Peak Condition Update | Grizzly Peak

Peak:	Grizzly Peak
Route:	Grizzly Couloir
Range:	Sawatch
Posted By:	CheapCigarMan
Date of Info:	7/20/2019
Date Posted:	7/21/2019

Details
The couloir is in perfect snow condition. Several snow fields to cross on the approach. All were solid when I crossed them. I left the TH at 5am. There's a place on the approach where the creek has pretty much washed out the trail. After dropping down the partly washed out embankment stay to the left to remain on the trail. I lost the trail for a bit in that area. Once at the lake it looks like you could gain the ridge from a snow section on the far left (east). I chose to stick with the one on the far right (west) as Roach described. It is hard to see the entire route of the Couloir at the southern end of Grizzly Lake. To see the full route of the couloir you need to walk around to the western part of the lake. The lake was so full I stayed high as I walked around the lake. There were several snow fields to traverse as I gained the entrance to the couloir. I descended via the West Slopes. It was pleasant scree (if there is such a thing) as I rock surfed down the first section off the saddle. Then as it got steeper I stayed with the creek. Sections of it reminded me of Snowmass in the area where you navigated the wet rock cliff. As I got to the woods I lost the trail and just bushwhacked it to the 4WD road. From Roach's description it looks like I should have stayed just a hair further right (north) of the creek when following the creek. *Note: Be mindful descending off the saddle. I seen the trails below (perhaps the East Ridge route to McNasser Gulch) and began to plot my course to glissade down off that side of the slope. Thankfully I double checked my GPS and realized that I was about to descend off the East side of the saddle, and not the West.

Details

The couloir is in perfect snow condition. Several snow fields to cross on the approach. All were solid when I crossed them. I left the TH at 5am. There's a place on the approach where the creek has pretty much washed out the trail. After dropping down the partly washed out embankment stay to the left to remain on the trail. I lost the trail for a bit in that area.

Once at the lake it looks like you could gain the ridge from a snow section on the far left (east). I chose to stick with the one on the far right (west) as Roach described.
It is hard to see the entire route of the Couloir at the southern end of Grizzly Lake. To see the full route of the couloir you need to walk around to the western part of the lake. The lake was so full I stayed high as I walked around the lake. There were several snow fields to traverse as I gained the entrance to the couloir.

I descended via the West Slopes. It was pleasant scree (if there is such a thing) as I rock surfed down the first section off the saddle. Then as it got steeper I stayed with the creek. Sections of it reminded me of Snowmass in the area where you navigated the wet rock cliff. As I got to the woods I lost the trail and just bushwhacked it to the 4WD road. From Roach's description it looks like I should have stayed just a hair further right (north) of the creek when following the creek.

*Note: Be mindful descending off the saddle. I seen the trails below (perhaps the East Ridge route to McNasser Gulch) and began to plot my course to glissade down off that side of the slope. Thankfully I double checked my GPS and realized that I was about to descend off the East side of the saddle, and not the West.

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