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ozarkclimber
Dec 13, 2004, 8:12 PM
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Registered: May 3, 2003
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headed to colorado for a little vacation, and thought i'd poll some people on their favorite december climbs in colorado. i'm headed to the san juans... would love some alpine to complement the ouray gorge climbing. thanks
ozarkclimber
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crzdriver
Dec 14, 2004, 6:46 PM
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Humboldt (sp?), just across from the Crestone Needle and peak should be pretty awesome. Haven't done it in winter, but it has an incredible view of two other 14's and is easy to get up.
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vashie
Dec 14, 2004, 7:42 PM
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Registered: May 11, 2004
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Mount Sneffels, good late winter climb, with better snow it would be epic :righton: (its also close to Ouray if that’s where your headed)
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atg200
Dec 15, 2004, 8:18 AM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2001
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have your avy skills really dialed in for the san juans. this has been a pretty eventful season for the snowpack, and its in tough shape. check out the colorado avalanche info center before you go.
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rocknut1
Dec 15, 2004, 8:44 AM
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Registered: Feb 17, 2003
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If you have experience in the San Juans or Colorado in varied winter conditions you can climb almost anything. Lots of 14ers in the Sans.
An easy climb(short approach from coal pass) is Engineer 13000', it has a nice exposed ridge to climb up.
I am from Wisc. and have hired a guide each time I have climbed out there.
The local knowledge and avalanche info/skills is something you cannot learn on a few vacations.
Try Southwest Adventures right in Durango.
I have been on four trips with them.
Reasonable and they have great guides.
Going to Ecuador in 34 days with them, yes I am counting down.
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midwestishell
Dec 15, 2004, 11:28 AM
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Registered: Nov 10, 2004
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Well ozarkclimber,
If you are really over in Missouri you should just be careful of the big Colorado mountains. The might be more than you can handle with avalanches and severe weather. Why don't you atleast call ahead to check conditions or get a guide?
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iceisnice
Dec 15, 2004, 12:31 PM
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Registered: Jun 2, 2004
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hey, i live in durango and do a lot of climbing in the san juans. i've been lookin for someone interested in a winter ascent of some of the peaks in the grenadiers. wham ridge on vestal peak would be interesting. not too bad of access if you don't mind a long slog. anyway, if you need any partners for some ice climbing, let me know. have you ever climbed outside of the park in ouray? there is a lot of climbing there, but its not that great. its mostly chopped up and cauliflowered ice. not natural at all. there are much better climbs in eureka and up by campbird mine.
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ozarkclimber
Dec 15, 2004, 4:46 PM
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Registered: May 3, 2003
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we were thinking about hitting some routes up by eureka... any suggestions on classics? long routes would definitely be a plus, but i won't be condition to lead 5's for sure. i'll definitely check out the climbs listed here. any others i should head up? i'll definitely be watching the conditions over the next couple weeks.
thanks for the vote of confidence skibabeage. i'm not sure where that comment above came from. unfortunately i've been blessed with living in st. louis where the only ice we see is chunks making their way down the good ole mississippi river. all my climbing relies on trips, a bad way to live currently, but that's all soon to change... ... ...
Thanks
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chossdog
Dec 15, 2004, 5:08 PM
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Registered: Oct 26, 2004
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If you can get your hands on it - Colorado Ice Climber's Guide by Cameron Burns. A very good guide to the Eureka (NE Silverton) area starts on page 195-201. Great climbs - but the avy activity has been a little sketch of late. Have a ball but keep an eye on the conditions. Also check out:
http://www.skywardmountaineering.com/current.html
For current route conditions.
Climb on dude!
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iceisnice
Dec 15, 2004, 5:49 PM
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Registered: Jun 2, 2004
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stairway to heaven is the mega classic in eureka. around 1,000 ft at WI4. Goldrush is looking pretty sweet too, around 400-500 ft at WI4. whore house hoses looks amazing too. its a hard 4 from what i've heard, but havent' done it yet. if you are interested that is one i am dying to lead. the avy danger has been pretty low the last few days, of course that can change. when are you coming out?
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