Christy makes her way across the rolling basin to the East Ridge.
Route: Yawner Gullies (SW)
Team: Ted, Christy
We had come off Sneffels the weekend prior, and decided to head back down to the San Juans for a combo ice climbing trip/ San Luis Peak ski. After a couple of days in the Ouray Ice Park, we made our way to Creede for the night. It just so happened the International Pond Hockey Tournament was happening, and we encountered a whole slew of Canucks in the pizzeria slamming beers and shots in preparation for the big tourney.
But we were in bed early. The short day ensured a pre-dawn start, and we headed up to the trailhead and unloaded the snowmobile. After sledding the snow covered road, we switched to skins and climbed up to San Luis Pass. From there were made the big traverse around the mountain, and followed the long East Ridge all the way to the summit.
Snow cover was thin, or maybe typical for January, so we carefully picked our way down to the valley floor and easily found the summer trail leading back up to San Luis Pass. It was hard work skinning up the heavily faceted snow in the trees, also typical for January, and we made it up to San Luis Pass as the sun was setting. From there it’s an easy descent back to the sled, and for the second week in a row, we finished in the dark.
Tiring but well worth it, we made the trip to Lake City where we spent the night and then played around in their Ice Park the following day.
Atop San Luis Pass, the thin ski lines are in view behind.
Christy makes her way across the rolling basin to the East Ridge.
Once on the East Ridge we came up on this recently deceased elk. Other elk were with it and reluctantly fled, but only after we got really close.
Just below the summit.
Christy on the summit.
Scouting the route off the top.
Christy skis.
Ted on the descent.
Back up on San Luis Pass as the sunset. The day was almost complete.
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