Maroon Bell Epic

[peakmind]

I've just finished a trip report (and "what went wrong" study) of a summit attempt on South Maroon Bell a few years ago. Several lessons learned.

http://peakmind.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/the-long-bell/

[rastro]

i say this from first hand experience - attempting Maroon Peak alone is idiotic. In addition, gaining the ridge before 11:00am is crucial. My first attempt on Maroon got me way off route approx. 500-750 ft. from the ridge, and I got myself into a steep gully to nowhere; I was thankful to simply get off the mountain that day. The following year I made sure I had a partner (however weak he ended up being) and successfully summited. Bottom line: although I've summited over half of my 26 peaks solo (including Kit Carson/Challenger) being on Maroon alone is extremely dangerous.

[ShadyHater69]

I think it's all relative. I did South Maroon "alone" and didn't think it was idiotic. It was clearly within my abilities and I was prepared. in fact, I felt better on that climb than others I have done with partners.

[BillMiddlebrook]

Climbing peaks like Maroon or North Maroon isn't idiotic if you're well-prepared and have the right skills. Sure, it would be harder to get help if something happens, but that doesn't make it idiotic. There are several devices that you can carry that will raise your odds of survival if something goes wrong.

My advice for the solo climber: Plan, plan and plan some more. Stick to the plan and know when to turn back. If you're not good at route-finding, bring a partner who is.

[Titan_20]

I did the maroon bells traverse solo(North to south) this last summer and I had a blast. I have a lot to learn but I thought it was reasonable I researched the route looking at TR's and pics and I had a pretty good idea of what to expect while I feel it was a challenge but I don't think it was idiotic. As far as hiking up south maroon the first time I attempted it I had a difficult time finding the route up to the ridge as well and I don't really think I was on it for well over half of the treck up from the valley floor but I met the trail at the top of the ridge. Unfortunately I had to turn around due to weather and wait a day to attempt the traverse.

[Floyd]

i say this from first hand experience - attempting Maroon Peak alone is idiotic. In addition, gaining the ridge before 11:00am is crucial.

Claimbing a 14er standard route alone idiotic??? If you go on a summer weekend, very seldom will you find yourself alone - especially if you are going late enough to gain the ridge around 11:00 am. If Maroon is your 1st mountain, yes, it may be construed as irresponsible, but there are plenty of people with ample experience to handle that mountain alone.

I attempted Maroon "alone" last summer. Found a partner at the base of the slope and a pair at the summit to accompany me on the traverse. Had a great time and met some great people along the way.

[CUaaron25]

Climbing peaks like Maroon or North Maroon isn't idiotic if you're well-prepared and have the right skills. Sure, it would be harder to get help if something happens, but that doesn't make it idiotic. There are several devices that you can carry that will raise your odds of survival if something goes wrong.

My advice for the solo climber: Plan, plan and plan some more. Stick to the plan and know when to turn back. If you're not good at route-finding, bring a partner who is.

+1

[vertical-pimp]

i say this from first hand experience - attempting Maroon Peak alone is idiotic.

thankfully you don't sign the pimp's permission slips to climb

[KeithK]

Climbing peaks like Maroon or North Maroon isn't idiotic if you're well-prepared and have the right skills. Sure, it would be harder to get help if something happens, but that doesn't make it idiotic. There are several devices that you can carry that will raise your odds of survival if something goes wrong.

My advice for the solo climber: Plan, plan and plan some more. Stick to the plan and know when to turn back. If you're not good at route-finding, bring a partner who is.

+1

What would YOU know about doing Maroon solo, Aaron???

[Presto]

Gosh, rastro, I'd have to agree with many of the comments above. I've climbed both Maroon Peak and South Maroon multiple times. For peaks like those (and there's a few 14ers that would qualify), it certainly depends upon the individual's route finding abilities and climbing level abilities when soloing. Obviously, if a person isn't good at finding cairns, noting landmarks and generally not paying attention to the route, climbing alone is a questionable proposition no matter how difficult the peak is to climb.

I must admit I also take some exception to the blanket statement that "if you're not on the ridge by 11:00 a.m." What if the weather is perfect ... do you still have to be on the ridge by 11:00 a.m.? The first time we did that traverse (north to south), we took all day to complete it ... heck, we finished our 14ers quest on that day. There's no way I'm rushing up and across and down just to fit a time table. We had great weather all day. The second time we did the traverse (north to south), we were caught by a freakish hail storm about 100 feet below the summit of South Maroon. We had to wait it out for 4 hours and barely made it down to the trail in time to pull out our headlamps.

When climbing, at least with my experience, you deal with the hand that is dealt to you and do the best you can. We all would prefer "ideal weather conditions, routes that are clearly marked (okay, maybe not always ), and timetables that fit our desires", but alas, such is not the case all the time. And, I'm glad for it ... you learn and grow from experiences like that. This certainly holds true when you start climbing peaks that are less popular than 14ers and for that I am very thankful. Happy trails! :D

[cheeseburglar]

I'm wondering why you call it a summit attempt when you did make the summit?
Doesn't the word attempt imply failure?
Sounds like you had a good time.
My first ascent of S. Maroon was solo. Although there were some other people on the mountain that day. I had Roach's book with me and had no problem finding the route. I'd also donated blood that week so I spent much of the climb feeling kind of dizzy. Good fun.

[CUaaron25]

Climbing peaks like Maroon or North Maroon isn't idiotic if you're well-prepared and have the right skills. Sure, it would be harder to get help if something happens, but that doesn't make it idiotic. There are several devices that you can carry that will raise your odds of survival if something goes wrong.

My advice for the solo climber: Plan, plan and plan some more. Stick to the plan and know when to turn back. If you're not good at route-finding, bring a partner who is.

+1

What would YOU know about doing Maroon solo, Aaron???

Enough to plan it much better next time