Fletcher Mountain (2)
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• Statistics:
  • Date Hiked:  May 20, 2012
  • Miles Hiked:  7.0
  • Elevation Gain:  3,000'
  • Hiking Partner(s):  Jeff Kunkle
• Description:
  • Jeff wasn't going to be able to get out in a while, so when he sent out an email looking for a Sunday partner I made a withdrawal from the marriage bank and decided to join him.  He's been ticking off snow climbs in Dave Cooper's guide book and thought the east face of Fletcher Mountain had a cool route on it that would only take half a day.  Since we were coming from different directions and had to drive separate, this route worked out well because we could use a car shuttle to avoid approximately 5 miles of road hiking.  We met at the Blue Lakes Trailhead at 5:00 am on the south side of Quandary Peak and left his vehicle before driving around to the north side of the mountain to the McCullough Gulch Trailhead.
  • We started hiking up the basin at 5:10 am and made good time up the trail to the base of the route.  I felt pretty good despite having a reasonably big day for me on Friday.  We geared up and Jeff led us up the east face couloir.  He opted for the steeper left branch which topped out only a hundred feet below the summit.  The couloir had generally moderate snow steepness until the final 30' where it steepened before the exit.  The climb and entire east face of Fletcher Mountain reminded us of the east face of James Peak with regard to how the couloirs split the mountainside.
  • We descended to the southeast and were back at the Blue Lakes Trailhead at 9:30 am.  Jeff pulled out a growler of Red Rocket Pale Ale from the Bristol Brewing Company.  We had a couple beers and talked to some Canadians, one of which was getting married the following day.  We watched two people climb the Cristo Couloir for a while and couldn't quite understand why they chose that route since it had melted out significantly and was not a continuous snow climb.  Jeff drove me back to my vehicle at the McCullough Gulch Trailhead and we were both home by noon.
• Maps:
  • Click here to view a 2D map of the area where this hike is located.
• Photographs:
  • Fletcher Mountain on the approach.
  • The route we snow climbed.
  • Jeff ready to start up the couloir.
  • Near the base of the split in the face.
  • Jeff enjoying the views as we are about half way up.
  • The exit of the couloir is in sight.
  • Looking down the route about half way up.
  • Jeff finishing off the snow climb.
    • Photo 1
    • Photo 2
    • Photo 3
    • Photo 4
  • Jeff with Quandary Peak in the background.
  • James finishing off the snow climb.
    • Photo 1
    • Photo 2
    • Photo 3
    • Photo 4
  • Looking down the entire length of the couloir.
  • James on the final steps to the summit with Quandary Peak in the background.
  • Lincoln, Cameron, and Democrat to the south.  I climbed the north face of Democrat two days prior to this climb.
  • Jeff's summit photo.
  • James' summit photo.
  • Red Rocket Pale Ale

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