Hoser's Highway

About

Hoser's Highway is a 900-foot, Grade IV ice route located on the northern side of Peak 13,419 near Silverton, Colorado. The climb consists of four steep sections of ice with minimal slogging between them, situated within two parallel gullies. The right-hand gully is slightly more difficult than the left. The left gully features a thin pillar crux midway up, while the right gully's crux is located higher near the summit. Early-season conditions may include a small section of mixed climbing if ice has not fully formed. Protection requires screws of various sizes, and some rock protection may be useful. Access involves two options: Option 1 is a long approach up and left across a snow slope with a small grove of aspens to drop into the gully below the climb. Option 2 is the recommended route, involving walking up the road to the base of the climb, crossing the river on an avalanche debris pile, and wallowing up the gully. Climbers should check avalanche conditions before using Option 2. Descent is typically done by walking off to the left, though rapping on v-threads is an alternative. GPS coordinates are 37.8808, -107.5666.