Intermediate Alpine Climb – RMNP - Sundance Couloir

A good opportunity to practice your snow climbing skills with a minimal approach hike. Participants should have some prior experience with snow climbing and use of ice ax and crampons. 

The approach is from a turnout on Trail Ridge Road west of the Forest Canyon Overlook and about a mile east of the Rock Cut parking area at an elevation of about 12,000'. Hike up about 500' across tundra and snow to near the summit of Sundance Mtn, 12,466'. Lower or rappel the cornice to descend about 400' in the couloir. Re-climb the couloir, including the cornice section, using rope belays for security where appropriate. The snow climb averages +/-40 degrees with a short section of 50 degrees or more.  

Appropriate weather and snowpack conditions are crucial for this climb. Hence we may change the date of the climb a few days before the scheduled date to achieve the necessary conditions if weather and snowpack look marginal. Could use a participant with Basic Mountaineering School/Alpine Climbing School type experience to help set up rope systems. 

Description: Colorado Snow Climbs by Dave Cooper, p.169.

Meeting time: TBD

Meeting Location: RMNP Beaver Meadows Visitor Center parking lot on highway 36 west of Estes Park. 

Registration: Please contact the trip leader at dpoppeli@gmail.com to register. Preference is given to students of the Northern Colorado Alpine Scrambling Course although this trip will not count towards the ASC requirement of 3 completed elective scrambles. Others are placed on the standby list and will be moved to the participant list by June 1, provided that there is room.