With unseasonably high temps and instability lurking in the snow pack statewide, I was a little hesitant to drive to Lake City for an attempt on Wetterhorn. Upon seeing the overnight freeze was forecast to be around 32 degrees, we decided to give it a shot at the last minute. Partners for this trip ended up being Wes, with whom I have skied several peaks over the years, as well as David and Tyler. Keep reading…
This snow year, while extremely plump everywhere else in the state, has been less than stellar for these poor peaks, so needless to say I’m happy to have gotten down there for one. I’m also happy to have gotten out with two new partners, Scott Borger and Brennan Metzler, with whom I had exchanged emails but never actually met prior to this trip. The six of us set off at 6:30 or so, initially booting up dry road with a few intermittent snow drifts. Overall we were content though as we were able to park within a half mile of the Lily Lakes TH. Keep reading…
I headed up to Pikes Peak a few weeks back with Rick, Justin, and Brian to have a go at the Y Couloir. Pikes had recently gotten blanketed with a Front Range spring upslope, so we knew there was a good chance it would be in and possible even good. On top of that we knew Brittany Walker’s group would likely be up there as the window on Pikes was looking small for the season and she had saved it for last in her quest to ski the Colorado 14ers. Keep reading…
We began skinning at 3am as a group of four, intent on skiing El Diente and maybe Mt. Wilson if things went well. Rick, with whom we had skied Wilson Peak the day before, decided he wanted to sleep in and enjoy a liesure day at camp. Understandable given the day we had prior, and also given the fact that skiing El Diente from Silver Pick involves gaining the Rock of Ages Saddle, twice, and climbing and skiing a steep line on tired legs. Keep reading…