Scott P
06-13-2011, 09:03 PM
The Plan
Easter Weekend seemed like a good time to attempt Castle Peak (elevation 14,265). I had wanted to climb Castle for months, but the avalanche danger was always rated moderate to extreme. Several days of warm weather and a cold spell afterwards would freeze the snow solid and stabilize everything it was hoped.
The weather forecast looked really nasty (90% chance of snow) for the 15th and better for the 16th. Normally, in winter, a storm would increase avalanche danger, but in spring, and after all the warm weather we have been having, this time the cold air would help.
http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/189078.jpg (http://www.summitpost.org/summit-of-castle/189078)
http://www.summitpost.org/images/layout/abby/magnify.gif (http://www.summitpost.org/summit-of-castle/189078)
Castle Peak from lower Montezuma Basin
April 15, 2006
After meeting in Glenwood Springs the night before, Brock and I drove to the trailhead. It was raining in Glenwood, but by the time we had reached the trailhead at Ashcroft, it was snowing. We donned our gear and set off.
The road walk was sort of a pain because we didn
Easter Weekend seemed like a good time to attempt Castle Peak (elevation 14,265). I had wanted to climb Castle for months, but the avalanche danger was always rated moderate to extreme. Several days of warm weather and a cold spell afterwards would freeze the snow solid and stabilize everything it was hoped.
The weather forecast looked really nasty (90% chance of snow) for the 15th and better for the 16th. Normally, in winter, a storm would increase avalanche danger, but in spring, and after all the warm weather we have been having, this time the cold air would help.
http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/189078.jpg (http://www.summitpost.org/summit-of-castle/189078)
http://www.summitpost.org/images/layout/abby/magnify.gif (http://www.summitpost.org/summit-of-castle/189078)
Castle Peak from lower Montezuma Basin
April 15, 2006
After meeting in Glenwood Springs the night before, Brock and I drove to the trailhead. It was raining in Glenwood, but by the time we had reached the trailhead at Ashcroft, it was snowing. We donned our gear and set off.
The road walk was sort of a pain because we didn