Aspen for trouble

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skykilo
olikyks
from Santa Fe
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Aspen for trouble

Post by skykilo »

So I have an amazing new job, better than I'd ever hoped. I consider myself to be living the dream. The day I was officially hired, I also asked to disappear for much of the week. Keep it on the good foot.

First we did some leisurely climbing at Penitente Canyon in the San Luis Valley. This place is awesome!

I was elated to get the on-sight of this 11a/b friction corner. Micah follows.
north-maroon-nf, frictioncorner

They might call it "Weenie Way," but I came nowhere close to getting this one so stylishly. It left my right nipple raw for days.
north-maroon-nf, weenieway

Next we drove over Independence Pass to Aspen. An epic future objective spotted en route.
north-maroon-nf, futureschralp

We had bigger plans but Micah was conveniently getting sicker by the day since the beginning of our trip. We settled for the easiest possible day of skiing at Independence Pass to give him a chance to get well.

As lazy as possible, we simply clicked into our skis and glided from the pass.
north-maroon-nf, indyglide

Not bad for a lazy road lap.
north-maroon-nf, indyski

I am so happy with my new schwag.
Image

With improving spirits and health, we set our sights on the North Face of North Maroon Bell the next day.
north-maroon-nf, maroonbells

Snow conditions were perfect for easy booting in the morning.
north-maroon-nf, nfmapproach

The North Face of North Maroon Bell is truly a classic steep ski descent. The top snowfield had packed powder!
north-maroon-nf, powder

Scenic steeps with Snowmass and Capitol in the background.
north-maroon-nf, nfnmaroon

My new Praxis Backcountry sticks make something I already loved that much more fun.
Image

Micah skis above Crater Lake.
north-maroon-nf, craterski

Hordes of tourists were on the trail below Crater Lake, along with climbers and skiers who wanted beta. We were psyched to have beaten the Memorial Day weekend crowds to the goods -- the place seemed secluded until after we finished skiing.
Image

We stopped briefly in Carbondale to chat with Lou and Lisa on our way to the Black Canyon. We got a good night's sleep and a late start, then we descended into the belly of the beast.
north-maroon-nf, intheblack

It's casual.
north-maroon-nf, atthebeach

Let's head up there through the forest of poison ivy.
north-maroon-nf, climbit

A Moveable Stoned Voyage was the route of the day. This little roof was entertaining.
north-maroon-nf, littleroof

Micah in the big corner before the craziness of the descending flake traverse pitch.
north-maroon-nf, bigcorner

Double ropes might be better but there's no way to take the freak sauce out of this pitch.
north-maroon-nf, freaksauce

This pitch had some terrifying loose flakes on it before a funky chimney roof and an offwidth finish onto a ledge with stacked blocks of shit. Micah is smiling because I gave him the beta to move left and escape his doom.
Image

It was getting late so we took the bail gully. A couple of intriguing pitches of 5.8 in the dark later, the gully turned into a ledge system and I could smell smoke from the North Rim Campground. After ample shenanigans in the dark we accepted our fate and tried to get some sleep. We were thirsty enough to contemplate unspeakable acts. We finally found our way to the top after first light and a tall can of beer had me incredibly buzzed at 7 am on Memorial Day.

PeteH

Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by PeteH »

Looks like my weekend, except for the skiing, climbing, sun, and good times.

Charlie

Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by Charlie »

Congrats! New job and the primo line!

Continuous snow through the cliff bands, or rarified airtime?

naomig
naomig

Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by naomig »

Good job for shleping Micah up everything. Everything looks like fun.

Ps: where are the 'next' and 'previous' buttons for the pages with the enlarged pictures? It's annoying having have to go back to the TR and then clicking on the next image each time.

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skykilo
olikyks
from Santa Fe
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Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by skykilo »

The top cliff band seemed passable via a face on the other side of the east ridge, but we removed our skis and booted through it because it did not seem worth the risk since that snow had been cooking all morning. Micah continuously skied the rest of the face with some billygoat action. I removed my skis again because they are my favorite pair of backcountry skis I've ever had and it was my second time to use them (still minty). I did a very fun straightline through the bottom choke.

I need to give the script an order to make ''previous' and 'next' happen for the enlarged photos; last night I prioritized sleep.

teleross
TeleRoss
from on the beach
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Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by teleross »

Nice..a good epic is good for the soul

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DonJuanPakistan
Trippin' travellin'.
from Seattle, Washington
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Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by DonJuanPakistan »

Thats like a 72oz can of whoop ass.

Ldawson

Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by Ldawson »

Awesome! Good to see some action in the roaring fork and the black! Makes we want to get back to CO. I went XC skiing and indoor climbing this weekend, not quite the same.

JoshK

Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by JoshK »

Awesome...beautiful area, great pics, great looking new skis, and making me miss that CO sunshine. Send some sun our way, plx! Grats on the new job too, btw!

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huevón
are we there yet?
from el mundo
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Re: Aspen for trouble

Post by huevón »

That's some signing bonus! You guys look good shredding. I had a hard time choosing Freerides over BC's but I doubt the difference is greater than the variance in my own fitness

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