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April miscellany

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:06 am
by skykilo
There was a conference in Denver, which was lots of fun. Then it kept snowing, so plans to sample big climbs and Colorado high country got scratched. But I finally visited ASPEN and I must admit: it's the nicest place I've ever skied.

I got a ride inside the cat on one of my trips up Highlands Bowl. (Scary avalanche crown visible in the distance)
apres-aps, inthecat
I was as giddy as France Gall with a lollipop.


"Packing the bowl"
apres-aps, highlandbowl

A lesson learned en route to Aspen after the conference: never ski at Loveland Pass.

After two epic days of April skiing with some actual face shots, we had the pleasure to briefly meet Lou and Lisa Dawson before we fled to Moab. Enchanté!

There was a climb on The Rectory on my mind.
apres-aps, castlevalley

Here's pitch 1 of Coyote Calling.
apres-aps, coyotecallingp1
It's some serious 5.11+ warmup, this pitch. I was not feeling the love with my double rack. After a few nonchalant trips there I forgot how sustained and burly sandstone could feel.

Naomi near an early crux.
apres-aps, p1start

The end of the pitch is a proper funk blast.
apres-aps, p1finish

Naomi starts up the thin hands marathon of the second pitch.
apres-aps, p2naomi

What a pitch!
apres-aps, thinhands

Naomi had tweaked her shoulder a little bit and I had been cold in the shade all day... blah blah blah... at any rate, we bailed.
apres-aps, bail

I was psyched to climb the North Face of Castleton the next day.
apres-aps, castleton
Then it was raining in Moab the next morning!? Oh well, we had a leisurely drive home, delicious northern New Mexican specialties, then I got seriously spanked climbing in Diablo Canyon the next day.

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:55 pm
by teleross
saaawwweeetttt!!! Coyote Calling looks sick! Definitely going to make an extended trip out that way this fall fo sho!

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:18 pm
by ryanl
J'adore les suscettes. Bien fait mec!

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:56 am
by E_$
pretty photos and trip. north face of castleton = neato; pete and i climbed that on some godawfully hot day. what's up with loveland?

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:46 pm
by skykilo
Just to be clear, my comment is not related to the five snowboarders who died in an avalanche by Loveland Pass last Saturday. My comment was only concerned with the fact that Loveland ski area is quite flat and the snow is mostly wind-affected garbage. Next time I try to ski that close to Denver I'll give A-Basin a shot. Six avalanche fatalities in Colorado last Saturday! I feel for all the parties involved. Getting my ass handed to me in the desert doesn't seem so bad upon reflection.

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 6:37 pm
by DonJuanPakistan
Nice one Sky Doctor!

Scary snow out there. Everywhere though really.

Re: April miscellany

Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 2:58 pm
by huevón
That is some real proper conferencing! Those pitches look exquisite.
I heard you got a touring van or something?