zia

I went up Granite on 29 July 2015 via the SW couloir. No ice axe nor traction was needed. A helmet is a must due to loose rock in the steep narrow couloir though. There was some thin ice in places due to seeping. Two ropes are anchored in the couloir too. Be careful pulling on the ropes, when I did it to the lower rope I dislodged a boulder which almost took me out. The route on Granite and the approach is marked with cairns. Lots of scree/talus, rock hopping and scrambling. Cairns provide a guide for much of the route especially since a trail is mostly nonexistent from Lone Elk lake on. Beyond Lady of the Lakes there are no route markers/signs but a trail is obvious to Lone Elk lake. Cell phone (Verizon) was spotty although I did get service on the summit if I held my phone high. Expect to hop a lot of rocks especially after Rough lake.