Easy Circue of the Towers Recommendations

Hey everyone. Two of my friends and I are planning to hike out to Circue of the Towers late June and 2 of us would like to get out on a easy route one morning. Not looking for anything crazy as our 3rd doesn't climb and will likely just hang at camp while we are out. Neither of us really have alpine experience; however, I have climbed a good bit of multi pitch in the Sandia Mountains. Any recommendations for 3rd, 4th, or easy 5th class routes that have cool exposure, but not particularly dangerous? I've been looking at the "East Ledges" route on Pingora Thanks for any input.

Also, any tips or gear suggestions for backpacking/climbing in the Winds would be awesome.

If you and your friends are solid on 5.6, Wolfs Head is a classic not to be missed. Note though that the entire party needs to be solid - there’s little difference between leading and following since you’re mostly traversing.

If you want easier, why not head over to deep lake instead and do the grassy goat route? 

Hey OP, beware that in late June the winds will likely still have a lot of their snow pack at high elevations. This could make 3rd and 4th class terrain very technical and sketchy in places. It will also make the hike in potentially sketchy depending on how much it snowed this year and how comfortable you are in snowy terrain. There is a gear shop you can call about trail conditions. 

Late June/Early July is also the start of the summer monsoon weather pattern which brings regular afternoon thunderstorms. Whatever route you choose, make sure you have a turnaround time and a bail plan. You DO NOT want to get stuck on the mountain when the storm arrives. Since NM gets the monsoons as well, I will assume you have some familiarity with this. 

As far as routes go, I would explicitly not recommend wolfs head if you do not have much alpine experience. Despite the low grade, it is a long and very committing route and the bail options aren't great, especially if you've never been on the formation before. Also high chance that at least part of the descent will still have snow in late June. The south buttress of pingora is a great short route with a 5.6 variation and a bolted rap. Still a chance that the 3rd/4th class approach is still holding snow.

To be totally honest, backpacking into the cirque in late June should be enough of an adventure and you'll have a better time not humping in climbing gear. It's a beautiful area and the hiking alone is worth it. Go up and over Texas pass into the drainage on the other side. Spectacular. Don't forget the microspikes and the ice axes.

Thank you all for the recommendations! I’d definitely like to go a little more into the summer; however my friend only has this time off. That being said, do you think the Tetons are a better spot to backpack at this time of year? Just wasn’t wanting to mess with permits if we don’t have to! Thanks again

Alexander Ennis wrote:

Thank you all for the recommendations! I’d definitely like to go a little more into the summer; however my friend only has this time off. That being said, do you think the Tetons are a better spot to backpack at this time of year? Just wasn’t wanting to mess with permits if we don’t have to! Thanks again

I was also going to say getting over Jackass Pass is going to be quite the adventure at that time of year.

Since you're open to scrambles, you might like camping at Big Sandy Lake and then doing the 3rd Class route on Warbonnet. From there, you can also traverse/scramble the Warriors. You'll get great views of the entire Cirque and more doing that.

I have writeups on these on another site. PM me if interested. 

Kelsey guidebook will give you some good information. This is a backcountry area. Don't get 'over your head'; it's really not a good place to get hurt. 

From the little information you've provided, I wouldn't recommend soloing East Ledges. And generally from what you said, I would recommend being conservative and sticking to hiking (this can still be hard and include 2nd/3rd class).

Now - this is not a recommendation to stay at home. It is a beautiful area, and I think you'll be blown away by the hiking. I wouldn't worry about missing out on exposure by trying to sneak in a bit of climbing. The place is amazing even if you leave the rope at home.

Oh and do your best to keep it wild. Wag bags, popping, noise, etc.

A loop like below would be awesome if it went for you in June. Getting to Wind River Peak from Sinks is pretty approachable. If the descent from Wind River Peak is do-able then (it is gnarly loose talus and not fun when I hiked it in good conditions in August), you could loop that to the cirque and back in about 50 miles. I have no clue if it will likely be "in" at that time of year though.

But, read trip reports online, think what makes sense for your group, have a backup plan (talk to the helpful people in the shop in town, maybe hike up and down wind river peak, and then access cirque from Big Sandy, etc).

Good luck, stay safe, and enjoy. 

Alexander Ennis wrote:

Thank you all for the recommendations! I’d definitely like to go a little more into the summer; however my friend only has this time off. That being said, do you think the Tetons are a better spot to backpack at this time of year? Just wasn’t wanting to mess with permits if we don’t have to! Thanks again

Depending on the year, June is early season for back packing at elevation anywhere that isn't the south. You can totally do it, you just need to know what you are getting yourself into. Make sure you bring traction devices and know how to self-arrest using an ice axe. Try to get trail conditions reports before your trip and don't get in over your head. If going over a pass feels really fucked up, don't risk your life, just turn around, camp somewhere else, and enjoy being outside.

Having climbed there, I am with Nate. This is alpine trad in the backcountry. Getting over your head would be easy to do, so don't take a soft grade like 5.6 for granted. Every climb there can become an outing that asks something of you that a crag 5.6 may not.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

Wow do I have the perfect route for you...

https://www.mountainproject.com/route/122934507/smegma

How about don't climb anything up there if you don't have experience. Cirque of Towers isn't a place to learn what you are doing. 

grug g wrote:

How about don't climb anything up there if you don't have experience. Cirque of Towers isn't a place to learn what you are doing. 

Thanks for the insight. The whole trip is just to backpack and I was just curious on if there were any easy routes that time of year. Based on all of the other actually useful and informative comments, we will be leaving the rope at home.

FWIW the Cirque is beautiful but the Deep Lake area has better camping and is an easier hike and has a few scrambles that may be what you are looking for.