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Cirque of the Towers Conditions

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

Tim, those pics are amazing! Hope we can get out there later this summer.

Bill Lawry · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,812

I'm very grateful for the report, Tim. Thank you for current photos. And thank you equally to Shiho for the rundown on snow around various climb locations.

tooTALLtim · · Vanlife · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 1,786

@ Brandon: Getting to the Cirque of the Towers, you definitely did not need serious footwear. It's quite dry up to Arrowhead Lake, and not much thereafter.

Bits of postholing got me to the base of Pingora, but minimal.

I descended from b/t Wolf's and Overhanging around 4pm, and found soft snow. I had on approach shoes and gaiters, and had an axe. I'm glad the snow was soft, as it's steep (for someone like me). Get after it!

@ fossana and Bill: Thank you!

Brandon Gratias · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 0

Thanks Shiho and Tim. I'm headed in today and will post some condition pics when I get out.

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 436

What were overnight temperatures like?

We're headed to Gannett next week. Hoping that it freezes overnight to keep the snow nice and firm.

tooTALLtim wrote:@ Brandon: Getting to the Cirque of the Towers, you definitely did not need serious footwear. It's quite dry up to Arrowhead Lake, and not much thereafter. Bits of postholing got me to the base of Pingora, but minimal. I descended from b/t Wolf's and Overhanging around 4pm, and found soft snow. I had on approach shoes and gaiters, and had an axe. I'm glad the snow was soft, as it's steep (for someone like me). Get after it! @ fossana and Bill: Thank you!
Cameron Sumpter · · Lander, WY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 65

FYI the grassy goat on Haystack is totally melted out as well. Was on Minor Dihedral this weekend.

Cameron Sumpter · · Lander, WY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 65

@ Kai - Overnight temps were good (probably 40's) this past weekend. It has been rather warm up here, wouldnt be surprised if its slightly above freezing up on the Dinwoody glacier

Charlie S · · NV · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 2,391

Any new updates? Will be headed in next week.

seth0687 · · Fort Collins · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 375

Any updates? I'm heading up to Clear Lake/Haystack area on the 25th.

Thanks,

Seth

Bill Lawry · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,812

Just left Cirque of the Towers. No snow gear needed for normal descent from E Ridge, Wolf's Head.

Cara Dakini · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

Bill- I'm heading to the cirque on saturday. How were the mosquitoes?

Charlie S · · NV · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 2,391

Last week they were alive and kicking! Bring a head mask. Once you got on the rock it was ok. Also, they were less lively early in the morning.

Bill Lawry · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,812

I agree with Charlie: once on the rock, the mosquitoes were no problem. Also, I usually wore a head net in camp as well as belay gloves to protect the hands. Other than that, I never put on any DEET.

That said, others who stayed around camp during the day reported that the mosquitoes were pretty busy between noon and five more or less.

The wind helps!

Rick McL · · Arvada CO · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 50

Just got back from a week in the Cirque.
Some Mosquitos but I never wore a net.
Snow not an issue.
Plenty of climbers, but we found an excellent camp site above the waterfall.
Met 12 people on the summit of Pingora. Kinda crazy.
-Rick

Creed Archibald · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,016

Wanted to revive this thread for 2015!

I'll be there around July 1. Hoping to climb on Warbonnet and Pingora, with a possible side trip to Haystack. I will report back. If anyone has been recently, post up! Snow and mosquitoes... how bad is it?

Thanks,
C.

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

Thanks in advance, C!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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