Sangre Conditions?

[MikeyShum]

Has anyone been out in the Sangre's lately? Hoping to get down there this weekend...

Thanks!

[pfiore1]

Live in the Sangres. Climbed somewhere around 10 peaks within the last three weeks from De Anza, Gibbs, Marcy, Comanche, Horn, Little Horn, Fluted, 13,419, 13,524, 13,519 and a few other unnamed peaks. What info or conditions are you wanting to know? Specific trailheads or trails, wind loads, snow line or snowpack? There are a lot of variations up here depending on the aspect. We'll be doing a training on Spring Mountain this Saturday. There is a chance for precipitation this weekend.

[joelmpaula]

Does the NW face of Adams have enough coverage for a ski descent?
Thanks

[MikeyShum]

Depending on the conditions, was thinking of either Challenger or Blanca (standard routes). Even if conditions do not allow a summit, the long Willow or Lake Como approach should help wake up the winter legs/lungs.

[pfiore1]

Does the NW face of Adams have enough coverage for a ski descent?
Thanks

I don't think it does. Much of the Sangres wind loads are on the east and southeast aspects. I was on Fluted the other day and had a great view of Adams' east, north and west aspects and took several photos. I have tried to attach photos to these threads but they don't work and the admin hasn't responded to my questions of why. I'll try again to send pics of Adams and the surrounding area. For example, last year, Horn Peak had a north couloir full of snow to the summit, this year, the north face is empty and the wind ripped it off and deposited it on the south and east sides. Most north aspects that are normally covered in snow have been removed of snow by strong winds from the west and north. I'll try the pics later today.

[dereks95]

where's the approximate snow line on the west side? I'm considering Crestone Peak.

[pfiore1]

where's the approximate snow line on the west side? I'm considering Crestone Peak.

I live in the Wet Mountain Valley, the Sangre's east approaches and not the San Luis Valley, the Sangre's west approaches. Therefore, I don't know much about the western approaches. However, I do have many recent up to date photos of the majority of the Sangres from several different summits, everywhere from the southern Crestones to northern Electric and De Anza. I have tried many times to attach and post pictures of the peaks but each time I try and upload a picture and post, I am redirected to the log-in page even though I was already logged in, try again, same thing, either in the forum or trip report. I contacted the admin a few times but never received a response. Not sure if the photo's files are too large or something else. The best I can do is have you send me a private message with your e-mail address and I can send up to date pictures of the snow pack on most of the Sangre peaks. Overall, the snowpack is in between winter unconsolidated and spring consolidated corn. Early am with a cold night, the snow is hard and stable, afternoon, the snow warms and turns to heavy wet slush that is not yet consolidated. On the east side, I do not need to use my skis or snowshoes until about 10,000' depending on the aspect. South facing, I can stay off the snow up to 11,000' plus, north facing, deep snow at 9,500'. All depends on where the wind deposits the snow and how much sun it sees.

[J-Bone]

Any recent beta on the Southeast Flank Gully on Humboldt? Look like it's filled in pretty good?

EDIT: nevermind I just saw a recent photo in the peak conditions and it is definitely not filled in...

[ErikS]

Does anyone have an update on Lake Como, Blanca, Ellingwood and Little Bear conditions? The last CRs from the area are from 6/11 when snowshoes were still required, a 6/19 Gash ridge report just looking down at the standard routes, and then Rossback's flyover last weekend. Specifically, I want to know:

1) Are snowshoes still necessary to access the standard routes from Lake Como?

2) Can the standard routes be done without traction and an ice axe? I don't have a problem taking them myself, but I'm bringing a buddy with me who has no experience on snow and doesn't have the right equipment. The 6/11 CR suggested there are some steep snow fields with bad runouts.

3) What does the hourglass look like? The CR from 6/18 makes it sound like a no-go. Another buddy might be joining us Saturday afternoon after our Blanca/Ellingwood summit, and buddy #2 and I (both with much more experience and proper equipment than buddy #1) would like to give Little Bear a shot Sunday morning.

Thanks in advance.

Erik

[jrs1965]

Does anyone have an update on Lake Como, Blanca, Ellingwood and Little Bear conditions? The last CRs from the area are from 6/11 when snowshoes were still required, a 6/19 Gash ridge report just looking down at the standard routes, and then Rossback's flyover last weekend. Specifically, I want to know:

1) Are snowshoes still necessary to access the standard routes from Lake Como?

2) Can the standard routes be done without traction and an ice axe? I don't have a problem taking them myself, but I'm bringing a buddy with me who has no experience on snow and doesn't have the right equipment. The 6/11 CR suggested there are some steep snow fields with bad runouts.

3) What does the hourglass look like? The CR from 6/18 makes it sound like a no-go. Another buddy might be joining us Saturday afternoon after our Blanca/Ellingwood summit, and buddy #2 and I (both with much more experience and proper equipment than buddy #1) would like to give Little Bear a shot Sunday morning.

Thanks in advance.

Erik

I'm doing Culebra on Saturday and if all goes well I'll hit Ellingwood and Blanca on Sunday. Living in the Springs I've seen the snow on Pikes Peak almost completely disappear this week. I'm assuming similar conditions exist on Elli and Blanca. I'm hoping I can just go with spikes, axe and helmet but I'll drag my crampons up the road if it looks spicy when I go over La Veta Pass.

Hope that helps, cya up there maybe...

[thurs]

where's the approximate snow line on the west side? I'm considering Crestone Peak.

I have tried many times to attach and post pictures of the peaks but each time I try and upload a picture and post, I am redirected to the log-in page even though I was already logged in, try again, same thing, either in the forum or trip report. I contacted the admin a few times but never received a response. Not sure if the photo's files are too large or something else. The best I can do is have you send me a private message with your e-mail address and I can send up to date pictures of the snow pack on most of the Sangre peaks.

Why don't you just upload them to imgur or google drive and post the link? That's what I do to embed most photos on this forum.

[Matt]

I have tried many times to attach and post pictures of the peaks but each time I try and upload a picture and post, I am redirected to the log-in page even though I was already logged in, try again, same thing, either in the forum or trip report. I contacted the admin a few times but never received a response. Not sure if the photo's files are too large or something else. The best I can do is have you send me a private message with your e-mail address and I can send up to date pictures of the snow pack on most of the Sangre peaks

First, thanks for the 411 in the Music Pass thread I started.
Second, and I hate to say this, maybe you can post your question about uploads on the facebook page.
I don't participate in that, but it seems most of the forum has migrated over there. This includes people who might be able to help you help this site.