Peak Condition Update | Hesperus Mountain

Peak:	Hesperus Mountain
Route:	Standard Route from Sharkstooth TH
Range:	San Juan
Posted By:	bdloftin77
Date of Info:	7/14/2019
Date Posted:	7/18/2019

Details
Above treeline: Intermittent large snow patches on north face, mainly vertical. Varied between fairly slushy and more firm. Most can be avoided via the route I took going up (approximate route in yellow). Snow crossings are circled in red. The first snow crossing can be avoided by going further up and to the left beforehand. The second two were only ~20 ft patches, but relatively sleep. I had microspikes (not extremely helpful) and an ice axe (very helpful). The second two snow crossings could be done without an ice axe but with much caution and likely short falls to the bottom of the snow crossing. Summer conditions following the ridge to the top. Coming down (approximated by blue line) I glissaded for much of the downhill slope (~1100 ft, ~0.5 mi) til the forest. The snow was much more firm where I glissaded, so this could be a possible uphill snow route with proper snow travel gear, though it might be more slushy as time progresses. The first section though was ~40? degrees though. A bit steep, and glissaded more via a controlled self-arrest position while looking downward. The second, longer section was a lot less steep and easier to glissade in a normal position while controlling speed. (this was my first glissade in the mountains). West Mancos Trail through the forest: Great conditions from TH to stream crossing. A little ways after the stream crossing, the trail is lost in a confusion of snow drifts and avalanche debris. At this point, I headed up the snow toward broken trees, but went further right (west) because of smaller, more annoying trees (willows?). Lots of downfall, avalanche debris, and intermittent snow. Snow was a little slushy, but I didn't posthole much. Let me know if you have any questions and I can further detail the conditions.

Details

Above treeline: Intermittent large snow patches on north face, mainly vertical. Varied between fairly slushy and more firm. Most can be avoided via the route I took going up (approximate route in yellow). Snow crossings are circled in red. The first snow crossing can be avoided by going further up and to the left beforehand. The second two were only ~20 ft patches, but relatively sleep. I had microspikes (not extremely helpful) and an ice axe (very helpful). The second two snow crossings could be done without an ice axe but with much caution and likely short falls to the bottom of the snow crossing.

Summer conditions following the ridge to the top.

Coming down (approximated by blue line) I glissaded for much of the downhill slope (~1100 ft, ~0.5 mi) til the forest. The snow was much more firm where I glissaded, so this could be a possible uphill snow route with proper snow travel gear, though it might be more slushy as time progresses. The first section though was ~40? degrees though. A bit steep, and glissaded more via a controlled self-arrest position while looking downward. The second, longer section was a lot less steep and easier to glissade in a normal position while controlling speed. (this was my first glissade in the mountains).

West Mancos Trail through the forest: Great conditions from TH to stream crossing. A little ways after the stream crossing, the trail is lost in a confusion of snow drifts and avalanche debris. At this point, I headed up the snow toward broken trees, but went further right (west) because of smaller, more annoying trees (willows?). Lots of downfall, avalanche debris, and intermittent snow. Snow was a little slushy, but I didn't posthole much.

Let me know if you have any questions and I can further detail the conditions.

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