Route: Southeast Face

Team: Ted (solo)

After Lindsey I headed to the South Colony Lakes 2wd trailhead and set up camp out of the truck. I was asleep by nine.

In the dark I pushed up the road on the ATV, taking it until snow finally stopped me. I would ski down Humboldt’s long Southeast gully to near there so it was actually the prefect place to stop.

I skinned past a tent of sleepy climbers camped in the summer parking area and was at the lower lake in about forty-five minutes. Having been here in March to ski the Needle I was pretty familiar with the route through the trees.

Above the lake the typical Sangre winds picked up, and big clouds were coming— not the T-storm type, just the mean, windy, low visibility kind. I followed snow between sections of dry trail to the saddle on Humboldt’s West Ridge and then followed more snow and scree to the summit. Thankfully the winds were from behind because they were strong, and against the skis on my back they pushed me all over.

I put my skis on and headed down the long Southeast Face.