Christy drops in for the third ski of the tour. They’re right in our backyard yet somehow Christy and I had never skied Taylor Peak or Star Peak. It was time. We caught a really good view of the 13,000 foot summits last week on our flight to CB for the Grand Traverse. Armed with a couple of photos and a good idea of the terrain having skied up in...
On the route between Taylor Pass and Barnard Hut at daybreak. Christy and I completed another Elk Mountains Grand Traverse, our 14th, and 8th time as a coed duo. We just can’t stay away. The annual ski race/pilgrimage From Crested Butte to Aspen started at midnight on Friday and sent 215 teams of two on the 40 mile journey. (more…)
From the Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2015. We’ll leave it to the Wall Street Journal to ask that question, in a story that ran in Tuesday’s paper about Christy, 14ers, her training, and more. It was a cool story, and considering how often the press misses the mark on topics outside of their expertise, I think they did a really good job. (more…)
After an unusually long stretch of high pressure, it finally snowed. And with the arrival of the storm that broke the six-week sunny pattern, we headed up to a favorite spot.
A sunny perch in a sweet spot. It was great day to be out in the mountains. We’re waiting for new snow here, it seems like the East Coast has been rather selfishly hogging it all lately. But even though the backcountry powder conditions may be less-than-fresh, there are still some sunny, scenic touring days to be had. We ventured up Sievers Mountain recently, and apart from some challenging conditions...
Cresting Mace Saddle, the high point of the loop around Mace Peak. A week of sun and warm temps crusted up the powder in the backcountry, so we thought a different type of ski tour was in order. We grabbed the light skis and made a loop around nearby Mace Peak. (more…)
Starting the new year off right. If snowfall is any measure, it was an outstanding holiday season here in Aspen. Nearly four feet of snow fell over the two week period, and the skiing was incredible. (more…)
We escaped the holiday season craziness in Aspen and headed up to Tagert Hut for Christmas Eve, up in Pearl Basin above Ashcroft.
Breaking trail to the high point in the upper basin. Castle Peak’s 14,000 foot summit is up above. Conundrum Peak doesn’t make the cut as an official 14er according to the Colorado Mountain Club and the 300′ rule. But the Conundrum Couloir that splits its east face is such a classic climb and ski that it deserves a spot on every Colorado ski mountaineers checklist. A friend told me that...
The view from the summit of Mount Adams. Click for enlarged view. As far as Colorado ski mountaineering is concerned, I’ve always considered the 3rd week in May to be my favorite stretch of time. The random weather that tends to sweep through the state earlier in the season usually gives way to a dry and sunny summer pattern. That in turn allows for cold clear nights and a reliable...
We met in Aspen in 2000 and have been happily stuck in the rockies ever since, getting out in the mountains every day we can, in every season and by all means possible. Read More
