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Snowdrift Buttress Rock Climbing

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Routes in Snowdrift Buttress

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Sky Pilot T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a

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Elevation:	11,360 ft
GPS:	40.3753, -105.616 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	4,071 total · 21/month
Shared By:	Les Moore on Aug 17, 2007
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Closures Details

Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."

For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.

General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.

Description

Snowdrift Buttress is a remote, steep, East-facing, granite outcropping on the rocky Western wall of the Ptarmigan Creek drainage, just West of Snowdrift Lake. The climbing on the main ESE facing central buttress is good quality alpine rock with wind, sun, lichen, and seclusion. The NE side of the buttress is wet and has lots of thick lichen. Snowdrift Buttress is easily identified by the distinctive pointed roof at its top (the Ptarmigan Beak).

Getting There

An overnight stay in Ptarmigan Creek is recommended (RMNP cross-country zone 2M, permit required). Snowdrift Buttress is 8.5 miles one-way from the Bear Lake trailhead. Take the Flattop Mountain trail to the top of Flattop Mountain (12,324) and continue about 300 yards West to a trail junction to the North Inlet and Tonahutu Creek trails. Turn right at the junction following the Tonahutu Creek trail. Follow the trail West and North along the Continental Divide for approximately 2 miles, passing point 12,277 on the left. At approximately 11,840 (where the trail begins to gently drop into upper Tonahutu Creek), leave the trail to the left, heading SW toward Snowdrift Peak. Continue cross-country for nearly 1 mile to the 11,520'+ saddle between the Continental Divide and Snowdrift Peak. Descend to the South from the saddle into upper Ptarmigan Creek, skirting a large, unnamed lake along its Western shore. Continue SSW along the Western side of the basin to the East shore of Snowdrift Lake. Continue around the South shore of Snowdrift Lake and ascend talus and/or snow to the West toward the steep buttress above the lake (Snowdrift Buttress). Snowdrift Buttress is just right (north) of the low point on the rocky ridge line forming the Western side of the basin and is capped by a distinctive, pointed roof (the Ptarmigan Beak).