Wetterhorn
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bkp003
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 7/10/2013
- Trip Reports (0)
Wetterhorn
Just summited Wetterhorn yesterday. There is still quite a bit of snow up there and it can't be avoided. We crossed sketch, steep, soft snow on a gully beneath ribs which we avoided on the way up by going behind the rib (very exposed!) and doing some class 3 scrambling. We didn't avoid it on the way down and the snow was very soft. An Ice axe and spikes are a must. It was first my encounter with steep snow like this and I was terrified. I've done early season climbing but not this steep. If you're going slow and the snow is soft, I'd try to take a different route up/down. Beautiful weather and a great accomplishment but next time I'd bring my helmet and not cross the snow-filled gully. If you're early and fast, snow may be harder and easier to traverse but even the short section we tossed was very scary. If you slid you'd be hurt badly or killed. Be safe out there!
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GregMiller
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: 6/16/2011
- 14ers: 37 4 1
- 13ers: 30
- Trip Reports (5)
Re: Wetterhorn
Might throw that over in the conditions reports, glad you made it safely.
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Still Here
been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me,
Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me
Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!
Langston Hughes
been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me,
Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me
Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!
Langston Hughes
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XterraRob
- Posts: 1132
- Joined: 7/20/2015
- 14ers: 42 7
- 13ers: 14
- Trip Reports (4)
Re: Wetterhorn
Those gullies below the summit can be a real problem when covered in deep snow, glad you are alright!bkp003 wrote:Just summited Wetterhorn yesterday. There is still quite a bit of snow up there and it can't be avoided. We crossed sketch, steep, soft snow on a gully beneath ribs which we avoided on the way up by going behind the rib (very exposed!) and doing some class 3 scrambling. We didn't avoid it on the way down and the snow was very soft. An Ice axe and spikes are a must. It was first my encounter with steep snow like this and I was terrified. I've done early season climbing but not this steep. If you're going slow and the snow is soft, I'd try to take a different route up/down. Beautiful weather and a great accomplishment but next time I'd bring my helmet and not cross the snow-filled gully. If you're early and fast, snow may be harder and easier to traverse but even the short section we tossed was very scary. If you slid you'd be hurt badly or killed. Be safe out there!
RIP - M56
Re-introduce Grizzly Bears into the Colorado Wilderness™
Re-introduce Grizzly Bears into the Colorado Wilderness™
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AlexeyD
- Posts: 1286
- Joined: 10/28/2013
- 14ers: 44 4 2
- Trip Reports (3)
Re: Wetterhorn
That sounds a lot like our experience on Wetterhorn almost exactly 1 year ago. It's definitely a more serious route when snow is present. Glad you're OK!bkp003 wrote:Just summited Wetterhorn yesterday. There is still quite a bit of snow up there and it can't be avoided. We crossed sketch, steep, soft snow on a gully beneath ribs which we avoided on the way up by going behind the rib (very exposed!) and doing some class 3 scrambling. We didn't avoid it on the way down and the snow was very soft. An Ice axe and spikes are a must. It was first my encounter with steep snow like this and I was terrified. I've done early season climbing but not this steep. If you're going slow and the snow is soft, I'd try to take a different route up/down. Beautiful weather and a great accomplishment but next time I'd bring my helmet and not cross the snow-filled gully. If you're early and fast, snow may be harder and easier to traverse but even the short section we tossed was very scary. If you slid you'd be hurt badly or killed. Be safe out there!
