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RMNP alpine conditions

Original Post
Bogdan Petre · · West Lebanon, NH · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 1,098

Im looking at notch couloir on longs for this weekend and wondering if anybody's been up that way lately and has beta either on the route itself (corniced?) or other climbing in the area. I'm from the Midwest and it's hard to get a sense of conditions remotely. Just talked with a guy from the colorado mountain school and it doesn't seem like they've had anybody up that way lately but he was saying most of the ice in RMNP is out and the alpine may just be coming in on the south facing aspects. Didn't sound to promising.

Eric Klammer · · Eagle, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 2,070

Don't know how the Notch is doing but some of the South Facing stuff seems to be pretty good if you can catch it on a colder day or before it gets too much sun. Martha has good snow and some ice a week and half ago, and the Dog House has good snow and some actual sweet ice on one of the pitches. That's all I've got first hand knowledge of but I hope it helps!

Mydans · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 70

I skied a couple couloirs in the park last weekend and the south facing stuff is in prime spring condition but north facing snow is still pretty wintery. The notch couloir doesn't get much sun except in the am and since its really high up my guess is that the snow in the couloir hasn't really transitioned to spring yet. This time of year broadway also is likely to have a lot of snow so the traverse across broadway could be kinda exciting. My general sense is that its a bit early to do the notch right now but it has been warm so its kinda hard to say. Normally the ntch is in prime condition in may into early june. hope that helps

Eric Coomer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 5

The notch is gonna be some wallowing. Lamb's slide was hip deep heading up to Alexander's on 4/6 - broadway has quite a bit of snow.

Eric Klammer · · Eagle, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 2,070

It might help to correct the title of this thread as well to prevent confusion and get more responses.

Tim N · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 71

Eric Coomer...how was the snow stability on lambs? The n facing couloirs I've been on the past couple weekends have been sufficiently stable - anything different in the chasm lake cirque?

Also, how is coverage on the trail up to chasm lake? If one were to bring skis, how much could you skin/ski vs hiking?

Thanks!

Bogdan Petre · · West Lebanon, NH · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 1,098

Thanks Eric, titles fixed.

And thank you everyone else too. For my part I've decided to go rock climbing in the desert instead. Maybe try again for alpine stuff in a few weeks. Looks like I'm not alone wondering about these conditions though so maybe this thread can help others in the meantime.

Eric Coomer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 5
Nobleman wrote:Eric Coomer...how was the snow stability on lambs? The n facing couloirs I've been on the past couple weekends have been sufficiently stable - anything different in the chasm lake cirque? Also, how is coverage on the trail up to chasm lake? If one were to bring skis, how much could you skin/ski vs hiking? Thanks!
Way faster to hike- not worth bringing skis- it's almost all covered- but hard-packed for sure. Stability on lamb's slide seemed okay, but I wouldn't want to be up there later once the sun start to hit the slope... We were off by noon just as the sun was starting to hit the upper reaches.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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