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Routes in Mt. Superior / Monte Cristo
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Cottonwood Traverse, The T Easy 5th 1+ 3 I 5 M 1c |
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North Ridge of Monte Cristo T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R |
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South Ridge T Easy 5th 1+ 3 I 5 M 1c |
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| Type: | Trad, Alpine |
| FA: | unknown |
| Page Views: | 46,453 total · 218/month |
| Shared By: | BCramer on Jun 27, 2007 · Updates |
| Admins: | Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane |
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Description
This classic alpine route follows a long, airy quartzite and tillite ridge with a couple of knife edge sections and towers. In warmer weather this is an easy scramble/rockclimb, but with snow and ice it becomes a more challenging alpine climb. Start early as the route gets a lot of sun. Trend right after the largest tower (above Suicide Couloir) to avoid some loose slabs out left. A good view of the route can be seen from the Alta parking lot.
Location
The route is obvious from the Snowbird and Alta ski areas. Park in the small lot just beyond the race shack at Snowbird, walk north across the road and head up a broad slope (several options) to gain the thinner ridge above. The route is obvious from here and ends at the summit of Mt. Superior. It is just a few minutes to get to the higher Monte Cristo summit to the west. Descend the east ridge down to Cardiff Pass and then down the obvious trails to Alta. Hike down the road back to the car.
Protection
Depends on conditions and experience. For a mild season ascent skip the tight climbing shoes as approach shoes should be all one needs, however check conditions to see how much snow might be up there and if more gear might be needed (ice axe, crampons). If needed, slings, a light rack and rope should suffice to get one over the few 5th class sections. Gear for a winter ascent would obvioulsy depend on conditions at the time.
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