Route: West Maroon Pass (CB side)
Posted On: 2017-07-03,
By: CUaaron25Info: Hiked Belleview Mtn from crested butte via west maroon pass on Saturday. Schofield pass is still closed about 2.5 miles from the summer trailhead due to avy debris, so it added about 5mi RT for a 16 mile day. The route through the baisn up to west maroon pass is mostly dry except for a few snow fields to cross. The crowds coming up from the aspen side were having a tougher time getting to the top of the pass due to a significant amount of snow still hanging out on that side of the pass. The rest of the route up Belleview is standard elk scrambling with the exception of the last 100 feet. There is lingering snow in the last gully leading up to the summit. I tried a few alternative routes but everything would have gone into the 5.easy grade, which would be fine if the rock seemed reasonable, which it didn't. I used crampons and ice axe for the last snow section and it went quickly. The downclimb back to west maroon pass was interesting, got off route once in the maze of ledges and gullys but eventually found the way down to the pass. Overall a fun day with big views!