It’s been a good snow year in Colorado so far. On the heels of the most recent January storm cycle, a wave of high pressure moved over the state for a few days and Brian and I decided to take advantage. After mulling over a few options we landed on Crystal Peak’s east face, a classic route on a friendly peak that Brian and I first skied back in 2012 and eventually went on to include as one of the 50 routes in our guidebook. Read more…
For Christmas this year Anna-Lisa and I decided to change things up by heading over to Aspen and skinning into the Benedict Huts on Christmas Eve. Cozied up in a backcountry hut 6 miles from civilization made for a unique and seemingly appropriate way to spend the holiday. Nestled in the hills southeast of Aspen at 11,000 feet, the Fritz and Fabi Benedict Huts are some of the most recently constructed in the 10th Mountain Division Hut system. Built in 1997, they were named in honor of the late Fritz Benedict and his wife Fabi. Read more…
“Ya know, next time we could always try something a little easier…” That was Josh’s assessment after a winter outing on Longs Peak last year. That was the last time we got out together, and he was right. It seems like just about every time we climb together it’s via a route that is a mini-epic. But with some afternoon commitments looming on this particular Saturday, plus both of us eager to take his advice, we settled on a close, quick objective near Denver for our Saturday tour. Keep Reading…
With this year’s crazy snow totals still lingering in Colorado’s high country, and Independence Pass open on June 1st, it was time to head up there and do some skiing. On Saturday the 8th Mitchell and I skied the east face of “Mountain Boy Peak”, the prominent face visible from 82 as you approach the pass from the east. Keep reading…