Climbed the standard SE couloir route with partner trishapajean. Started from the Governer Basin turn-off (10,770 ft.) at 5:15am and summitted just before 11 am. Upper couloir totally snow-covered. Clear and warm morning, cloudy and spitty afternoon. Exhilirating. 14er #43 for me, #41 for trishapajean.
heather14 - Jun 15, 2009 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2009
Persistence...or Stubborn
A few of us climbed the Snake on 6/12. Made it all the way to the end of the snow and found the final rock section to the top snowy and icey and didn't have the gear to protect it, and the lower gully had a nice cornice at the top. I decided to drive around to the other side and do the Lav Col the next day.
dakotaconcrete - Jun 10, 2009 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2009
East approach via Blaine Basin
Backpacked to Blaine Basin in a steady rain..not so cool. Started early for the summit via the eastern trough which links to the standard route's lavender col. Good snow conditions the entire way. Very nice route, loved the view of sneffel's north face! Not sure how long the lavender col is but I turned around nearly 3/4 of the way into it...snow conditions were quite hard and posed dangers I wasn't keen on accepting. Defeated but content, I glissaded close to the entire way back to my camp. The 3 and half miles back to my car at the trailhead went fast after an encounter I had with a black bear on the trail! This approach is awesome with the right conditions, the snow made for a great day!
I remember this as one of my favorite days in the mountains.
colinpence - Apr 7, 2009 12:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2006
south ridge of Sneffels rules!
I climbed this with the fabulous guidance of Aaron Johnson during the summer of '06. This is my favorite Colorado 14er climb for sure!
skyward22 - Mar 26, 2009 10:44 pm Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2009
sucess on the snake
Summitted Sneffels via the Snake Coulior on March 22 and were able to drive within 2 miles of the trailhead...without 4 wheel drive. However past this the snow started and was soft. Avalanche danger was minimal on the route and on the easier descent of the lavander col. Snowshoes absolutely necessary on the approach. The final summit block would only yield to lower 5th class climbing for 75 ft or so on seriously exposed terrain. We soloed this because the 3rd class way up was blocked by a cornice. Might be good to bring a short rope and protect this section as it is covered in ice and loose powder snow. Super fun and long 16 hour day.
Kadee - Nov 10, 2008 8:58 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Lavender Col
This was my first experience of the Colorado 14er's. A lot of people on the trail, but a fun peak.
Athos791 - Nov 9, 2008 10:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2008
2nd 14er
After doing Handies a few days prior, we headed up to Yankee Boy Basin for some fun scree slogging on Mount Sneffels. The main gulley was kind of a pain in the butt, and I chose to hop over the talus on the left side rather than the scree to the right. There was still lots of snow in the upper gulley, so we skirted around the snow on the rock rib.
seano - Sep 5, 2008 2:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
Lavendar Col
Still snow in the couloir, but someone had kicked steps. Great view of the lakes to the West.
ColoradoScott - Aug 29, 2008 6:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2008
Sneffels
Climbed the Lavender Col route from Yankee Boy Basin. About half the other climbers on top had summitted from the SW ridge. Given the hard packed dirt in reaching the col, I understood why; it's a steep pull, and there was no sign of a constructed "trail" after the first two hundred feet. What a beatiful summit pitch though, which reminded me of Crestone Peak.
Panthera uncia - Aug 27, 2008 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Tons of snow!
Climbed up the Snake Coulior from Blaine Basin solo. Perfect weather and beautiful view from summit! One of my favorites!
eferesen - Aug 17, 2008 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Lavender Coulior
Fun trip. Little bit of snow on way up the notch. Loved the mountain. The smallest summit I have ever been on.
spannring29 - Aug 9, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2008
6 of 14
Sixth of 14 14ers in 11 days. Ascended the SW Ridge and descended the rock-hard snow on the standard route. Saw a guy take a nasty involuntary glissade down the gully. Fortunately, he came out of it with only a nasty cut on his lip from his ax and some rattled nerves.
GeorgeJames - Aug 4, 2008 7:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Lavender Col
Up and down the standard route. The gully leading up to the col is quite a mess, but that's okay! Fantastic scenery here for sure.
A ridiculously late start, made it to the top just in time to see rain headed straight for the summit. Time to go! Rumble rumble...time to move faster! Rain and grauple coming down pretty good by the time I got back to the snow in the gully above the col. The small storm had passed by the time I was back on the col, thank goodness, cause before it left it sent down a bolt that must have hit the mountain somewhere nearby. Flash...BOOM!!! Holy crap.
mountainloverCO - Aug 4, 2008 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
21st 14er for my 21st bday
Headed up Lavender Col to hit up my 21st 14er summit on my 21st bday. The view from the summit made this climb extra special. The scenery around Sneffels is spectacular...some of the best in Colorado! Didn't really enjoy the slog up loose rock and scree in Lavender Col however...I'd love to try th SW ridge route the next time I head up Sneffels.
BigRob - Jul 16, 2008 1:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2008
Up the SW ridge
Climbed up the SW ridge above Blue Lake. The weather was spectacular. Came in right around 6 hours round trip. Still lots of snow in the couloirs.
Mots010 - Jul 9, 2008 12:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
SW Ridge
Climbed a short couloir to access the SW Ridge. Descended the standard route from Yankee Boy.
Highly recommend this route. Its a fun little scramble.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 19, 2008 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1999
Snow
This was my second climb of Sneffels. There was still snow in the upper couloir on the standard route. We encountered a family who were in over their heads. I got to physically assist one of them back down the snow.
cftbq - Jul 3, 2009 5:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2009
July snow climbClimbed the standard SE couloir route with partner trishapajean. Started from the Governer Basin turn-off (10,770 ft.) at 5:15am and summitted just before 11 am. Upper couloir totally snow-covered. Clear and warm morning, cloudy and spitty afternoon. Exhilirating. 14er #43 for me, #41 for trishapajean.
heather14 - Jun 15, 2009 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2009
Persistence...or StubbornA few of us climbed the Snake on 6/12. Made it all the way to the end of the snow and found the final rock section to the top snowy and icey and didn't have the gear to protect it, and the lower gully had a nice cornice at the top. I decided to drive around to the other side and do the Lav Col the next day.
dakotaconcrete - Jun 10, 2009 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2009
East approach via Blaine BasinBackpacked to Blaine Basin in a steady rain..not so cool. Started early for the summit via the eastern trough which links to the standard route's lavender col. Good snow conditions the entire way. Very nice route, loved the view of sneffel's north face! Not sure how long the lavender col is but I turned around nearly 3/4 of the way into it...snow conditions were quite hard and posed dangers I wasn't keen on accepting. Defeated but content, I glissaded close to the entire way back to my camp. The 3 and half miles back to my car at the trailhead went fast after an encounter I had with a black bear on the trail! This approach is awesome with the right conditions, the snow made for a great day!
lloyd - May 13, 2009 11:48 pm
South RidgeI remember this as one of my favorite days in the mountains.
colinpence - Apr 7, 2009 12:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2006
south ridge of Sneffels rules!I climbed this with the fabulous guidance of Aaron Johnson during the summer of '06. This is my favorite Colorado 14er climb for sure!
skyward22 - Mar 26, 2009 10:44 pm Date Climbed: Mar 22, 2009
sucess on the snakeSummitted Sneffels via the Snake Coulior on March 22 and were able to drive within 2 miles of the trailhead...without 4 wheel drive. However past this the snow started and was soft. Avalanche danger was minimal on the route and on the easier descent of the lavander col. Snowshoes absolutely necessary on the approach. The final summit block would only yield to lower 5th class climbing for 75 ft or so on seriously exposed terrain. We soloed this because the 3rd class way up was blocked by a cornice. Might be good to bring a short rope and protect this section as it is covered in ice and loose powder snow. Super fun and long 16 hour day.
Kadee - Nov 10, 2008 8:58 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Lavender ColThis was my first experience of the Colorado 14er's. A lot of people on the trail, but a fun peak.
Athos791 - Nov 9, 2008 10:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2008
2nd 14erAfter doing Handies a few days prior, we headed up to Yankee Boy Basin for some fun scree slogging on Mount Sneffels. The main gulley was kind of a pain in the butt, and I chose to hop over the talus on the left side rather than the scree to the right. There was still lots of snow in the upper gulley, so we skirted around the snow on the rock rib.
patascent - Sep 6, 2008 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2008
1st Colorado 14'erBeautiful climb.
seano - Sep 5, 2008 2:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
Lavendar ColStill snow in the couloir, but someone had kicked steps. Great view of the lakes to the West.
ColoradoScott - Aug 29, 2008 6:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2008
SneffelsClimbed the Lavender Col route from Yankee Boy Basin. About half the other climbers on top had summitted from the SW ridge. Given the hard packed dirt in reaching the col, I understood why; it's a steep pull, and there was no sign of a constructed "trail" after the first two hundred feet. What a beatiful summit pitch though, which reminded me of Crestone Peak.
Panthera uncia - Aug 27, 2008 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Tons of snow!Climbed up the Snake Coulior from Blaine Basin solo. Perfect weather and beautiful view from summit! One of my favorites!
eferesen - Aug 17, 2008 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Lavender CouliorFun trip. Little bit of snow on way up the notch. Loved the mountain. The smallest summit I have ever been on.
spannring29 - Aug 9, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2008
6 of 14Sixth of 14 14ers in 11 days. Ascended the SW Ridge and descended the rock-hard snow on the standard route. Saw a guy take a nasty involuntary glissade down the gully. Fortunately, he came out of it with only a nasty cut on his lip from his ax and some rattled nerves.
GeorgeJames - Aug 4, 2008 7:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Lavender ColUp and down the standard route. The gully leading up to the col is quite a mess, but that's okay! Fantastic scenery here for sure.
A ridiculously late start, made it to the top just in time to see rain headed straight for the summit. Time to go! Rumble rumble...time to move faster! Rain and grauple coming down pretty good by the time I got back to the snow in the gully above the col. The small storm had passed by the time I was back on the col, thank goodness, cause before it left it sent down a bolt that must have hit the mountain somewhere nearby. Flash...BOOM!!! Holy crap.
mountainloverCO - Aug 4, 2008 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
21st 14er for my 21st bdayHeaded up Lavender Col to hit up my 21st 14er summit on my 21st bday. The view from the summit made this climb extra special. The scenery around Sneffels is spectacular...some of the best in Colorado! Didn't really enjoy the slog up loose rock and scree in Lavender Col however...I'd love to try th SW ridge route the next time I head up Sneffels.
BigRob - Jul 16, 2008 1:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2008
Up the SW ridgeClimbed up the SW ridge above Blue Lake. The weather was spectacular. Came in right around 6 hours round trip. Still lots of snow in the couloirs.
Mots010 - Jul 9, 2008 12:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
SW RidgeClimbed a short couloir to access the SW Ridge. Descended the standard route from Yankee Boy.
astrobassman - Mar 20, 2008 8:08 pm
Southwest RidgeHighly recommend this route. Its a fun little scramble.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 19, 2008 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1999
SnowThis was my second climb of Sneffels. There was still snow in the upper couloir on the standard route. We encountered a family who were in over their heads. I got to physically assist one of them back down the snow.