Does anyone have first hand beta of conditions on the SW Couloir on Granite? We're having a discussion here in Idaho about whether it's completely dry, or are crampons and and ax necessary. A local guy is planning a one day trip via the Skytop drainage and any photos or fresh beta would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

When will he be going? I'm headed there 1 week from now so I can let you know the conditions as soon as I get back. On another ongoing thread Matt Lemke posted that he was there the first weekend of August and it was bone dry at that time. Unless there's been a snowstorm up above 11,000 feet I suppose it should still be dry. Anyone else been there more recently than 8-3?

I think he's going this Saturday but he wasn't specific about the date. Here's the thread on the Idaho Summits forum. He's looking for a partner.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/105717/t ... r+in+a+day

Bob

Yes in early August it was completely dry...there certainly hasn't been any snow. There are forest fires frekin everywhere...note that Beartooth pass is currently closed due to the Rock Creek Fire located 4 miles outside Red Lodge. I'm having trouble breathing here right now. I will reply here again when the pass opens. Unless it rains in the next week, expect very bad visibility and horrible air quality all over the Beartooths and Yellowstone

The pass was just opened tonight

We've had around a half million acres burn here in Idaho over the past month and it's been tough to guess which way to go to get away from it. I lucked out this week and managed to stay north of the smoke but that only lasted for 24 hours. Before we could get off the mountain the wind shifted and my eyes were burning and my nose running from the heavy smoke. Sun Valley and Ketchum were under evacuation orders and Highway 75 was closed but that situation is improving. We did get rain last night so maybe we'll start to break out of this hell of a summer soon.