Mt. Silverheels avy safe?

[My-Therapy]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knows if Silverheels is considered avy safe useing the West Ridge approach? If it is not considered avy safe or a good winter hike, then could someone please recommend a 13er in that area that would be. I'm looking for some good beginner winter hikes this year. Thanks.

[Rich H]

I've climbed the southern ridge on silver heels in the winter without much threat of slide...not sure about the west.

Atlantic pk is a fun winter climb from the west.

[Jon Frohlich]

Silverheels has a tendency to get blown mostly dry in the winter and doesn't hold much snow. It's relatively (of course not always) safe from the west in winter. Be prepared for the notoriously high winds in that area.

[Greenhouseguy]

Read the trip report from our 2007/2008 winter gathering if you'd like some idea of what Silverheels is like in winter:

http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... ki=Include

[gurlyclimber]

It was avy safe when we did it last winter. Anything that looked like it could slide was easily avoided.

[Scott P]

The following route variation is usually avy safe (if you stay on route!!):

http://www.summitpost.org/route/167980/ ... -spur.html

To be honest though, I wasn't all that impressed with Silverheels on a December ascent. My impression was that it was a lot of hard work for a not very impressive mountain (for example, nearby Quandary is better IMHO). Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.