u/Glass-Ad-3196

8.6 miles rt, 4400 ft of gain
9 hrs rt, 3 hrs from saddle-summit and back

This is the view after coming up the Avenue on Kit Carson. Route up Challenger and KC in good shape. Tough day to snag em both from the TH.

Had to re-post because I spazzed on the date.
AQ is great in RMNP right now. First time attempting this route and the solitude was much appreciated. The scrambling at the top half of the Loft couloir was really fun. Both routes are in Summer condition. Short, 30 foot section of ice/snow in the Trough. It can be avoided, but is easy to boot through carefully. No traction used, but some might like it for that spot. I made my day a little harder by downclimbing too far into Keplingers. For Clark’s arrow, Stay high and tight to the Palisades until you climb through the notch that leads to the Homestretch. I’m definitely doing this route again, but returning the same way.
Beautiful am, no wind, no smoke. Started at about 215, summited in 6 hrs.

13.6 miles for the loop, 5300ft gain, 9 hrs total

AQ looked clear in RMNP so that’s where I went!
First time doing this route and the isolation was much appreciated. I downclimbed too far before climbing the final notch leading to the Homestretch. After the initial downclimb from the Loft, you stay pretty tight to the Palisades as you traverse. Don’t downclimb any further! Wasn’t sketchy just added an extra 300 feet of re-climbing. Slabby section underneath the Homestretch had some ice/water that made some moves interesting. 😅 Only about 30 feet of snow/ice left in the Trough, other than that Keyhole route is Summer conditions.
Started at 230, lot was pretty rowdy already. Summited at 815

13.7 miles rt for the loop, 5300ft gain. 9 hrs.

Squint and you can see someone near the top of Mt. Lindsey.

I started a couple miles below Lily Lake TH at 445. Camped at a pull-off the night before.
Amazing views right off the bat with this one. Whole route is bone dry. Flowers are popping near the water. Pretty busy morning on the mountain. Once I gained the saddle. There were 3-4 groups in front of me up on the ridge heading towards the crux wall. I completed this route last year, and everything seemed to go much smoother this trip. I took a better (lower) line over towards the base of the wall. From there, I did an angled traverse right and gained the ridge for an airy class 4 climb. After more class 2-3 scrambling on the ridge, and the false summit, I topped out after about 4 hours. Tagged on the Iron Nipple before heading back down from the saddle. It was a fun side-adventure and a quick, entertaining scramble to the top. Mostly class 2+.
Unexpected mini knife-edge up near the summit.

I heard what seemed to be a pretty large rockfall over towards Lindsey while I was up on the Nip. Hope everybody was ok.

13 miles RT, 4600ft of gain, 7.5 hours

I started a couple miles below Lily Lake TH at 445. Camped at a pull-off the night before.
Amazing views right off the bat with this one. Whole route is bone dry. Flowers are popping near the water. Pretty busy morning on the mountain. Once I gained the saddle, there were 3-4 groups in front of me on the ridge heading towards the crux wall. I completed this route last year, and everything seemed to go much smoother this trip. I took a better (lower) line over towards the base of the wall. From there, I did an angled traverse right and gained the ridge for an airy class 4 climb. After more class 2-3 scrambling on the ridge, and the false summit, I topped out after about 4 hours. Tagged on the Iron Nipple before heading back down from the saddle. It was a fun side-adventure and a quick, entertaining scramble to the top. Mostly class 2+.
Unexpected mini knife-edge up near the summit.

I heard what seemed to be a pretty large rockfall over towards Lindsey while I was up on the Nip. Hope everybody was ok.

13 miles RT, 4600ft of gain, 7.5 hours

Did the loop. Minimal snow, most will be fine without traction. Beautiful up there right now.

Road isn’t bad, just bumpy in spots. I don’t think I’d take a 2WD sedan type vehicle up it though. Started up Fall Creek trail just after 5a. Some significant tree fall in the first half-mile or so. One spot in particular looks like a twister ripped through! There’s a social trail forming off to the left to get around. I took Halo ridge up. This way was totally dry except for one firm snowfield in between the summit of Halo and the final push up HC. I was surprised how nice the scrambling was, most of the bigger boulders stayed put. It’s a long way to boulder hop though, took me almost 6 hours to summit from the car. I had my fill and decided to take the standard route down. This way had more snow, but no need for traction. The ridgeline approach was snowy, but you could stay off to the side of it most of the time. Some small mounds to deal with right near treeline. I was fine in trail runners.

Vail is looking lush right now, get over there if you need some green in your life. My 100th summit today! 🎉 Can’t wait for the next 100.

Camped up the road from Stewart creek TH. Not much parking at the TH, but a bunch nearby. Started around 7. Trail begins meandering next to beaver ponds and thick willow marsh. We were surprised we didn’t see moose. A ton of beetle kill gave the forest a different feel. Some trivial deadfall on the trail. Only a couple very short snow crossings above treeline. Summited in 4 hours. Trail runners are fine. Summer conditions.

13.8 miles rt, 3600ft gain

Nice class 2 thirteener in the La Plata’s. Some snow below 12k. Saddle area was dry and ridge to the summit had some avoidable snow.

Still a lot of snow to overcome to get up to the West ridge of Hesperus. So, so loose! Tough ascent.
My first time in the La Platas and they’re just gorgeous.

Always a beautiful morning vista from Bierstadt.
Trail is in great shape. Brought spikes but left them in my bag. Some risky snow/ice up near the summit but easy to bypass on climbers left. Started just after 3, summited a few mins before 5.

Catch the snow before it’s gone! Beautiful am for peak bagging. Microspikes are helpful, gaiters too if you’re out later. Snow softening up really quickly in the sun.

Cool spot to view Longs. Wind was really whipping or I would’ve stayed much longer.