glacier gorge conditions

[rdp32]

I am hoping to spend a day hiking this weekend and am interested in visiting the popular Glacier Gorge area of RMNP. Has anybody been to Black Lake or Sky Pond recently? If so, what are the current conditions? I'll plan on bringing my microspikes; I assume snowshoes are not necessary?

Thanks in advance for any feedback

[Dave B]

From MP

[Chicago Transplant]

We hiked as far as the Loch on Sunday but turned around because it was raining on us (and our intended snow route up Powell) at 5am as we were worried about snow conditions up higher given the fresh rain.

You don't need snowshoes for the hike we did, some minor postholing but the main trail is well packed out and they would not be worth the weight. Depending on time of day and how much of a freeze, it might be icy in patches. There are several dry stretches of trail as well depending on sun exposure. The Loch itself is melted, but surrounded by snow.

[rdp32]

Thanks for the feedback. I would probably only want to go there if I could safely make it to either Sky Pond or Black Lake (and if I do Black Lake I'd prefer to go when it's relatively easy to go a little past/above the Lake); I'd hate to drive all the way up there and get turned back sooner.

Any other suggestions for hikes that have good conditions this time of year? I'm up for anything up to about 3500 ft elevation gain or so (maybe up to 12 miles or so), with a relatively gentle descent for my knee, and hopefully with minimal postholing. I don't care too much about crowds or elevation (don't need a 14er) but just want to see the most spectacular scenery that I can.

Thanks

[Chicago Transplant]

For a consolation I climbed Twin Sisters (11ers), trail all the way to the saddle between the two summits. The trail is pretty much completely dry except for a few short sections near treeline where it goes on the east side of the mountain. The views are spectacular up top, especially of Longs and Meeker. The east summit (farther from the radio tower) is the higher one.

One notable issue is that there was a big mudslide that took out parts of the trail, its easy to cross and well cairned but when the trail switchbacks into the mudslide area you have to bushwhack to connect the trail segments. Most of that is cairned as well and the bushwhacking is not bad at all. Lots of people up there on Sunday and it didn't seem to faze anyone. I would recommend trekking poles, especially for the descent, as steep 'swhacking isn't always pleasant on the knees, but as the route is mostly on trail you should be in good shape. You also have to park at the Lily Lake lot at highway 7 because the road to the Twin Sisters TH is gated shut, and partially washed out.

[rdp32]

Thanks for the suggestion! Would you say that hiking to the saddle of Twin Sisters was better than hiking to the Loch? Both options seem disappointing... I was hoping that by June it would be snow-free enough to get to, say, Sky Pond or the Twin Sisters summits (this is my first year here in CO).

[mcmanusj]

Thanks for the suggestion! Would you say that hiking to the saddle of Twin Sisters was better than hiking to the Loch? Both options seem disappointing... I was hoping that by June it would be snow-free enough to get to, say, Sky Pond or the Twin Sisters summits (this is my first year here in CO).

The twin sisters summits are only a few hundred feet (if that) from the saddle. I haven't been up there but I'd imagine the difference in snow cover from the saddle to the summits is negligible.

[Chicago Transplant]

There is hardly any snow on the Twin Sisters at all, and none in the summit area. The only snow is some packed out sections on the trail where it swings around to east/northeast facing slopes in the trees, and maybe one or two very small patches above treeline and all of it is very tracked out. Snow is not an issue on those peaks. There was a lot more snow on the trial to the Loch then there was on the Sisters. You can certainly climb the Twin Sisters with no snow gear, nobody that was up there Sunday had anything more than trekking poles for gear.

[rdp32]

Great! I'll plan on Twin Sisters then. (when you said you just went to the saddle between the peaks, I had assumed it was because of current conditions). Thanks again for the feedback.

[DanR]

Any updates from this most recent weekend? Pondering options for tomorrow.

[Jay521]

Was up there yesterday (Sunday). Fairly dry to Loch Vale (patches of snow just below the lake). Took the Andrews Creek trail and went up the headwall to Andrews Tarn. Weather was looking iffy so didn't do Andrews Glacier and went back down to main trail and then up to Sky Pond. Needed snowshoes on the Andrews Creek trail portion. The rest was pretty solid and held up fairly well most of the day. PM me an email address and I will email you pics tonight if you like. --Jay

[DanR]

Was up there yesterday (Sunday). Fairly dry to Loch Vale (patches of snow just below the lake). Took the Andrews Creek trail and went up the headwall to Andrews Tarn. Weather was looking iffy so didn't do Andrews Glacier and went back down to main trail and then up to Sky Pond. Needed snowshoes on the Andrews Creek trail portion. The rest was pretty solid and held up fairly well most of the day. PM me an email address and I will email you pics tonight if you like. --Jay

Thanks for the reply, Jay. Due to time constraints, we put the Glacier Gorge objectives on hold and had a pleasant day in the Tyndall Gorge area.