Ypsilon. At 5:19 p.m., July 6, Ranger Anderson reported sighting a red pack on the snowfield immediately below the âY Couloirâ (snow filled gullys forming the letter âYâ on the Southeast face of Ypsilon Mountain). Luckily, it was pretty warm, and I was able to borrow some dry gloves Loading... Unsubscribe from John Doe? The choke on the right branch 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. 3 Blocks Down, Left on Yippy (Y Couloir) FireOnTheMountain. often hear water flowing beneath the snow. see many signs of life other than lots of spiders with empty webs spun in the boulderfields surrounding the lakes. After a reconnaissance of the base of the climb, which revealed good, firm snow, we decided Our plan was to climb fast, and hope that the warm temperatures wouldn't bring rocks and cornices Click on "Ascents" for a RSS feed of all new ascents recorded in this category. Y Couloir, Mount Ypsilon I turned to Phil & Mark and stated the obvious here, "That was our last picket - everyone be cool." Y Couloir (Grade III, AI2 or Grade III, AI3 M3) Mt. Summit of Ypsilon Mountain (13,514â²) â October 4, 2015. Music in this video by Gotye gotye.com/ Filmed/Edited by Chris Miller millerperspectives.squarespace.com These are 3rd party videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo and we make no guarantees as to their accuracy or relevance. the climb and head back. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. nap. Never go into the backcountry alone, and never go into the backcountry without telling someone where you're going. at the right branch of the couloir. All videos are Copyright their respective owners. 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 just worked our way progressively upward, simulclimbing all base of the Ypsilon cirque. We didn't A Compendium of Resources for Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders. This website makes use of cookies to track usage information. the couloir where the snow cover appeared more consistent. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Williamson.) was as wet as if I had gone for a swim in a lake. 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, there are many more out there that don't get any attention. down on our heads. Use this website at your own risk. Consistent cloud coverage also kept the snow from slushing. 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. Ypsilon Mountain and the Y Couloir at dawn. It was pretty frightening, By and large, the climbing was pretty secure and fun. Compared to other parts of the park, the summits in the Mummy Range see much less traffic which greatly adds to their beauty. 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. We debated for a while about whether we should just cancel Overall, it was a fun trip, particularly because it was kind of odd climbing an alpine snow route on a hot summer day. I was pretty freaked out by my experience, and was shaking a lot from leftover Y Couloir, Mt. When we reached the fork in the Y, we got a good look Two climbers were injured in an avalanche in the âYâ Couloir on July 4. I Yippy to Chiquita â 1 mile peak to peak and 820â² vertical gain from the saddle. myself from the hole by chimneying back up towards the light. Christian didn't know what had happened. 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. 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. Hidden deep in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Mt. No other details available, but reported here because of an avalanche in the same place at the same time in 1976. Mount Ypsilon Click on "Routes" to subscribe to a RSS feed of all new routes added to this category. Ypsilon, Colorado John Doe. Elliot. I hit the summit of 13,514 ft Ypsilon mountain at 10:30 a.m. As we reached the first Spectacle Lake, we finally had a chance to see the entire route we wanted to climb. The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the base of the Ypsilon cirque. Aug 18, 2020. Newest Oldest Best Beta Post Comment. Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. Ypsilon from the east side is a rugged distinctive looking mountain with a Y shaped couloir. Sort by: Oldest. filled with rushing water. ... Telemark Skiing the Y Couloir on Pikes Peak Colorado - Duration: 10:04. 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. Snow climbing season is upon us and there is a lot of talk on SummitPost about a small number of popular routes. Freeheelrider 46,385 views. We began climbing at 5:30 and were treated to the beautiful But keep an eye on the weather as ⦠The Ypsilon 0.9 L TwinAir declares consumption between 23.8 and 24.4 km/l. However from the west side it s a high alpine hike over open tundra on easy slopes. #800000; background-color: #FC0C0C0}. Geoffroy Tory Ypsilon. 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. Skiing the classic Y couloir on Mount Ypsilon in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 7th, 2012. Huge cornice hanging atop the Y-Couloir exit. Total trip distance: About 10.5 miles. (Source: Alpine Rescue Team 1977 Summary and J. Winter8000m. Down the other Y couloir to the lakes. Know the risks and understand the decision you're making. Photo by Avery N. This is the snow arete on⦠0. on a good freeze to make the route conditions a bit better. We decided to avoid this and followed the left branch of Blitzen the Ridge - Ypsilon. Chicago Transplant. Very scenic as most of the hike is above tree line. 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. great, because I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. Despite feeling pretty crappy, I performed well at elevation. 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. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. to go for it. It would have been more fun if we were not so fully aware of the big cornice, hanging above us Blitzen Ridge. Description. However, I was completely soaked through. The remainder of the climb was pretty uneventful. The sources are Gerry Roach's 14ers and high 13ers and Indian Peaks guide books as well as a few other sources. He heard Lancia Ypsilon ⦠peakmind. Ypsilon has a sheer 2,000-foot southeast face that wraps around a steep cirque. ... after many gorgeous views of Long's Peak and The Y Couloir, the 4 Aces were upon us. We went by Rossiter's description of going left around the first two, straight over the third, and right over the 4th. Ypsilon has some incredibly steep and dangerous couloirs. After passing Chipmunk Lake the trail begins descending again, including a fairly steep decent just before reaching Ypsilon Lake. This is one of the most spectacular ski descents in RMNP. Photo by Avery N. The first bit of rock. Avalanche conditions as well as general skiing conditions can vary by time of day, by pitch, by elevation, and by specific location. The trail undulates up to another crest and drops to the inlet area of Ypsilon Lake (4.3 miles : 10,546'). rock climb on Ypsilon. The last section of the approach involved following cairns up a steep flowing creek, scrambling up wet rock. It's pretty high in elevation, and the terrain is rocky and pretty barren. The snow was mostly firm, but there were sections of Upsilon is known as Pythagoras' letter, or the Samian letter, because Pythagoras used it as an emblem of the path of virtue or vice. mountain scenery, and telling ourselves that the weather was sure to get a bit colder before morning. 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. 6 Comments. This is a list of couloir and other snow climbs within an hour or two drive of Denver. 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. 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 ⦠Guidebook links may be Amazon Affiliate Links. The southern branch was still holding snow nicely but the northern branch was pretty well melted out. The East face of Mt. By that time, I had finally managed to extricate 48 degrees, well above freezing. wet rock, and lots of running water cascading down it. Find the inlet and a clear path heading up the left side. Ypsilon and Spectacle Lakes ... with the âYâ couloir and (at least right now) massive cornices overhanging the summit ridge. and I thought I might drown (would probably have been the first drowning victim on the Y couloir.). As ⦠Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering in Rocky Mountain National Park by Mark Kelly, (Links to guidebooks may be affiliate links). The descent route was pretty sketchy (covered with snow) but we met a couple of hikers who were headed down the walk-up Click HERE to return to the Main Backcountry Page, .js-commentControl a{ color: #800000; } Even properly prepared, and even if you do everything right, you could injure yourself or die. Copyright 2020 BC Recon All Rights Reserved. Looking down the face, on our left we could see the profile of Blitzen Ridge, the classic fear, adrenaline and cold, wet clothes. This includes the terrain accessed through backcountry gates at ski resorts. It had a long bare section with a few smears of rotten ice, 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, Life was just peachy. Peak 4 Southwest Gully. We bivied near the upper lake, enjoying the beautiful The Spectacle Lakes are in a beautiful location, at the I had Gotye in my head all day. 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. 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. We were counting AVALANCHEâ Colorado, Mt. 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. It was almost all snow climbing, but there were a couple of short mixed/rock sections where the snow had melted out. Nothing on this website constitutes an endorsement to ski or ride any of the areas described herein. The⦠0. Frederick Chapin`s wife, who noted the âYâ Couloir that stands out prominently on the east face of the peak, named Ypsilon Mountain in 1888. They are both threatened by cornice as well as avalanche and rockfall danger. 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. 7:00am-3:00pm Ypsilon Lake 9.1 E F 2680â 10760â 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. Mummy Kill (aka Mummy Mania) llamaman. like the sword of Damocles waiting to fall and take us out. You could die in any area. About a 5-6 mile approach and then its a steep 2500 foot climb to the summit at 13514 feet. 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! 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 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. Trail: The Blitzen Ridge Class 5.4-5.6, ~12 miles, 6500 ft elevation gain. About two thirds up the climb, while I was looking for an sight of the alpine sunrise. Ypsilon (13,514'), Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. 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. By choosing to use this website you hereby agree to these terms. I was discussing this with Dan recently. 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. 7:30am-1:30pm Beaver Mountain Loop and Upper Beaver Meadows 5.0 F E 800â 9217â Tom S. The fall was about 2 body lengths into a cold dark torrent of water. Pho⦠0. Ypsilon Lake to Spectacle Lakes cirque. 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. he climbed up to see what had happened to me. 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. .js-singleComment { FONT face: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 100%; color: soft snow, and sections where the snow was wet and mushy. also because the couloirs were topped with big, scary cornices, which would become more unstable the warmer they got. but 2 short pitches. from Christian, so I didn't freeze. Routes | Ascents ... Y Couloir: 5.4 0 Add a Photo. Looking waaay down the Yippy Y Couloir. Mummy Masochism. 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 Fairchild to Ypsilon â 1.2 miles peak to peak and 1,200â² feet vertical gain from the low point on the ridge. Symbolism. Notes: 2 liters of water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layers of clothing, hat, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, & sturdy shoes. Ypsilon Lake takes its name from Ypsilon Mountain, which lies just northwest of the lake. Disclaimer: The backcountry is always dangerous. Avalanche conditions are incredibly dangerous this season. 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 âYâ couloir can be seen from miles away and always catches my eye. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This worried us because the snow would be more mushy and less secure to climb, and 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. The Chapin-Chiquita-Ypsilon Trifecta, aka "Mommiesâ Day Out" ftfunmom. Mt Ypsilon Trip Report. We hiked along the east face of Ypsilon and peered down into the two branches of the Y Couloir. 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