NE Ridge Direct, 7/30-31/2013
Wanted a challenging trip with lots of vertical so I chose to start at the West Snowmass Trailhead. Very few people use this route and the trail is not maintained. There's some bushwhacking to be had along the way. Put in 5,000 feet of vertical climbing to get to my campsite at 13,000feet. Some serious solitude in this basin. Didn't see a single person going in or coming out. Woke up to clear skies and leisurely ate breakfast as the sun rose. K2 was lit-up in morning glory. Left camp at 6:30am for the NE Ridge direct to K2.
Scooted around K2 and across the Knife Edge. Chose to climb the NE Ridge all the way to the summit instead of wrapping all the way around the mountain on the standard route. Lots of Class 4 but it was exhilarating. Finished directly on the blocky summit ridge. Arrived on the summit at 8:00am and sat for 30minutes eating and drinking.
Descended back down through the quarry and to my campsite. Packed up and bushwhacked back to my truck.
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| The Seldom Used West Snowmass Approach |
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| Ascending the NE Ridge Direct to the Summit |
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| Summit of Capitol Peak |
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