RMNP Ice Conditions

Here in the Colorado Mountain School office, we’ve been receiving some updates on Rocky Mountain National Park ice conditions. We thought you all might want to hear what our guides have been seeing.

The North Face of Notchtop is in.

Pipe Organ isn’t in yet.

All mixed up is in pretty well. There are a few thin spots on the lower pitches. A couple of cams, fingers to .75 or so would be useful in addition to a half a dozen medium length screws. Spindrift was present. The guide did not encounter any loaded snow slopes on route or see any evidence of activity. Approach wallowing was minimal. He brought snowshoes but didn't use them.

Jewel Lake ice is barely climbable, but getting there.

Dr. Wazz looked in and there’s probably enough ice below it to provide 2-3 pitches of moderate climbing.

As far as our guide could see, Black Lake slabs looked to have some ice on them as well.

The Northwest Face of Thatchtop is in at about WI3 to WI3+.

Attached are a couple photos from our guides outing on AMU from yesterday.

Here is the 2011 conditions thread.

mountainproject.com/v/the-2…

Thanks!

Awesome. Thanks!

What about any skiing yet? Flattop or Otis .... what about the terrain park? Is Bear Lake frozen yet and is there any x-country skiing?

I live in Nederland and it is still mountain bike weather at 8200ft but Bear Lake area is weird with weather.

There goes the neighborhood.....

Kevin Coopman wrote:What about any skiing yet? Flattop or Otis .... what about the terrain park? Is Bear Lake frozen yet and is there any x-country skiing? I live in Nederland and it is still mountain bike weather at 8200ft but Bear Lake area is weird with weather.

I was up in the park on Sunday (Flattop / Notchtop trail). lots of fresh deep snow - snowshoes and skis were highly desirable. Not much of a base yet but things are great if you stick to the trails. It's full on winter conditions up there now.

Up near black lake on Saturday, impassable due to down timber a mile before the Lake. This puts another hour on to the approach.

Colorado Mountain School wrote:Here in the Colorado Mountain School office, we’ve been receiving some updates on Rocky Mountain National Park ice conditions. We thought you all might want to hear what our guides have been seeing. The North Face of Notchtop is in.

The routes up at Glacier Gorge/Loch Vale are in. Climbed Crystal Meth today. It was beat out on the left side and pretty brittle on the right. Lot's of stuff in that area are in.

Hoag wrote:The routes up at Glacier Gorge/Loch Vale are in. Climbed Crystal Meth today. It was beat out on the left side and pretty brittle on the right. Lot's of stuff in that area are in.

How has the ice in rmnp fared with all this warm weather?

Climbed Martha today. Almost no ice but snow between all the mixed cruxes. Leave the ice screws. Had a great time...