Castle - Castlebra - Condundrum
Date: 8/9/2019
Trailhead: Castle Creek
Summits: Castle > Castleabra > Castle > Conundrum
Distance: 10.1 Miles
Elevation Gain: 4750ft
Time: 7.5 Hours
Partners: Robby Grace, Kristi Henes(Castle & Conundrum Only)
GPX
We drove my Tacoma to the highest camp spot on the road (roughly 11400) and spent the night.
In the morning we hiked about 2 miles to where the road ended and headed up the snow to the start of the northeast ridge trail. Hiking to Castle's summit was straight forward from there.
From Castle's summit we headed down Castle's steep southwest ridge towards 13820 and Castleabra. There were two major obsticles to negotiate between Castle and the 13820 saddle.
- A cliff on the ridge that needed to be skirted on the right. We dropped off the right side of the ridge on loose screen and popped into a channel between a snow field and the cliff. We used this channel to traverse to the base of the cliff and back to the ridge. See picture #11.
- Just before the Castle / 13820 saddle there is steep and loose down climb to the left of the ridge. I would rate this section as class 4. We down climbed one at a time to avoid rock fall. Pictures 14, 15, 16, 24 and 25. This section (in both directions) is the crux of the route.
After getting through the second obsticle we scrambled over 13820 and on to Castleabra. Descending (and climbing) 13820 was much easier than Castle.
After enjoying Castleabra's summit we re-traced our steps back to the summit of Castle.
From Castle we tagged Conundrum then enjoyed some fun glissading back to the road and our hike back to camp.
Distance: 10.1 Miles - Elevation Gain: 4750ft
Robby at the top of the road
Robby climbing the snow. Spikes were useful but not necessary
Alex hiking Castle's northeast ridge
Conundrum and Cathedral(top right)
Looking over Conundrum's south ridge to Pyramid, the Bells, Capitol and Snowmass. We climbed Snowmass the next day.
Robby close to Castle's summit
Looking northwest to Pyramid, the Bells, Capitol and Snowmass.
Alex down climbing on Castle's southwest ridge
Robby using a channel above the snow field to skirt the cliff
Looking over to 13820 and Castleabra
Alex approaching the crux down climb which is just ahead on the left of the ridge
Robby down climbs the crux
Robby down climbs the crux
Alex on the crux
Robby on 13820 with Castle and Conundrum behind
Descending 13820 with Castleabra ahead
Robby on Castleabra's summit heading back towards Castle
Back at the Castle/13820 saddle getting ready to climb the crux
Robby on the crux
Robby on the crux... trust nothing
Castleabra from Castle
Alex approaches Conundrum's summit
Cool view of Castle's northeast ridge
Taking in the views of Castle
Descending Conundrum with views of Castleabra and 13820
It was loose and slick hiking down to the snow... but all fun from here
An axe and gloves made the glissade even more fun
Alex glissading back to the road
Hiking back to camp