Trip Report: Climbing Wetterhorn Peak by Ron Goyette
When: August 21st 2023
Location: Wetterhorn Peak 14,021ft., Lake City Colorado
Conditions: mid 40’s in the morning, 30’s on the Peak, and 70’s at the base in the afternoon. Beautiful Sunny day, low winds, except for the summit.
Duration: 5 Hours to the summit and a 4-hour return to Trailhead.
Difficulty: Hard class 3, especially 400ft to the summit. This consisted of a Class 3 pitch, scrambling over loose rocks and lots of exposure at the catwalk.
Crowd conditions: Very few people on the mountain that day. Encountered one climber on my ascent and 3 on my descent.
When: August 26th 2023
Location: Snowmass Mountain 14,105 ft., Aspen/Snowmass Colorado
Conditions: mid 40’s in the morning, 30’s on the Peak, and 70’s at the base in the afternoon. Beautiful Sunny day, low winds, except for the summit.
Duration: 7 Hours to the summit and a 6-hour return to Campsite.
Difficulty: Hard class 3 with a difficult log jam to overcome at the beginning of the trek. This mountain consisted of a Class 3 scrambling over a large boulder field and lots of exposure on steep loose rock pitch. Must avoid climbing the steep, loose pitch above the gully/stream that drains from the Snowmass near 11,600. The summit is 1/3 mile away and there’s plenty of Class 3 scrambling along the ridge. Climb the final pitch and enjoy this beautiful summit. Word of advice keep a constant lookout for Cairns which can be particularly hard to spot on the ascent. Otherwise, you may end up adding more distance and time to your climb, which could be crucial in having a successful climb. Also note that you need to acquire in advance a permit to camp near Snowmass Lake. Can be very crowded during summer season.
Crowd conditions: Very few people on the mountain that day. Encountered one group of 5 on the summit.
Useful links: http://14ers.com and http://Alltrails.com
The Full Report:
My family and I have been visiting Colorado for the last 50 years. Every year my family and I go backpacking and climbing for 2 weeks experiencing many new adventures. There are 54 14ers in Colorado and I have now climbed 44. And the beautiful thing is my twin daughters have joined me over the last ten years in my quest to climb all 54 14ers.
