11) La Plata Peak 14,336 ft 5-21-07

La Plata peak is the 5th tallest mountain in CO and is known by many for its amazing North face ski descent opportunities as seen here in a picture of the north face from down low on Independence Pass.


Knowing we were in for a long day we I left Boulder at midnight bound for the La Plata Gulch trailhead and to meet Andy for the day. We geared up in darkness and began the long walk through the trees with our headlamps at almost 4am. The trail was wet, there was not a good freeze down low, and we were ready to retreat back down the ridge if it wasn't cold enough up high and the snow didn't feel right, but luckily it got much colder as we ascended. It didn't get light out until we were about to crest the northwest ridge and caught our first glimpse of La Plata's north face in the distance lit up by sunrise:

Sayres peak in the distance:

Me and Andy climbing with Sayres in the background:



Climbing along the ridge, the cars somewhere in the distance a long ways away:


Up, up, up I go:


Inspecting our possible lines for the day:

The summit finally peaking its head out in the distance:
Cloud were rolling in early today(I hope no one was on top of this peak):

After several false summits, the real one decided to show itself and brought me great relief as there wasn't too much more time before the clouds would be on top of us and we wanted to be much lower in treeline when that happened:
Victory:

These clouds I'm pointing to here were starting to bother me, and were getting closer by the minute, so we didn't waste any time on the summit and got ready for the descent:
Summit scenic:

Staring down the couloir from the top:
Andy about to drop in from the summit:
Classic style:



Down we go:


This right here is by far the best shot of the day. Can you spot the skier?:

At the bottom of the face:
Farther down the drainage:
This is good advice:

All in all this is one of the best, most classic descents in the Sawatch range. Being the tallest mountain in the vicinity it gives unbeatable views, and a long sustained, steep face to ski on. I cant wait to get back next season and keep picking mountains off the list. Until next time...

9,10) Redcloud(14,034 ft) and Sunshine(14,001 ft) Peaks 5-14-07

School is over and my time in CO for the summer is beginning to wind down before I head back to Pittsburgh sometime next week, so I was hoping to get some teeners done in the mean time. All of my friends for the most part have put away their winter gear for the year leaving me high and dry with no one to ski with. This being the case I packed up my car in Boulder, and headed off for Lake City to see what the south had to offer in terms of snow for this time of year. My previous trip to Lake City ended in disaster in the form of a deer.

I was excited to get my revenge on these mountains that had put me out of driving commission for almost two months and ruined what were supposed to be the biggest climbing months of my year. I had expected to solo this trip, but another guy was solo camping in his car just like me for the same purpose, so we decided to join forces.

"Roughing it":
The sunrise came early over Handies peak:

And over Silver Creek Gulch:

Me skinning up the basin:


Tandem skin tracks in the inch of graupel that fell from the sky the night before:

Cresting our first ridge with the summit of Redcloud peaking its head out in the distance:

Taking a breather with Redcloud in the background:

Wetterhorn showing us a glimpse of its awesome east face:

On the summit of Redcloud, looking over the mile long ridge towards sunshine:

Summit scenics, still plenty of snow in these here parts:

You dont tell me what to do sign, I do what I want(in retrospect maybe I should have listened, but everything turned out just fine):

Fun ridge climbing:

A fun little couloir:

Dont worry, Im not as close to the cornice as it looks. the summit of sunshine in the distance one more pitch up:

At this point there were gusts to about 70 mph and for minutes at a time, winter whiteout conditions while ascending the ridge:


Do I look happy? Thats because I am happy, within spitting distance of our second 14er summit of the day:





Proud summit pic atop sunshine peak our second 14er of the day:
Scenics:

Uncompahgre Peak:


Jason getting ready to drop in:

The ride down:

Finishing up the figure 8's:


My best attempt at figure 8's:

Looking back up the drainage towards sunshine:

The final stream crossing:

Back at the car for the start of a hail storm, perfect timing:

Saying hello to a small herd of local Bighorn Sheep:

Another great day in the mountains, with two days worth of sunrises and sunsets: