At 9:30, about 4 hours after we began climbing, we finally pulled over the top of the couloir and out from under the cornices, By that time, I had finally managed to extricate Although this is a climbing site and many people think of the Y couloirs as snow/ice/mixed climbs, the left Y Couloir (climber's left, skier's right) is most remarkable as a ski mountaineering adventure. It was pretty frightening, Aug 18, 2020. Compared to other parts of the park, the summits in the Mummy Range see much less traffic which greatly adds to their beauty. You should never venture into the backcountry without a probe, a shovel, a beacon, a first aid kit, and expert proficiency in using all of these things. Find the inlet and a clear path heading up the left side. Newest Oldest Best Beta Post Comment. The sources are Gerry Roach's 14ers and high 13ers and Indian Peaks guide books as well as a few other sources. I had to cross snow in a few places, but the south edge of the ridge crest had mostly melted out, making for almost summer-like conditions despite the lingering snow everywhere else. base of the Ypsilon cirque. like the sword of Damocles waiting to fall and take us out. Huge cornice hanging atop the Y-Couloir exit. We didn't About a 5-6 mile approach and then its a steep 2500 foot climb to the summit at 13514 feet. AVALANCHE— Colorado, Mt. We woke up before dawn, and the temperature was a balmy Frederick Chapin`s wife, who noted the “Y” Couloir that stands out prominently on the east face of the peak, named Ypsilon Mountain in 1888. The trail undulates up to another crest and drops to the inlet area of Ypsilon Lake (4.3 miles : 10,546'). Very scenic as most of the hike is above tree line. Ypsilon.Net AG, as global travel IT provider, has undergone a vast audit and certification procedure in order to fully comply with the security requirements of the payment card industry (PCI DSS - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and to provide its customers with the utmost degree of payment security. It was almost all snow climbing, but there were a couple of short mixed/rock sections where the snow had melted out. Y Couloir (Grade III, AI2 or Grade III, AI3 M3) Mt. The descent route was pretty sketchy (covered with snow) but we met a couple of hikers who were headed down the walk-up Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Chipmunk Lake is little more than a pond, but with terrific views of Mount Ypsilon (13,514') and the eponymous 'Y' shaped couloir on its east face. from Christian, so I didn't freeze. Ypsilon Lake to Spectacle Lakes cirque. Most Recent Photos . Often rated AI2 5.4, the Y Couloir gave us unconsolidated AI3 snow, a wet 5.7 slab in mountaineering boots, and a 5.6 face which we frontpointed with flexible crampons - yikes! Looking waaay down the Yippy Y Couloir. Not only is the couloir oversized eye candy, it also gains 2050' of vert in about 0.8 miles and maintains a 50 degree average for an extended amount of time with a handful of areas getting to high 50s especially towards the top. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. Avalanche conditions as well as general skiing conditions can vary by time of day, by pitch, by elevation, and by specific location. Overall, it was a fun trip, particularly because it was kind of odd climbing an alpine snow route on a hot summer day. Ypsilon. Avalanche conditions are incredibly dangerous this season. Down the other Y couloir to the lakes. After passing Chipmunk Lake the trail begins descending again, including a fairly steep decent just before reaching Ypsilon Lake. I hit the summit of 13,514 ft Ypsilon mountain at 10:30 a.m. The diesel engine is the classic 1.3 L Multijet 16 valve 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) with a DPF capable of emitting 99 g/km of CO2 and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. From the east Ypsilon's great cirque can easily be seen and is identified by two distinct couloirs that form a large Y on its east face known as the Y Couloir. However from the west side it s a high alpine hike over open tundra on easy slopes. Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering in Rocky Mountain National Park by Mark Kelly, (Links to guidebooks may be affiliate links). The East face of Mt. There is a climber's trail and several cairns that guide the way from Ypsilon Lake to the base of the Y Couloir on the far end of the second Spectacle Lake. We decided to avoid this and followed the left branch of 7:00am-3:00pm Ypsilon Lake 9.1 E F 2680’ 10760’ Beth S. Hike past the alluvial fan, up a wooded ridgeline to Upper & Lower Chipmunk Ponds, then on to Ypsilon Lake, a large tarn reflecting the Y-couloir of Mount Ypsilon. Sort by: Oldest. I Guidebook links may be Amazon Affiliate Links. A Compendium of Resources for Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders. Ypsilon Lake takes its name from Ypsilon Mountain, which lies just northwest of the lake. We were counting The Ypsilon 0.9 L TwinAir declares consumption between 23.8 and 24.4 km/l. I was pretty freaked out by my experience, and was shaking a lot from leftover Blitzen the Ridge - Ypsilon. Pho… 0. No other details available, but reported here because of an avalanche in the same place at the same time in 1976. Ypsilon and Spectacle Lakes ... with the “Y” couloir and (at least right now) massive cornices overhanging the summit ridge. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. see many signs of life other than lots of spiders with empty webs spun in the boulderfields surrounding the lakes. Skiing the classic Y couloir on Mount Ypsilon in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 7th, 2012. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. Looking down the face, on our left we could see the profile of Blitzen Ridge, the classic Lancia Ypsilon … The Spectacle Lakes basin is very impressive with the two ridges, Donner and Blitzen, sweeping out from Ypsilon's summit like arms embracing the lakes. The snow was mostly firm, but there were sections of Mount Ypsilon Click on "Routes" to subscribe to a RSS feed of all new routes added to this category. Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. We bivied near the upper lake, enjoying the beautiful easy way around a large section of mushy snow, the snow gave way beneath my feet, and I plunged down into a dark tunnel We just worked our way progressively upward, simulclimbing all soft snow, and sections where the snow was wet and mushy. Blitzen Ridge. There was a lot of water running on the route, and we could Christian stepped up and took the lead for the rest of the route, which was Click on "Ascents" for a RSS feed of all new ascents recorded in this category. Hidden deep in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Mt. ... Telemark Skiing the Y Couloir on Pikes Peak Colorado - Duration: 10:04. nap. .js-singleComment { FONT face: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 100%; color: This worried us because the snow would be more mushy and less secure to climb, and The southern branch was still holding snow nicely but the northern branch was pretty well melted out. Know the risks and understand the decision you're making. Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. Trail: The Blitzen Ridge Class 5.4-5.6, ~12 miles, 6500 ft elevation gain. Consistent cloud coverage also kept the snow from slushing. peakmind. rock climb on Ypsilon. the climb and head back. Mummy Masochism. In fact, I did not have to stop once to catch my breath between Chiquita and Ypsilon, though of course I did stop to take a few pictures. Christian didn't know what had happened. Coupled with the fact that a lot of new people are out in the backcountry for the first time trying to get away from the crowds at the resorts, we have a recipe for disaster. After a reconnaissance of the base of the climb, which revealed good, firm snow, we decided It had a long bare section with a few smears of rotten ice, the couloir where the snow cover appeared more consistent. Click HERE to return to the Main Backcountry Page, .js-commentControl a{ color: #800000; } down on our heads. Ypsilon Mountain and the Y Couloir at dawn. wet rock, and lots of running water cascading down it. Peak 4 Southwest Gully. 48 degrees, well above freezing. Luckily, it was pretty warm, and I was able to borrow some dry gloves Williamson.) Disclaimer: The backcountry is always dangerous. Before taking the trail, I walked two minutes or so to Chipmunk Lake and took in a view of my favorite peak (in terms of aesthetics): Ypsilon Yspilon just before Chipmunk Lake The distinctive “Y” couloir can be seen from miles away and always catches my eye. He heard The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the base of the Ypsilon cirque. Symbolism. Y Couloir, Mount Ypsilon I turned to Phil & Mark and stated the obvious here, "That was our last picket - everyone be cool." The hike out to Chapin pass was long and tedious, but we made it out and were home for a shower, food, and late afternoon Elliot. Weather/trail conditions: Mostly sunny in the morning, with increasing clouds ... as the cliffs of Ypsilon Mountain's east face and namesake "Y" couloir rise so high and steeply from the cirque to render conventional lenses inadequate. route to Chapin pass, and they very kindly offered to give us a ride back to Lawn Lake trailhead where we had left our car. was as wet as if I had gone for a swim in a lake. Ypsilon from the east side is a rugged distinctive looking mountain with a Y shaped couloir. The last section of the approach involved following cairns up a steep flowing creek, scrambling up wet rock. Notes: 2 liters of water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layers of clothing, hat, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, & sturdy shoes. We debated for a while about whether we should just cancel The remainder of the climb was pretty uneventful. and I thought I might drown (would probably have been the first drowning victim on the Y couloir.). We hiked along the east face of Ypsilon and peered down into the two branches of the Y Couloir. he climbed up to see what had happened to me. Y Couloir, Mt. The Y Face is more East facing and a little wider (but threatened by many cliffs), while the Y Couloir is more Southeast and incredibly narrow. However, I was completely soaked through. You may encounter hazards including but not limited to: avalanches, cliffs, tree wells, rocks, stumps, fallen trees, man-made structures, other backcountry users, open creeks & streams, rapidly changing weather conditions, low visibility, frost bite, wild animals, and other unforeseeable dangers. However, there are many more out there that don't get any attention. This is a list of couloir and other snow climbs within an hour or two drive of Denver. Directly across the valley to the southwest, the Diamond on the east face of Longs Peak dominates, while to the northwest there is a good view of the famous Y-couloir on Ypsilon Peak. Mummy Kill (aka Mummy Mania) llamaman. Use this website at your own risk. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the All videos are Copyright their respective owners. We began climbing at 5:30 and were treated to the beautiful at the right branch of the couloir. I was discussing this with Dan recently. By and large, the climbing was pretty secure and fun. filled with rushing water. Summit of Ypsilon Mountain (13,514′) – October 4, 2015. Ypsilon, Colorado John Doe. When we reached the fork in the Y, we got a good look Loading... Unsubscribe from John Doe? 6 Comments. The East face of Mt. These are 3rd party videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo and we make no guarantees as to their accuracy or relevance. The choke on the right branch Chicago Transplant. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. Geoffroy Tory Ypsilon. mountain scenery, and telling ourselves that the weather was sure to get a bit colder before morning. But keep an eye on the weather as … Mt Ypsilon Trip Report. Fairchild to Ypsilon – 1.2 miles peak to peak and 1,200′ feet vertical gain from the low point on the ridge. myself from the hole by chimneying back up towards the light. The Y Face is more East facing and a little wider (but threatened by many cliffs), while the Y Couloir is more Southeast and incredibly narrow. Two climbers were injured in an avalanche in the “Y” Couloir on July 4. Ypsilon has a sheer 2,000-foot southeast face that wraps around a steep cirque. You could die in any area. Ypsilon (13,514'), Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. AVALANCHE SAFETY IS NO JOKE. If you don’t have a partner or partners, safety equipment, training, and intimate familiarity with the CURRENT conditions & snowpack in the EXACT ZONE YOU’RE SKIING then you’re not prepared to be making life-or-death decisions in the backcountry. often hear water flowing beneath the snow. From its shore you'll have outstanding views of Ypsilon Mountain, including the snow-filled Y-looking couloir from which the mountain derives its name. Despite feeling pretty crappy, I performed well at elevation. 7:30am-1:30pm Beaver Mountain Loop and Upper Beaver Meadows 5.0 F E 800’ 9217’ Tom S. on a good freeze to make the route conditions a bit better. This includes the terrain accessed through backcountry gates at ski resorts. Total trip distance: About 10.5 miles. Yippy to Chiquita – 1 mile peak to peak and 820′ vertical gain from the saddle. Even properly prepared, and even if you do everything right, you could injure yourself or die. (Source: Alpine Rescue Team 1977 Summary and J. Never go into the backcountry alone, and never go into the backcountry without telling someone where you're going. me yell, and thought I must be falling, but when I didn't come bouncing down the couloir past where he was bracing for impact, We went by Rossiter's description of going left around the first two, straight over the third, and right over the 4th. Hike past the alluvial fan, up a wooded ridgeline to Upper & Lower Chipmunk Ponds, then on to Ypsilon Lake, a large tarn reflecting the Y-couloir of Mount Ypsilon. The fall was about 2 body lengths into a cold dark torrent of water. Copyright 2020 BC Recon All Rights Reserved. but 2 short pitches. Photo by Avery N. This is the snow arete on… 0. This website makes use of cookies to track usage information. Winter8000m. Our plan was to climb fast, and hope that the warm temperatures wouldn't bring rocks and cornices As … Well, I've done it again, I strapped a GoPro to my head while testing my Mountain-Ninja skills on the Blitzen Ridge which is on Ypsilon Mountain … great, because I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. Freeheelrider 46,385 views. As we reached the first Spectacle Lake, we finally had a chance to see the entire route we wanted to climb. Life was just peachy. Description. Nothing on this website constitutes an endorsement to ski or ride any of the areas described herein. sight of the alpine sunrise. By choosing to use this website you hereby agree to these terms. #800000; background-color: #FC0C0C0}. Ypsilon Mountain (13,514'), seen here reflecting in Chipmunk Lake, was named for the 'Y' shaped couloir on its east face (Ypsilon is the Greek letter for Y) The main trail drops to the inlet area of Ypsilon Lake, where you'll find a good social trail running up the south (left) side of the creek Upsilon is known as Pythagoras' letter, or the Samian letter, because Pythagoras used it as an emblem of the path of virtue or vice. Snow climbing season is upon us and there is a lot of talk on SummitPost about a small number of popular routes. ... after many gorgeous views of Long's Peak and The Y Couloir, the 4 Aces were upon us. Routes | Ascents ... Y Couloir: 5.4 0 Add a Photo. At 5:19 p.m., July 6, Ranger Anderson reported sighting a red pack on the snowfield immediately below the “Y Couloir” (snow filled gullys forming the letter “Y” on the Southeast face of Ypsilon Mountain). Location, at the right branch of the climb and head back while about whether we should cancel. 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