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Hike Pyramid Peak in White River National Forest, Colorado - Stav is Lost

Hike Pyramid Peak White River National Forest, CO

Class 4 7.4 miles 4400 gain 4-6 hrs Out and Back
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
DirectionsRoute MapDownload GPX

Sep 15, 2016 — Starting from the Maroon Bells Trailhead, pass Maroon Lake ascending en route to Crater Lake. Just before dropping down toward Crater Lake, a nice trail leads south, switchbacking up the talus-filled slopes leading to a a boulder field, where the trail disappears and some Class 2 begins. The boulder field leads into the basin just north of Pyramid Peak. I could see the peak ahead, and there seemed to be a lot of snow up there. I wasn't feeling confident without crampons, and being solo. I persisted through the boulder field and located the trail leading up the steep slope, leading east up to the northeastern ridge of Pyramid Peak. I made a friend named Joe along the way, and we kept each other feeling strong on the ascent up the slope. The snow made it a bit scary, and we both admitted that without the other being there, we would have turned back.

Once on the northeast ridge of Pyramid Peak, we headed along the ridge, encountering lots of Class 2 and some Class 3 moves, much of the route keeping on the south side of the ridge. It was well-cairned and we only got a little confused toward the top when we encountered the light Class 4 section up a lighter-colored wall where the scree seemed to erode the social trails. A series of ledges continued to the summit from here, with some more Class 3.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Pyramid Peak
14018 ft
1618 rise

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photo protector Maroon Lake in autumn is pretty much too perfect.
Maroon Lake in autumn is pretty much too perfect.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Heading toward Crater Lake, following West Maroon Creek.
Heading toward Crater Lake, following West Maroon Creek.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Pyramid Peak visible to the south, while along the trail.
Pyramid Peak visible to the south, while along the trail.
photo protector View back toward Maroon Lake.
View back toward Maroon Lake.
photo protector The Maroons, taken just before leaving the main trail and heading up the Pyramid Peak Trail.
The Maroons, taken just before leaving the main trail and heading up the Pyramid Peak Trail.
photo protector Starting along the Pyramid Peak Trail.
Starting along the Pyramid Peak Trail.
photo protector Looking back toward Maroon Lake along the Pyramid Trail.
Looking back toward Maroon Lake along the Pyramid Trail.
photo protector Talus/scree with a trail to more easily navigate through this.
Talus/scree with a trail to more easily navigate through this.
photo protector View toward the Maroons as I work my way up the switchbacks.
View toward the Maroons as I work my way up the switchbacks.
photo protector Continuing up the trail, just before entering the basin just north of Pyramid Peak, where a big boulder field waits.
Continuing up the trail, just before entering the basin just north of Pyramid Peak, where a big boulder field waits.
photo protector Entering the boulder field, Pyramid Peak visible center.
Entering the boulder field, Pyramid Peak visible center.
photo protector Continuing through the boulder field.
Continuing through the boulder field.
photo protector Looking back the way I came through the boulder field.
Looking back the way I came through the boulder field.
photo protector Another progress shot through the boulder field. Pyramid Peak center. The route curves around to the left.
Another progress shot through the boulder field. Pyramid Peak center. The route curves around to the left.
photo protector View of the slope to ascend to gain the saddle (center). The snow made it more difficult.
View of the slope to ascend to gain the saddle (center). The snow made it more difficult.
photo protector Heading up the slope, view back into the basin. Pyramid Peak out of shot top left.
Heading up the slope, view back into the basin. Pyramid Peak out of shot top left.
photo protector Class 2 slope.
Class 2 slope.
photo protector Snow falling off Pyramid Peak as I headed up the slope.
Snow falling off Pyramid Peak as I headed up the slope.
photo protector Continuing up the steep slope, the saddle just ahead.
Continuing up the steep slope, the saddle just ahead.
photo protector Looking back down the slope.
Looking back down the slope.
photo protector At the saddle, view west toward Pyramid Peak's east slope.
At the saddle, view west toward Pyramid Peak's east slope.
photo protector My new friend Joe enjoying the views south as we started along the ridge.
My new friend Joe enjoying the views south as we started along the ridge.
photo protector View southeast as we work along the ridge.
View southeast as we work along the ridge.
photo protector View west, as we work along the south side of Pyramid Peak's northeast ridge.
View west, as we work along the south side of Pyramid Peak's northeast ridge.
photo protector Interesting little catwalk feature.
Interesting little catwalk feature.
photo protector Approaching the Class 4 section ahead, a steep gully on a lighter-colored wall. This is where the social trail isn't super obvious.
Approaching the Class 4 section ahead, a steep gully on a lighter-colored wall. This is where the social trail isn't super obvious.
photo protector Class 4. The rock is fairly loose, but the scramble is fun anyway. We were happy for no more snow.
Class 4. The rock is fairly loose, but the scramble is fun anyway. We were happy for no more snow.
photo protector View down the exposure on the Class 4 section.
View down the exposure on the Class 4 section.
photo protector More Class 4.
More Class 4.
photo protector View north toward the northeast ridge of Pyramid, the way we came.
View north toward the northeast ridge of Pyramid, the way we came.
photo protector More fun ledges just below the summit.
More fun ledges just below the summit.
photo protector The trail continues more obviously for a bit.
The trail continues more obviously for a bit.
photo protector View south as we continue up the scramble.
View south as we continue up the scramble.
photo protector Last bit of Class 3 to the summit.
Last bit of Class 3 to the summit.
photo protector Pyramid Peak, view west to the Maroons.
Pyramid Peak, view west to the Maroons.
photo protector Maroons close-up.
Maroons close-up.
photo protector View north from Pyramid Peak summit.
View north from Pyramid Peak summit.
photo protector Pyramid Peak summit, view south.
Pyramid Peak summit, view south.
photo protector On the way back, I got another shot of the Class 2 approach slope without snow. Significantly less intimidating.
On the way back, I got another shot of the Class 2 approach slope without snow. Significantly less intimidating.

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