Attention Colorado Residents

[PaulSula]

I want to ask your advice on a trip I have planned to climb Grey's and Torrey peak. Orignally I had wanted to go camping above Empire at Bill Moore Lake and then try to knock out the two 14ers the last week in July. I found out today that I will be deploying in early July and would like to know which of the following scenario's would be better.

This would be my wife, my own, the dog's, and our 7 month old's first 14er so I would not like to have the added trouble of snow on the mountain. I was thinking about moving the trip to the last week in June or the middle of September when I get home. I know you can't predict the future as far as the weather, but generally which time would be better for camping and hiking the 14ers? Also has anyone camped near Bill Moore lake that could give me some more information about it? If you could include possible camping conditions such as nightly lows, daily highs, etc I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Paul2660]

Gray's and Torrey

I don't live In CO, but have climbed them 2x.

Both times were in July, the 1st time after a low snow year the 2nd after a big snow year. It has been 10 years, but at least then you could camp all the way up the road to the trail head. I just found a spot that worked by the creek and then setup.

The hikes are a easy one, with what I would feel the only exposure on the climb up Torrey from the saddle. The hike up Grays is a walk up. The year that I had more snow this was definitely a harder deal since the actual footing was harder and I didn't have crampons.

Also on the return, you have several options, but I chose to come down from Torrey via the saddle route and then cross the snowfield back to the main trail that climbs up Grays, this makes the return much faster. This field was hard packed the 1st year and easy to cross, the 2nd time it was mushy and you really had to watch your footing. I was solo with no crampons or axe and should have had at least crampons on the return.

If you pick Sept. then you should be in great shape but as you know you can easily get caught in a early season snowfall.

The road was easy I drove it both times in a Bronco II but nice to have 4WD. It also may have changed for the better or worse.

Paul C

 

[PaulSula]

Thank you for the advice. You mention crampons, will I need those to "summit" Grays and Torreys if they have any snow on them, I really don't know too terribly much about mountaineering.

 

[nated05]

PaulSula,

Check out this forum for more info on the 14ers, it has a ton of info.

Nate

http://www.14ers.com/

 

[Paul2660]

Gray's has trail the leads to the top, even with snow it should be a passable trail with a good pair of boots.

Torrey's from the saddle between the two is not a hard climb and you have little exposure, but if there is snow on the climb up from the saddle to the summit of Torrey's you might want to ask one of the local guides, at Georgetown or the other town above Georgetown, with the waterfall one the left side of the interstate when driving west.

The saddle climb is nothing like the trough on Long's Peak. I have turned away 2 times a the keyhole when there was still snow/ice in the trough.

You can also easily observe the saddle between Gray's and Torrey's from the trail head and see how much snow is on the peaks.

Paul C