Statistics

  • Date - 05/04/2008
  • Elevation - 13,250'
  • Route - East Ridge
  • Miles - 7.9
  • Elevation Gain - 3,030'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Jeff Kunkle, Jeff Shafer

Description

I've wanted to climb Mount Bancroft's east ridge ever since buying the Colorado Scrambles guide book and finishing the 14ers.  I recently purchased the Colorado Snow Climbs book which also has the route as a winter climb.  Both Jeffs inquired about hiking something this particular weekend so I suggested Mount Bancroft.  Everyone read a few trip reports and decided to give it a go.  This hike has a little of everything to offer in terms of terrain; a snowshoe hike, some steeper snow climbing, snow bridge crossings, a long rappel, a very short technical pitch, a bit of class 4 climbing, and lots of class three scrambling.  I thought it was a fun route, and we had good weather.  We had to park at the intersection of Alice and Stewart Roads and didn't reach the notch/rappel for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.  We reached the summit in five hours and hung out on the top of Mount Bancroft for 45 minutes before descending down the southeast ridge of Bancroft.

Photos

Mount BancroftMount BancroftJeff KunkleMount Bancroft East RidgeJeff Kunkle and Jeff ShaferJeff Kunkle and Jeff ShaferJeff Kunkle and Jeff ShaferSnow RidgeJames RappelJeff Kunkle RappelJeff Shafer RappelShort Technical PitchShort Technical PitchShort Technical PitchJames and Jeff ShaferJeff ShaferJeff ShaferJeff KunkleSnow RidgeScramblingScramblingSkiers silhouetted against Grays Peak and Torreys Peak.ScramblingScramblingJames PeakSummit Snow FieldJeff Shafer and JamesJeff KunkleJames PeakParry PeakEast Ridge NotchEast Ridge Notch