13,427'
Approximate roundtrip distance - 5.2 miles
Start time - 7:00 am
Summit - 10:00 am
Return - 12:30 pm

Context for report: I have done five 14ers, including the Kelso Ridge and the Sawtooth. This was my first outing above tree line this year, but I have been working out and taking some local hikes near Golden.

I had tried to hike from Loveland Pass on Saturday 5/24/08, but didn't know whether I would attempt Sniktau or Grizzly Peak. It turned out that the weather was very cold (20F) and very windy. I made it up to the ridge, sat in the wind shelter for a bit, eventually went over to the hump before Sniktau and then gave up for the day.

This photo is of the trail up to the ridge line (only photo from Saturday). Most of that morning, I couldn't even see Grizzly peak, as it was covered in clouds.

I got up Sunday morning 5/25/08 and decided to give it another chance. I took off from the parking area at 7:00 am and walked up to the ridge. A lot of snow had melted just from yesterday. The wind wasn't blowing that hard, so I took off to the south over the false summits toward Grizzly

This photo shows the initial route down from the wind shelters on the ridge.

The hiking so far had been pretty easy going. The snow, in the places where windblown, was firm and solid. Making my way around each of the false summits was a bit challenging, as I couldn't tell whether the correct way was up and over or around to the west side. Generally, I went around to the west side on the way to Grizzly and up and over on the way back.

The general route over the last false summit

From the last saddle, a route (not the trail) up to Grizzly was easy to find, stay to the right (west) of the snow and on the rocks as much as possible. Here I began to slide back a bit in the snow, and to question whether there was too much snow to proceed, as the route was getting fairly steep.

The last bit of trail below the summit of Grizzly (you can see the snow blowing off to the east (left)

I ended up stopping about ¾ of the way to the top of the last photo, near the large rock, to contemplate continuing or turning back. At this time, the woman in the third photo came down from the top and mentioned that the hard part was over and I was close. I really appreciated her comments, as I was very close to turning around. From that point to the summit was very easy walking. There is a small cornice at the summit; I took the route to the west around it. I arrived at the summit at 10 am.

Lame summit shot with Torreys and Grays in the background

View of Torreys and Grays

Shot from the summit showing some of the overall route

The way back, down from Grizzly was easier than I expected. I generally held onto the rocks and let my feet slide down in the snow. Coming back over the false summits was very tiring. The snow was getting softer and I postholed quite a bit. I ran into Meteor and Scanner on one of the false summits. They were heading over to Grizzly as well. It was a bit comical, as they asked if I had done any 14ers and suggested that I look at 14ers.com. Good word of mouth for the website.

Bonus shot of some people skinning up the NW face of Grizzly

The last saddle and false summit before heading down the slopes to the west.

Coming down the west slopes back to the car was uneventful. I arrived back at the car at 12:30 pm.

Thoughts and Comments

I thought that this was a good hike, but requires commitment. From the car/trail, the trail up to Grizzly looks very steep. This perception of steepness and the need to climb three false summits (counting the initial ridge) twice are daunting, and I think the reasons that I haven't been successful on this climb in the past. It is just too easy to turn left and take the easier walk to Sniktau. I don't think that I ever really had the commitment for Grizzly before this morning.

The ups and downs on this trail were tiring to me. I would recommend saving some energy for the walk back, as the climb up the 3 false summits to get back is hard. This spring I have walked 12 miles in Denver and have done some 8 - 9 mile foothill hikes, but these 5.2 miles were tough.

I probably felt more exposed on this hike (snow and slipping) than I did on either Kelso or the Sawtooth (dry). There were some places where I could not kick in a step and a slip would have been painful.

The wind up on the ridgeline was fierce. Although today was less than yesterday, there were times that my footing somewhat depended on the wind gusts. I had enough gear to cover everything windproof and wore ski goggles the whole way. Perhaps overkill, but I stayed warm and didn't get any wind burn.

However, all that said, I think that it is good preparation for further hikes, as this trail gives good great feedback on conditioning, and provides an opportunity for a beginner to chose a line that may not be obvious (at least when snow covered).

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Aggie_05	Great 5/27/2008 5:55pm report! I believe my wife and I were returning over Cupid while you were on your way up. The wind funneling through the Cupid-Grizzly saddle made her uneasy so we turned back.
Coucher73	Good report 5/27/2008 8:21pm A buddy and I were up there on Saturday morning as well and we turned back after not more than five minutes. We simply were not prepared for the weather to be that bad. I never would have imagined that we‘d drive 60 miles and then turn right around and go back to Denver, but that is pretty much what we did.

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