Route Climbed: Cumberland Basin to West Ridge Date Climbed: Sept. 2005
Wow! the climb up was awesom with lots of good, fun, class 3 exposed climbing. we ended up descending some gnarly, snow filled couloir and hiking up pearl pass, back to cum. basin. a Very long day; 14hrs. hiking/climbing and a 1.5 hour hitch hike. ps. Lots of scary, loose rock!! bring a helmet
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 30, 2004
Very entertaining climb! Some intellegent college kids (yeah, they were my age) decided to find their way down the mountain by sliding down on trash bags. Horrible idea. One broke his femur and he had to be taken to the hospital by helicopter. Moral of the story: find a better way off the mountain :)
Route Climbed: standard/SE ridge Date Climbed: July 17, 2004
Fun snow climb and glissade when I did it-- unbelievable views of the Elks' fourteeners-- fun road if your vehicle can take two or three pretty nasty spots (if it can, you start at 12,800')
Route Climbed: Up N.E. Ridge, Down S.E. Ridge Date Climbed: 19 August 2005
Biked from the Castle Creek road up to the highest trees in Montezuma basin. Fun hike and lots of glissading. The bike ride was gruelling, but a real blast coming down through the spectacular forest.
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
Snow in August!? Oh wait, it's Colorado's mountains, I guess it's no surprise. (I'm talking about snow falling from the sky, not already on the ground...there were both). I loved that ridge though - a little similar to the routes on the Bells with the rock type and the ledges, though obviously easier. What a view from the top! #45!
Route Climbed: traverse from Conundrum Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
Great trip. My friends Matt, Luke and Lady accompanied me. Matt and I blazed an unnamed route up the class 3 gully to the climbers right of the Conundrum couloir, eventually topping out right next to the summit log. We then made the traverse to Castle in about 45 minutes, signed the log and ran as sideways snow began to pelt us. A couple hours later and back to camp enjoying a cold one. Cheers!
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
WAHOOOO baby!!! Third time is a charm!!! Finally, I conquered this "dumb" mountain that has "gotten the best of me" twice due to ICY, SNOWY conditions and weather! We saw the forecast for rain and decided that we were GONNA conquer it, so we started at 4:15am. After Castle Peak, we hopped over and bagged the "unofficial" Conundrum, then glissaded down. Once we hit the jeep, the downpours began.... we timed it just right!:-) P.S. If you start early (which you should considering this seems to be monsoon season), take crampons and an ice axe to climb up the snow- it made life a lot easier!
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 21, 2005
not a fan of the road but this was a decent hike. the ridge had nice views and there was some short fun stuff on the summit block. the snowfields made getting back to the road the best part of the day.
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Route (snow) Date Climbed: June 25, 2005
Beautiful day out! Got a little bit of everything in on this one...some nice hiking, snow climbing, ridge walking, a wee bit of scrambling, and a LONG glissade down the North Face Couloir! The snow started to get a bit slurpee-ish while descending, making the speed on the glissade manageable. Awesome day with two of my favorite climbing partners!
Route Climbed: North Face Couloir Date Climbed: June 19, 2005
I stopped where the road crosses the creek about 1-2 miles from the highway by Pearl Pass. The climb took just under 6 hours, with great snow conditions. It was my first 14er in the Elk Mountains, and my first solo trip on a 14er. Probably my favorite climb yet!
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 4, 20054
This retarded mountain got me again... I've only failed 2 14ers before, and this is now the 2nd time the great walls of Castle's mighty fortress have gotten me- ARgH! With only a 1/2 mile visibility the whole time and having snowed on us since our campsite just below the 1st creek crossing, mother nature was against us AGAIN. Even with snowshoes/ice axe/etc, we were doomed. I will WAIT now until the mass of snow is GONE on this darned mountain and WILL succeed- 3rd times a charm, right?!
Route Climbed: NE Ridge, with North Face Couloir Descent Date Climbed: June 9, 2005
Carried snowshoes the whole way but did not need them. Crampons and ice ax a must. Some recent minor slide activity, but snow was solid today. Fun glissades on the way out, including down the North Face Couloir.
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005
A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4.5 hours after coming over from Conundrum. Back to the car in 2.5. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
Route Climbed: NW Ridge Date Climbed: September 4, 2004
:-( Had to turn around 365 feet from the top.... the rocks were too icy and weather was blowing in (though it was only 11AM). It was worth it though- amazing scenery! I will bag this one!!!!
Brian Kalet - Apr 7, 2005 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2005
Climbed 4x
April 7, 2005: East Face, Skied from the summit!
October 14, 2006: Northeast Ridge, Skied from the summit!
October 14, 2006: Northwest Ridge, Skied from the summit!
October 25, 2008: North Couloir, Skied from the summit!
climbhighnow - Oct 28, 2005 12:32 pm
Route Climbed: Cumberland Basin to West Ridge Date Climbed: Sept. 2005Wow! the climb up was awesom with lots of good, fun, class 3 exposed climbing. we ended up descending some gnarly, snow filled couloir and hiking up pearl pass, back to cum. basin. a Very long day; 14hrs. hiking/climbing and a 1.5 hour hitch hike. ps. Lots of scary, loose rock!! bring a helmet
Hobbesgirl - Oct 21, 2005 1:46 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 30, 2004Very entertaining climb! Some intellegent college kids (yeah, they were my age) decided to find their way down the mountain by sliding down on trash bags. Horrible idea. One broke his femur and he had to be taken to the hospital by helicopter. Moral of the story: find a better way off the mountain :)
Bob Sihler - Sep 30, 2005 10:14 pm
Route Climbed: standard/SE ridge Date Climbed: July 17, 2004Fun snow climb and glissade when I did it-- unbelievable views of the Elks' fourteeners-- fun road if your vehicle can take two or three pretty nasty spots (if it can, you start at 12,800')
jwproulx - Sep 6, 2005 6:22 pm
Route Climbed: Up N.E. Ridge, Down S.E. Ridge Date Climbed: 19 August 2005Biked from the Castle Creek road up to the highest trees in Montezuma basin. Fun hike and lots of glissading. The bike ride was gruelling, but a real blast coming down through the spectacular forest.
Zeke - Sep 5, 2005 2:22 pm
Route Climbed: NE ridge Date Climbed: Sept 4, 2005fun ridge, nice climb
doumall - Aug 21, 2005 5:33 pm
Route Climbed: via Conundrum Couloir Date Climbed: August 21st, 2005Continued after Conundrum to Castle, descent of NE ridge. Awsome day on the mountain!
sbkelley - Aug 17, 2005 5:10 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: August 13, 2005Snow in August!? Oh wait, it's Colorado's mountains, I guess it's no surprise. (I'm talking about snow falling from the sky, not already on the ground...there were both). I loved that ridge though - a little similar to the routes on the Bells with the rock type and the ledges, though obviously easier. What a view from the top! #45!
Andrew McKenzie - Aug 16, 2005 3:11 pm
Route Climbed: traverse from Conundrum Date Climbed: August 13, 2005Great trip. My friends Matt, Luke and Lady accompanied me. Matt and I blazed an unnamed route up the class 3 gully to the climbers right of the Conundrum couloir, eventually topping out right next to the summit log. We then made the traverse to Castle in about 45 minutes, signed the log and ran as sideways snow began to pelt us. A couple hours later and back to camp enjoying a cold one. Cheers!
ktiffany22 - Aug 13, 2005 9:56 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: August 13, 2005WAHOOOO baby!!! Third time is a charm!!! Finally, I conquered this "dumb" mountain that has "gotten the best of me" twice due to ICY, SNOWY conditions and weather! We saw the forecast for rain and decided that we were GONNA conquer it, so we started at 4:15am. After Castle Peak, we hopped over and bagged the "unofficial" Conundrum, then glissaded down. Once we hit the jeep, the downpours began.... we timed it just right!:-) P.S. If you start early (which you should considering this seems to be monsoon season), take crampons and an ice axe to climb up the snow- it made life a lot easier!
shanahan96 - Aug 4, 2005 5:45 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: July 21, 2005not a fan of the road but this was a decent hike. the ridge had nice views and there was some short fun stuff on the summit block. the snowfields made getting back to the road the best part of the day.
jamie
jordancl - Jul 20, 2005 6:08 am
Route Climbed: North Face Couloir Date Climbed: Spring 05Awesome Peak, awesome climb. First climb with axes and crampons.
doumall - Jul 13, 2005 2:43 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: May, 19 200538th 14er!
Asphazell - Jun 28, 2005 10:07 am
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Route (snow) Date Climbed: June 25, 2005Beautiful day out! Got a little bit of everything in on this one...some nice hiking, snow climbing, ridge walking, a wee bit of scrambling, and a LONG glissade down the North Face Couloir! The snow started to get a bit slurpee-ish while descending, making the speed on the glissade manageable. Awesome day with two of my favorite climbing partners!
Trevor Simmons - Jun 24, 2005 5:01 pm
Route Climbed: North Face Couloir Date Climbed: June 19, 2005I stopped where the road crosses the creek about 1-2 miles from the highway by Pearl Pass. The climb took just under 6 hours, with great snow conditions. It was my first 14er in the Elk Mountains, and my first solo trip on a 14er. Probably my favorite climb yet!
ktiffany22 - Jun 11, 2005 10:09 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 4, 20054This retarded mountain got me again... I've only failed 2 14ers before, and this is now the 2nd time the great walls of Castle's mighty fortress have gotten me- ARgH! With only a 1/2 mile visibility the whole time and having snowed on us since our campsite just below the 1st creek crossing, mother nature was against us AGAIN. Even with snowshoes/ice axe/etc, we were doomed. I will WAIT now until the mass of snow is GONE on this darned mountain and WILL succeed- 3rd times a charm, right?!
Brad Snider - Jun 11, 2005 2:13 am
Route Climbed: NE Ridge, with North Face Couloir Descent Date Climbed: June 9, 2005Carried snowshoes the whole way but did not need them. Crampons and ice ax a must. Some recent minor slide activity, but snow was solid today. Fun glissades on the way out, including down the North Face Couloir.
bc44caesar - May 30, 2005 11:54 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: 27 May 2005A nice snow climb to the saddle, but the final ridge to the summit was bare. Used snowshoes the entire time I was on snow, although crampons could've been used on the final slope to the saddle. Was able to do about 7 glissades down Montezuma Basin on stable snow. Following the creek bed was much easier and faster than trying to stay on the snow covered road. The road was impassable slightly above the first river crossing with the foot bridge. I started at 5:40 and reached the top after about 4.5 hours after coming over from Conundrum. Back to the car in 2.5. I started from where I camped 0.4 mi. up from where the Pearl Pass Rd. leaves the Castle Creek Rd. I would recommend an earlier start time to avoid soft snow.
ktiffany22 - May 15, 2005 11:08 pm
Route Climbed: NW Ridge Date Climbed: September 4, 2004:-( Had to turn around 365 feet from the top.... the rocks were too icy and weather was blowing in (though it was only 11AM). It was worth it though- amazing scenery! I will bag this one!!!!
Brian Kalet - Apr 7, 2005 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2005
Climbed 4xApril 7, 2005: East Face, Skied from the summit!
October 14, 2006: Northeast Ridge, Skied from the summit!
October 14, 2006: Northwest Ridge, Skied from the summit!
October 25, 2008: North Couloir, Skied from the summit!
pebblehopper - Feb 21, 2005 4:10 pm
Date Climbed: Summer 2002Fun Climb!