West Buttress

The West Buttress is a great route that follows the prominent buttress directly under the summit of Snowdon. The rock is of decent quality for the San Juans, but there is still plenty of loose stuff. The route starts off as a scramble and steepens as you get higher. Most parties will want to rope a couple hundred feet from the summit or it is possible to bypass the 4th class sections climbing through the gully just to the right of the Buttress.

Take the climbing trail until you are able to ascend the scree field to the base of the climb. The route follows the buttress between two gullies. Follow the Northeast Ridge Route to descend.

A light alpine rack with a selection of nuts and cams. A helmet is recommended.