Conditions

Unknown

History

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Avalanche risk for Dec 10, 2018: Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Full forecast for CAIC: Front Range Zone — Brought to you by CO Avalanche Information Center

Avy tweets from @CAICfrontrange

“The typical skin track up the South Diamond.”

— garrett knorr

Driving Directions GPX File

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Description

Park in the large pull off and follow the largest drainage up to about treeline. While in the drainage, try to stay left of the stream even if it means going into the trees for short sections.

Once you reach treeline(ish), traverse looker's right to the less steep section, just a little bit right of where most of the small trees are. The skin track usually does a number of switchbacks before arriving at the top. The angle finally flattens out right at the top.
The switchbacks have been known to give people trouble, hence my "difficult" rating.

From here, choose your line down the South Diamond; the lowest angle is furthest skier's left.

My trail map is not perfect but it does show the drainage used for the approach, how far right to traverse before starting the switchbacks, and about where to make the switchbacks which appear a lot longer online than in reality.