Rocky Mountain National Park: 3 peaks - Flattop, Hallett, Otis
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.61 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5,843 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 5,843 ft
- Max elevation
- 12,753 ft
- TrailRank
- 19
- Min elevation
- 9,321 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 10 hours 5 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2290
- Uploaded
- August 9, 2013
- Recorded
- August 2013
near Fall River Estates Subdivision, Colorado (United States)
Viewed 648 times, downloaded 15 times
Itinerary description
A challenging hike with a lot of walking across boulders and unmarked tundra. If you decide to descend Andrew's Glacier, beware, the glacier has become much more dangerous. Many years ago the descent down the right side (viewed from above) worked out pretty safely and easily even without crampons and ice axe. Now, there are really deep crevasse on the right side. Also there are ice sheets that go across the glacier which are impassable without crampons. We had to follow one of these ice sheets to the left until there was a break where we were able to descend on softer snow without needing crampons. I would rate Andrew's Glacier as VERY difficult.
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The descent on Andrews Glacier is much more dangerous than it used to be due to melting/global warming. We descended on the right side (looking down from the top) along the highest part of the glacier. About 2/3 of the way down we encountered an ice sheet extending down about 80 feet with about 80 feet of softer snow below and then the rocks. Without an ice axe or crampons it's impossible to cross safely. So we turned left and followed the top of the ice sheet across the glacier. Fortunately there was a break which we could pass through and continue our descent.