14ers.com • Peak Condition Update

Peak:	Pearl Mountain (13er)
Route:	From \"Oyster Peak\", Northeast Ridge/Slopes Descent
Range:	Elk
Posted By:	supranihilest
Date of Info:	05/17/2020
Date Posted:	05/18/2020

Details
The ridge from "Oyster" is largely snow covered but in good shape. There's one short section of Class 2+/Class 3 down climbing on typical loose Elk rock along the ridge to the saddle but everything else is Class 2. The remaining ridge up Pearl has some narrow, exposed snow but nothing too terrible; an axe would be prudent, and maybe microspikes depending on comfort. The upper ridge is dry rock. From the summit we descended northeast down the ridge a bit then cut northwest down mixed rock/snow slopes and finally into the open northeast slopes. Nothing of real concern there. The remaining flats back to Greg Mace Peak (which we attempted; still enough soft snow to prevent an ascent) were snowy and soft. Lots of postholing. Descending the road was a nightmare.

Details

The ridge from "Oyster" is largely snow covered but in good shape. There's one short section of Class 2+/Class 3 down climbing on typical loose Elk rock along the ridge to the saddle but everything else is Class 2. The remaining ridge up Pearl has some narrow, exposed snow but nothing too terrible; an axe would be prudent, and maybe microspikes depending on comfort. The upper ridge is dry rock. From the summit we descended northeast down the ridge a bit then cut northwest down mixed rock/snow slopes and finally into the open northeast slopes. Nothing of real concern there. The remaining flats back to Greg Mace Peak (which we attempted; still enough soft snow to prevent an ascent) were snowy and soft. Lots of postholing. Descending the road was a nightmare.

Comments or Questions

CaptainSuburbia	Looks nice! 05/20/2020 09:07 Think I might try this loop over summer.
supranihilest	Summer 05/24/2020 17:45 Judd, this is definitely a good loop. The ridge between Pearl and "Oyster" was actually pretty fun! Greg Mace Peak is a vision of horror if you try it, FYI, but it goes with enough gumption to get over the whack rock.