Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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CoHi591
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Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by CoHi591 »

Hey everyone, was thinking about a backpacking trip Tuesday night into Wednesday to Rito Alto Lake from the west side, and then doing a little hike up to hermit pass & the surrounding peaks. Anyone have any recent intel on that area? I'm hoping for a mostly dry trail and definitely dry places around the lake to camp, not hauling snowshoes.

And if this area is still too snowy for an enjoyable summer style hike, anyone have any suggestions for a relatively dry backpacking trip involving a lake and some 13ers? I'll be in the Fairplay area Monday so don't really want to do a crazy amount of driving from there, but, whatever. Thanks!
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by thebeave7 »

A friend skied electric last weekend if that's gives you any sense of snow (def not clear yet), though a lot of melt has happened since.

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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by ProtonWitch »

Hiked Cottonwood Creek to Cottonwood Lake last weekend (5/29-30) which is near by ish? The trail was dry until around 5 miles in, then there were patches of snow which we were able to manage without snowshoes. Looked like we could have continued on to the nearby peaks w/o snowshoes as well, probably just micospikes. Pic of area beneath Crestone Needle and at lake (with Broken Hand in background) showing conditions.

https://14ers.com/forum/download/file.p ... w&id=33747

https://14ers.com/forum/download/file.p ... d682593e11
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by SionaRW35 »

I climbed Hermit, Rito Alto, and Peak of the Clouds on 5/29. There was plenty of snow around that area. We carried snowshoes up Hermit Pass and to all three summits. We did however use them on our descent of the basin south of Spread Eagle Peak.
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by CoHi591 »

Thanks so much for the pictures and info everyone I really appreciate it! Wild how much snow there still is down there. I'll hold off a few weeks.
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by herdbull »

I live in Westcliffe and I'm up in the mtns somewhere everyday. I took these on my recent trail run to Megan Lake 2 days ago. Permanent snowpack (3-5ft deep) level is around 11,000' but changing almost daily. It's not a lot of fun to travel through it yet.

With these warm temps I think within 7-10 days the Alpine lakes will be accessible with very snow travel required. There will be snow in spots above timberline for a few weeks yet though. Compared to last year we're about 3 maybe 4 weeks behind. Which is good though, we'll take the moisture.
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by herdbull »

A few more. Rito is in the background of most of these.
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Re: Rito Alto Lake area conditions?

Post by CoHi591 »

Ah okay, thanks those pictures are really helpful. I'll revisit this plan next week or the week after.
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