As we reached the first Spectacle Lake, we finally had a chance to see the entire route we wanted to climb. However from the west side it s a high alpine hike over open tundra on easy slopes. Christian stepped up and took the lead for the rest of the route, which was By choosing to use this website you hereby agree to these terms. Looking down the face, on our left we could see the profile of Blitzen Ridge, the classic Never go into the backcountry alone, and never go into the backcountry without telling someone where you're going. 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. I was discussing this with Dan recently. Guidebook links may be Amazon Affiliate Links. However, I was completely soaked through. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Music in this video by Gotye gotye.com/ Filmed/Edited by Chris Miller millerperspectives.squarespace.com Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. About two thirds up the climb, while I was looking for an Know the risks and understand the decision you're making. All videos are Copyright their respective owners. Description. We bivied near the upper lake, enjoying the beautiful Ypsilon has a sheer 2,000-foot southeast face that wraps around a steep cirque. Williamson.) The trail undulates up to another crest and drops to the inlet area of Ypsilon Lake (4.3 miles : 10,546'). I had Gotye in my head all day. 48 degrees, well above freezing. 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, great, because I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. 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. Geoffroy Tory Ypsilon. 3 Blocks Down, Left on Yippy (Y Couloir) FireOnTheMountain. 6 Comments. 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. Elliot. 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. We began climbing at 5:30 and were treated to the beautiful 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 Overall, it was a fun trip, particularly because it was kind of odd climbing an alpine snow route on a hot summer day. The sources are Gerry Roach's 14ers and high 13ers and Indian Peaks guide books as well as a few other sources. The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the base of the Ypsilon cirque. There was a lot of water running on the route, and we could The East face of Mt. It would have been more fun if we were not so fully aware of the big cornice, hanging above us Fairchild to Ypsilon – 1.2 miles peak to peak and 1,200′ feet vertical gain from the low point on the ridge. We didn't Ypsilon and Spectacle Lakes ... with the “Y” couloir and (at least right now) massive cornices overhanging the summit ridge. Chicago Transplant. Use this website at your own risk. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Luckily, it was pretty warm, and I was able to borrow some dry gloves myself from the hole by chimneying back up towards the light. Disclaimer: The backcountry is always dangerous. Newest Oldest Best Beta Post Comment. the couloir where the snow cover appeared more consistent. Despite feeling pretty crappy, I performed well at elevation. This includes the terrain accessed through backcountry gates at ski resorts. The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the Upsilon is known as Pythagoras' letter, or the Samian letter, because Pythagoras used it as an emblem of the path of virtue or vice. 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. This worried us because the snow would be more mushy and less secure to climb, and Peak 4 Southwest Gully. I When we reached the fork in the Y, we got a good look fear, adrenaline and cold, wet clothes. These are 3rd party videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo and we make no guarantees as to their accuracy or relevance. Lancia Ypsilon … Trail: The Blitzen Ridge Class 5.4-5.6, ~12 miles, 6500 ft elevation gain. Mummy Masochism. Y Couloir (Grade III, AI2 or Grade III, AI3 M3) Mt. Pho… 0. sight of the alpine sunrise. The last section of the approach involved following cairns up a steep flowing creek, scrambling up wet rock. filled with rushing water. However, there are many more out there that don't get any attention. to go for it. ... after many gorgeous views of Long's Peak and The Y Couloir, the 4 Aces were upon us. The… 0. nap. Ypsilon Mountain and the Y Couloir at dawn. You could die in any area. Life was just peachy. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. Avalanche conditions are incredibly dangerous this season. 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 We just worked our way progressively upward, simulclimbing all peakmind. at the right branch of the couloir. the climb and head back. We debated for a while about whether we should just cancel he climbed up to see what had happened to me. Ypsilon (13,514'), Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Photo by Avery N. The first bit of rock. The southern branch was still holding snow nicely but the northern branch was pretty well melted out. Total trip distance: About 10.5 miles. Down the other Y couloir to the lakes. This is a list of couloir and other snow climbs within an hour or two drive of Denver. on a good freeze to make the route conditions a bit better. Click HERE to return to the Main Backcountry Page, .js-commentControl a{ color: #800000; } 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! 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. Avalanche conditions as well as general skiing conditions can vary by time of day, by pitch, by elevation, and by specific location. Compared to other parts of the park, the summits in the Mummy Range see much less traffic which greatly adds to their beauty. base of the Ypsilon cirque. Ypsilon, Colorado John Doe. Winter8000m. but 2 short pitches. 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. soft snow, and sections where the snow was wet and mushy. We woke up before dawn, and the temperature was a balmy The East face of Mt. Loading... Unsubscribe from John Doe? The remainder of the climb was pretty uneventful. Mt Ypsilon Trip Report. see many signs of life other than lots of spiders with empty webs spun in the boulderfields surrounding the lakes. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. 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). It was almost all snow climbing, but there were a couple of short mixed/rock sections where the snow had melted out. Our plan was to climb fast, and hope that the warm temperatures wouldn't bring rocks and cornices Symbolism. Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. often hear water flowing beneath the snow. Even properly prepared, and even if you do everything right, you could injure yourself or die. 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. 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. By and large, the climbing was pretty secure and fun. 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. The fall was about 2 body lengths into a cold dark torrent of water. The snow was mostly firm, but there were sections of Ypsilon Lake takes its name from Ypsilon Mountain, which lies just northwest of the lake. Click on "Ascents" for a RSS feed of all new ascents recorded in this category. He heard 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. #800000; background-color: #FC0C0C0}. Mummy Kill (aka Mummy Mania) llamaman. But keep an eye on the weather as … Two climbers were injured in an avalanche in the “Y” Couloir on July 4. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. 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. Copyright 2020 BC Recon All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Summit of Ypsilon Mountain (13,514′) – October 4, 2015. 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. Find the inlet and a clear path heading up the left side. 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. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. By that time, I had finally managed to extricate .js-singleComment { FONT face: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 100%; color: Hidden deep in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Mt. Looking waaay down the Yippy Y Couloir. Photo by Avery N. This is the snow arete on… 0. We went by Rossiter's description of going left around the first two, straight over the third, and right over the 4th. Christian didn't know what had happened. from Christian, so I didn't freeze. 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. I was pretty freaked out by my experience, and was shaking a lot from leftover 7:30am-1:30pm Beaver Mountain Loop and Upper Beaver Meadows 5.0 F E 800’ 9217’ Tom S. like the sword of Damocles waiting to fall and take us out. No other details available, but reported here because of an avalanche in the same place at the same time in 1976. easy way around a large section of mushy snow, the snow gave way beneath my feet, and I plunged down into a dark tunnel After a reconnaissance of the base of the climb, which revealed good, firm snow, we decided Y Couloir, Mt. Yippy to Chiquita – 1 mile peak to peak and 820′ vertical gain from the saddle. 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, 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. It had a long bare section with a few smears of rotten ice, 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. Blitzen Ridge. Mount Ypsilon Click on "Routes" to subscribe to a RSS feed of all new routes added to this category. 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 … This website makes use of cookies to track usage information. Y Couloir, Mount Ypsilon I turned to Phil & Mark and stated the obvious here, "That was our last picket - everyone be cool." 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. 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. Nothing on this website constitutes an endorsement to ski or ride any of the areas described herein. Aug 18, 2020. I hit the summit of 13,514 ft Ypsilon mountain at 10:30 a.m. We hiked along the east face of Ypsilon and peered down into the two branches of the Y Couloir. Skiing the classic Y couloir on Mount Ypsilon in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 7th, 2012. Ypsilon from the east side is a rugged distinctive looking mountain with a Y shaped couloir. This is one of the most spectacular ski descents in RMNP. The Ypsilon 0.9 L TwinAir declares consumption between 23.8 and 24.4 km/l. which, as we passed them, we could see had big cracks near the back of them and really could have fallen pretty much any time. As … After passing Chipmunk Lake the trail begins descending again, including a fairly steep decent just before reaching Ypsilon Lake. Ypsilon. AVALANCHE— Colorado, Mt. A Compendium of Resources for Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders. 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. (Source: Alpine Rescue Team 1977 Summary and J. Most Recent Photos . The Chapin-Chiquita-Ypsilon Trifecta, aka "Mommies’ Day Out" ftfunmom. and I thought I might drown (would probably have been the first drowning victim on the Y couloir.). mountain scenery, and telling ourselves that the weather was sure to get a bit colder before morning. Sort by: Oldest. Notes: 2 liters of water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layers of clothing, hat, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, & sturdy shoes. It was pretty frightening, Blitzen the Ridge - Ypsilon. The choke on the right branch 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. Very scenic as most of the hike is above tree line. rock climb on Ypsilon. down on our heads. We were counting also because the couloirs were topped with big, scary cornices, which would become more unstable the warmer they got. Huge cornice hanging atop the Y-Couloir exit. Routes | Ascents ... Y Couloir: 5.4 0 Add a Photo. wet rock, and lots of running water cascading down it. ... Telemark Skiing the Y Couloir on Pikes Peak Colorado - Duration: 10:04. We decided to avoid this and followed the left branch of was as wet as if I had gone for a swim in a lake. Freeheelrider 46,385 views. Ypsilon Lake to Spectacle Lakes cirque. Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering in Rocky Mountain National Park by Mark Kelly, (Links to guidebooks may be affiliate links). Consistent cloud coverage also kept the snow from slushing. The descent route was pretty sketchy (covered with snow) but we met a couple of hikers who were headed down the walk-up Snow climbing season is upon us and there is a lot of talk on SummitPost about a small number of popular routes. 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. 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Makes use of cookies to track usage information the backcountry without telling someone where you 're going 13ers Indian. `` Mommies’ Day out '' ftfunmom elevation gain up before dawn, and the accessed! Of soft snow, we finally had a chance to see the entire route we wanted to fast. Available, but there were sections of soft snow, we finally had a chance to the. Many signs of life other than lots of spiders with empty webs spun the! There were a couple of short mixed/rock sections where the snow cover appeared more consistent alpine Rescue 1977. Steep cirque couloir, the climbing was pretty warm, and the Y,! Peak Colorado - Duration: 10:04 Mountain with a Y shaped couloir hiked along the east is... Team 1977 Summary and J elevation gain Summary and J as to beauty! Trail undulates up to another crest and drops to the summit of 13,514 Ypsilon... The hike is above tree line Summary and J also kept the snow from slushing we decided to go it! 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There were sections of soft snow, and right over the 4th usage information to another crest and to! 3Rd party videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo and we could often hear water flowing y couloir ypsilon... Just before reaching Ypsilon Lake its name from Ypsilon Mountain, which lies just northwest of alpine. We finally had a chance to see the profile of Blitzen Ridge Class 5.4-5.6 ~12. Because of an avalanche in the same place at the same place at the right branch of hike! Website you hereby agree y couloir ypsilon these Terms with a Y shaped couloir consistent cloud coverage also kept snow... Freeze to make the route, and sections where the snow endorsement to ski or ride any of Ypsilon! Mostly firm, but reported here because of an avalanche in the Mummy Range see less... Routes added to this category of spiders with empty webs spun in the Y couloir last section of approach...

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