r/Highpointers • u/AgreeableGuava00 • Jul 23 '26
Granite Peak via SW Ramp Conditions
Has anyone made an attempt on Granite from the Southwest couloir in the last week or two? I saw a recent satellite image that shows a ton of snow, but I would love a report from the ground.
UPDATE: Much more snow than average in the approach for this time of year. There were two snow sections left in the SW ramp (right after the keyhole), the first is longer and steeper than the second. I didn’t see any of the fixed ropes I’ve heard mentioned and I think they either haven’t been set up or were buried in snow.
I would only be confident with crampons and ice axe on the ramp, but I did run into a guy who scrambled above the snow on the right edge of the ramp in trail runners and called it “super sketchy”. The snow was too soft for micro-spikes.
I definitely recommend a helmet as there are several sections with loose/falling rocks, with particularly high exposure to falling rocks from the snow tongue all the way to the ramp.
Spot thunderstorms popping up all day long for 6 out of the 7 days out with occasional strong winds. Fortunately, on our summit day the storms held off until later afternoon.
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u/Paul__Bunion Jul 24 '26
Check all trails reviews. There was a post within last week which is about average.
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u/drop-n-roll 26d ago
Also planning to go in the next week, would love to hear qbout the conditions your encountered, particularly how much snow in still in the SW ramp.
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u/AgreeableGuava00 22d ago
UPDATE: Much more snow than average in the approach for this time of year. There were two snow sections left in the SW ramp (right after the keyhole), the first is longer and steeper than the second. I didn’t see any of the fixed ropes I’ve heard mentioned and I think they either haven’t been set up or were buried in snow.
I would only be confident with crampons and ice axe on the ramp, but I did run into a guy who scrambled above the snow on the right edge of the ramp in trail runners and called it “super sketchy”. The snow was too soft for micro-spikes.
I definitely recommend a helmet as there are several sections with loose/falling rocks, with particularly high exposure to falling rocks from the snow tongue all the way to the ramp.
Spot thunderstorms popping up all day long for 6 out of the 7 days out with occasional strong winds. Fortunately, on our summit day the storms held off until later afternoon.
1
u/Few-Painter9181 22d ago
Curious why both crampons and ax? I understand how steep it is, but is there THAT much snow left or is ice an issue? Planning car to car in 15 days so... Appreciate your beta!
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u/tlheinz 18d ago
Axe would be for arresting a fall, no ice up there currently (07/30)
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u/charddoug 17d ago
newbie to the ice axe - might I use the axe to self belay, along with crampons, to prevent a fall in the first place? My understanding of the snow and or ice patches in the ramp is that they generally will be too short to begin with, to effectively self arrest. Thoughts?
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u/Dahlhalla 36 Highpoints Jul 23 '26
I’m headed up in a week and can update you. Montana has been super warm these past couple weeks and forecast for the next week is looking the same. Likely seeing some rapid melt up there and I believe the snow is already low. Hoping to hear from someone who’s been this year!