The South Face of Crestone Needle is an attractive nuisance.
We were able to ski continuously from the summit ridge until the two cascades of water ice.
I did not do my homework. We made an extracurricular trip to the zone, armed with a low-resolution map, sleep deprivation and poor judgement; we skied an obscure line from a ~13,800-ft col between Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle.
Team Gaper on the first attempt, with our new official matching visors and two pairs of TLT5 boots.
One of Micah's locking buckles broke on the first attempt. One of mine broke at the end of the day yesterday. Dang.
The line was still worthy
Freak out!
High-quality slop
This place needs more shots of my ASS. Climbing Pale Face, a quality 5.11c in Diablo Canyon.
To the main attraction: there is a nice bypass to skip the lower unskiable BS on Crestone Needle. Naomi makes the traverse in her ski boots.
The cascades of water ice were easily avoided by scrambling.
Naomi, first time on crampons, using her front points
Crestone Peak and Kit Carson from the summit
The light was not so good, but the skiing from the top was quite good.
After a fair bit of sidestepping, with one stimulating spot of narrow water ice in a choke, we had the privilege to shred in a special place.
The skiing was pure creamy goodness.
An easy downclimb, the traverse in reverse, then epic creamy corn was harvested to Cottonwood Lake.
BONUS: Patrick at the crux during his on-sight ascent of Techweenie, 5.11+, Tres Piedras
A random insertion of my steeze
Next weekend? Yes? Amen.
