Colorado Mountain School

A few shots from Bernardo and Clint’s recent climb of Better Than Love on Hallett Peak. It’s always fun to see where our guides spend their days off.

Thanks for sharing these, Bernardo!

Ptarmigan Finger Conditions | July 15, 2026

One of our guides, Norie Kizaki, climbed Ptarmigan Finger on July 15th and reported favorable early morning snow conditions.

The left Ptarmigan Finger remained shaded on its lower half until about 10:00 a.m., providing good crampon conditions through at least mid morning. A breeze near the top also helped keep the snow firm, even on sun exposed sections.

Photos from the day’s outing!

*These observations reflect one guide’s experience on a single outing on July 15, 2026. They are shared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be an official conditions report or route recommendation. Mountain conditions can change rapidly due to weather, temperature, precipitation, rockfall, and seasonal changes. Always make your own assessment and decisions in the field.

Blitzen Ridge in prime summer conditions. Friday’s team enjoyed a full day of alpine climbing on one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s classic alpine routes!

Ptarmigan Finger Conditions | July 15, 2026

One of our guides, Norie Kizaki, climbed Ptarmigan Finger yesterday, July 15, and reported favorable early morning snow conditions.

The left Ptarmigan Finger remained shaded on its lower half until about 10:00 a.m., providing good crampon conditions through at least mid morning. A breeze near the top also helped keep the snow firm, even on sun exposed sections.

Photos from the day’s outing.

These observations reflect one guide’s experience on a single outing on July 15, 2026. They are shared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be an official conditions report or route recommendation. Mountain conditions can change rapidly due to weather, temperature, precipitation, rockfall, and seasonal changes. Always make your own assessment and decisions in the field.

A few photos from recent days out in Eldorado Canyon with our guides.

Eldo has no shortage of quality climbing, whether you’re looking to build trad skills, work on movement, or spend the day climbing classic routes.

Thanks to Nathan Sandidge for sharing these moments from the week!

A few photos from a special day on the rock.

Our guide Clint Locks volunteered his time to take two Make-A-Wish participants climbing, sharing the joy of climbing and helping create a memorable experience outdoors.

Thanks, Clint, for your generosity and for representing the Colorado Mountain School community so well!

Keyhole Route Conditions | June 24

Our guides were on Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route on June 24 and reported the following conditions:

Weather
- Temperatures in the 50s with light winds.

Route
• The Ledges were completely dry.
• Snow in the Trough was avoidable until roughly the final 150 feet. During this outing, crampons were used to climb the remaining snow, which ranged from firm to icy.
• The Narrows were completely dry.
• The Homestretch was nearly dry, with a few patches of snow and ice on climber’s left that were easily avoided by staying on the rock to climber’s right.

North Face (Cables) Descent
• Upper section was dry.
• Lower down, snow transitioned from wet, slushy conditions to firmer ice. A well-established climber’s track was present during this outing.
• The upper eye bolt appeared to remain covered, while the middle three eye bolts were exposed and accessible.

Photos from June 24.

These observations are based on our guides’ experience during a single outing on June 24, 2026. They are shared for informational purposes only and are not an official conditions report or route recommendation. Mountain conditions can change rapidly due to weather, temperature, precipitation, and time of day. Always make your own assessment and decisions in the field.

Little Matterhorn Conditions | June 24, 2026

One of our guides spent the day on Little Matterhorn via the Standard Route on June 24 and reported generally dry early-season conditions.

The approach was dry overall, with only a few small patches of snow below Lake Helene that were easily avoided. Above treeline, travel consisted primarily of talus leading to the low point between the ridge and Knobtop’s East Ridge.

On route, the approach gully contained loose rock, with rock quality improving higher on the mountain. The ridge traverse followed a combination of faint climber’s trails and intermittent cairns, making route-finding an important part of the day. During this outing, rock protection was used once on the descent at the 4th-class slab leading back into the approach gully.

Weather was warm with smoky skies throughout the climb.

Photos from the day’s outing!

*These observations reflect one guide’s experience on a single outing on June 24, 2026. They are shared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be an official conditions report or route recommendation. Mountain conditions can change rapidly due to weather, temperature, precipitation, rockfall, and seasonal changes. Always make your own assessment and decisions in the field.

Ripsaw Ridge Update | Arrowhead

One of our guides recently climbed Ripsaw Ridge on Arrowhead and shared the following observations from the outing:

• The approach via Black Lake and Shelf Lake was largely snow-free.
• The Shelf Lake cutoff trail was visible and easy to identify in daylight conditions.
• Rock conditions on the route were dry during the climb.
• Most of the terrain encountered consisted of easier 5th-class climbing, with several route options available along the ridge.
• No significant snow or ice obstacles were encountered on the approach, route, or descent during this outing.
• Descent was completed via Solitude Lake.

*Please note that these observations reflect one guide’s experience on a single outing earlier this month. They are shared for informational purposes only and are not an official route description, recommendation, or conditions report. Mountain conditions can change rapidly due to weather, temperature, precipitation, rockfall, and seasonal snow melt. Always make your own assessment and decisions in the field.

Questions about any of our course offerings or custom options? Reach out to us here!