Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
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- Robbie Crouse
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Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
Has anyone here done Democrat's west face from Fremont Pass, either as a snow climb / ski descent or dry? I'd be interested in any info -- not necessarily current conditions but just general route info, mostly steepness and if the rock is solid. Thanks!
- bergsteigen
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Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
It’s been done..... once a decade or so. Don’t expect it to fill in on a crappy snow year!
Here, let me google that for ya: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=15975
Here, let me google that for ya: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=15975
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Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
Yes, I did that route. I would expect that the lower and middle sections fill in pretty well on a regular basis, but connecting it to the summit either takes some creativity or a big year following some good spring storms. It has been awhile, but I recall that the lower section was pretty cool, comparable to the chutes on Elbert (but not requiring an early start due to aspect), narrow but wide enough to link turns. I suspect that it is not a good route when dry.
- HikerGuy
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Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
Here is a shot of the west face from Arkansas on 4/7/2019, two years ago.
Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
I've climbed up it and skied it. Wouldn't really recommend it though, the north face is way better for skiing.
https://www.powderproject.com/trail/700 ... -west-face
https://www.powderproject.com/trail/700 ... -west-face
- Robbie Crouse
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Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
Out of curiosity, why would it not be a good route without snow? A screefest? It looks like it would be too steep to hold much scree.
Re: Democrat West Face from Fremont Pass
I would expect to find mostly large loose rocks in a steep shooting galley, much like the gully up from lavender col on Sneffels (which I also think is a bad route without snow).
Edit: I just pulled out Dawson's guide and he says, "[d]ue to rockfall, this route is not safe without snow."
Edit: I just pulled out Dawson's guide and he says, "[d]ue to rockfall, this route is not safe without snow."