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Peak(s):  Wetterhorn Peak  -  14,021 feet
Date Posted:  04/11/2012
Date Climbed:   04/07/2012
Author:  Nelson
 Wetterhorn, East Face   

Due to the low snow year I had been anticipating an early start to the climbing season. I had been watching the activity on 14ers.com to see what people were climbing and what problems they had been having. I had also been watching the weather and when I saw a window I jumped on the chance. I left my home in Utah early on April 6th and after a 7 hour drive I headed up with a heavy pack (including skis and ski boots) towards the lower Matterhorn trail head. I made camp at about 10,100 where I had a flat spot and plenty of water.

On the 7th, I started moving at 5:30. I was able to put skis and skins on past the stream crossing after the upper Matterhorn Creek Trailhead and worked my way up to the bottom of the East Face where I transitioned to Crampons and ax.
Image
View of East Face
Image
Close up of the East Face
The snow was very hard, especially toward the top and I moved to the rocks to gain the ridge just below the prow.

My great surprise of the day was the paucity of snow on the ramp headed to the summit pitch.
Image
The ramp
I left skis, poles. Ax and crampons at the bottom of the ramp and scrambled up in pretty much summer conditions.
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Summit Pitch
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Summit pitch from above
I was on top admiring the glorious view at 10:30.
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Summit
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Uncompahgre


By the time I got back to the ramp the sun had done its work and the snow was almost perfect corn. The lower I got on my descent the better the skiing got. I seriously considered another lap but then remembered that I had a long way to go to get back to my car.
Image
View looking down toward Matterhorn Creek


The trip down was uneventful but very long. I was back at my car 12 hours after I had started, very tired but very awed by one of the best ski mountaineering days I have ever experienced.



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9


Comments or Questions
Presto
User
Paucity ...
4/12/2012 3:12pm
Love it. Anyone who can make me pull out a dictionary gets a ”well done” in my book. Beautiful shots. Thanks for posting. Happy trails!


Jay521
User
Ditto what Presto wrote...
4/12/2012 5:03pm
Great report!


Nelson
User
Thanks for the comments
4/12/2012 8:34pm
You guys know the area and how beautiful it is. Apart from 5 Big horns I didn't see one other soul the whole day.

Hi Fletch, I do remember that tour de Abyss. I didn't realize you were a Laker Fan. Oh well...


MtnHub
User
Super!
4/12/2012 8:59pm
Yeah, Wetterhorn's one I'd love to repeat someday! Your ”summit pitch” picture looks almost like the one I took. (I remember that rock on the left!!) Great job! Thanks for the post!


foxbox
Nellie Creek Rd
4/17/2012 8:50pm
Hey I'm looking to climb this peak a week from now and was wondering what Nellie Creek Rd is like. Is it drivable with a 4wd vehicle? Thanks.


Nelson
User
Nellie Creek Rd.
4/17/2012 10:15pm
The last report on the Nellie Creek Rd (to Uncompahgre) said it was not drivable and since then they have had 6-12 inches of snow. I left my car there and went toward Matterhorn Creek TH. As it has snowed quite a bit since then I don't know how far you would get in a car.


I Man
User
Great Report!
6/20/2012 1:38pm
Nice job...I love this area. A friend and I did Wetterhorn in January and the solitude, views and overall wilderness feeling was incredible. Way to get in there this early!



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