FAQ and threads for those just starting to hike the Colorado 14ers.
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Mike Shepherd wrote:Just because we're discussing mountain climbing doesn't mean we don't know the meaning of Memorial Day. Since you're going to presume I don't know what it means, I'm going to presume I spent more time in Afghanistan than you did.
Sorry Mike
I didn't presume anything about you or your post.
I thought I could use it as a segue to honor the fallen,
since no other post had been offered today.
And I saw "Hard Freeze" as a metaphor to go there,
as in cold hearts.
For that I apologize.
I guess I'm not as funny or witty as I think.
I honor you and all of those you have followed.
Pat
Been_Jammin wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:47 am
I'll probably regret this... but what does the peanut gallery think about a Holy Cross Couloir climb this weekend based on current forecasts?
there will be a very minor freeze overnight due to radiation and around freezing temps, i would expect mashed potato snow by 8am
if it were me i wouldnt go
Personally, I would probably still go but plan on a very early start. You will have clear skies and wind overnight. According to Caltopo, you’ll have full sun by 6:00 am so I would plan on being off the couloir by 9:00 at the very latest. I did Holy Cross under similar circumstances a number of years ago at the end of June and the snow was great. I also just spent 45 minutes waiting for the snow to soften so I could ski a north facing couloir that got pretty early sun on Sunday. We didn’t drop in until 10:30 am and temps were nowhere near freezing but the snow was still firmer than I would’ve liked.
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” -David McCullough?
At this time of year, with clear skies the overnight temps are likely irrelevant as to a refreeze in the couloir. I recommend clicking on the hourly weather forecast graph and assessing the "sky cover" percentage (graphed in blue). This time of year, anything below 10% is a great number and will give you a good freeze pretty much anywhere above treeline.
Whether you will encounter postholing where there is lingering snow and cover from the night sky below treeline or elsewhere is another matter.
When does the road reopen? At this point, you may as well wait for that to occur.
Thanks for the responses so far. Road opens Saturday.
Lodgling -> thanks for pointing out the sky coverage feature on NWS; very useful.
Wildernessjane -> I agree on the early start; hopefully toiling up to the bowl of tears in the dark doesn't slow me down too much; Also, the sun exposure feature on CalTopo is nice... thanks for sharing that beta.
Cotton -> What do you mean by radiation?
He is also talking about clear skies, which give rise to "radiative cooling." That's what causes the snow to refreeze in the spring/summer without the temperatures dropping below freezing.
Copy... clear skies is a positive for assessing cooly climbing conditions right? I read Cotton's comment about radiation as a reason why he wouldn't go. But the forecast is for clear skies.
The weather this weekend should be good for snow climbing if you start and end early. Overnight temps in the high 30s, completely clear skies and some wind should make a firm, hard snow surface. But the full sun and warm temps will certainly soften the upper layers by 9 or 10 AM. The aspect of the route is important too. Anything east or northeast facing will start cooking at first light, which can be as early as 5 AM this time of year, depending on how low the eastern horizon is. Something that faces west or northwest will be several hours behind in terms of the warming/softening.
I'm planning a 1-day climb of Snowmass and North Snowmass on Sunday. I'm going to start from the trailhead around 11:30 PM, and hopefully be above the waterfall and on the snow by first light. Early starts are critical for these warm temperatures.
Been_Jammin wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:17 pm
Copy... clear skies is a positive for assessing cooly climbing conditions right? I read Cotton's comment about radiation as a reason why he wouldn't go. But the forecast is for clear skies.
even with the radiation effect with a clear night that line gets sun at dawn, plus the stuff below treeline likely wont freeze and that place is a nightmare to navigate for the climb up
