Dragon's Tail

Anyone have info on Dragon's Tail? I'm looking at climbing it soon and am thinking about this Sunday. Any idea if the recent snowfall will be consolidated enough to make climbing fun?

Thanks!

Close to two feet of new snow and blasting wind up there yesterday. Probably best to wait till we get a few sunny and warm days in a row. It's filled in super well though, definitely all snow the whole way.

Jon,

No way! Go check out CAIC. Make sure you follow the weather before you go. April still has significant AVY danger. It's not going away anytime soon.

Had a couple friends ski it last weekend and it sounded like it was really good but a lot of new snow fell in the zone the last few days.

Here is his trip report: jonjay.org/2011/04/14/slayi…

Thanks, guys. I'll wait a couple weeks.

I climbed it mid April last year but the new snow and more coming will push it off a bit longer for fun climbing this year. Sure looked pretty on Wed though from across the gorge!

JonW,

Watch winds, that aspect is very subject to wind loading. I'm not sure how you could accurately test snow pack stability for that precise aspect this time of year. If you dig a pit down low, this time of year it won't tell you anything about the snow higher up or the wind loading. If you dig a pit where it matters you may be placing yourself in the danger zone. Make sure you reach out to some folks who frequent the area before you go.

Thanks, Rick. I'll be sure to check for beta before heading out. Thanks for the info.

Whatever you do, just don't tickle the dragon's tail.

If I remember correctly this is the col with the nasty cornice at the top that breaks off in the spring, and pinballs down. Watch out.

The cornice on the right exit actually looked not as big as last year though I didn't see it from up close.

Anyone been up there in the last few days? I'm thinking about heading up there tomorrow but any first hand insight would be much appreciated.

Was just climbing on SE face of Flattop today. It was dumping, but not super windy (yet). Probably 8-10" new up there in the last 24, but minimal signs of instability. If it gets warm up there though.......watch out. Lots of new snow to come down. DT would be good skiin, but wet/loose could definitely be an issue.

will,

i would wait a bit... that is just my thought...

i know some people who skied it not long ago, but since then there has been a fair amount of snow, and mike saw 8-10 today! it will most likely flush the new out. also on 4/18 colorado avy info ctr reported rain up to 10,500ft.

but like i said, this is my opinion. be safe! my friends told me it was looking nice and wide this year. there is lots of snow in that cirque, so it shouldn't be melted out that soon.

cor

On the 10th friends and I climbed up to the left branch and got to about 400 ft. from the top in full on conditions, the snow was just recent powder sticking on a somewhat melty base from the warm day before. As it continued to snow and blow we deemed the top unsafe from the wind loading coming over the top. With the weekends winds and new snow today, I would say no until a good few days of spring weather...

It did rain on Sunday as I was leaving the TH. It didn't look like it had cleaned itself out either, so I imagine its ready to slide with the new load, if it hasn't already. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to check it out yourself...its not far from the parking lot so getting turned around isn't a big deal.

Will Butler wrote:Anyone been up there in the last few days? I'm thinking about heading up there tomorrow but any first hand insight would be much appreciated.

CAIC had a not so encouraging avy report as of yesterday. they will update their forecast tomorrow (friday 5/6).

Didn't end up doing it. Drove up to Estes that morning but it was windy and snowing so just turned back. I saw that Eli Helmuth posted some pictures up on fb of the couloir. There was a big fractured cornice on top but my guess is that it's broke by now. Eli did say though that DT is in the fattest condition he has seen. facebook.com/profile.php?id…

I recall standing on the top of the big snow slope at the base of the gully with a buddy when the entire slope sort of slumped inwards and shifted a few inches downslope. We bailed then and there. It was weather not unlike this week.

Did it a previous time in -28 temperature and nearly got blown off the top on the descent.

For a moderate line, I've managed to get sketched on it both times.

Tom Hanson wrote:I recall standing on the top of the big snow slope at the base of the gully with a buddy when the entire slope sort of slumped inwards and shifted a few inches downslope.