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.
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.
Next we drove over Independence Pass to Aspen. An epic future objective spotted en route.
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.
Not bad for a lazy road lap.
I am so happy with my new schwag.
With improving spirits and health, we set our sights on the North Face of North Maroon Bell the next day.
Snow conditions were perfect for easy booting in the morning.
The North Face of North Maroon Bell is truly a classic steep ski descent. The top snowfield had packed powder!
Scenic steeps with Snowmass and Capitol in the background.
My new Praxis Backcountry sticks make something I already loved that much more fun.
Micah skis above Crater Lake.
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.
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.
It's casual.
Let's head up there through the forest of poison ivy.
A Moveable Stoned Voyage was the route of the day. This little roof was entertaining.
Micah in the big corner before the craziness of the descending flake traverse pitch.
Double ropes might be better but there's no way to take the freak sauce out of this pitch.
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.
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.
Aspen for trouble
Re: Aspen for trouble
Looks like my weekend, except for the skiing, climbing, sun, and good times.
Re: Aspen for trouble
Congrats! New job and the primo line!
Continuous snow through the cliff bands, or rarified airtime?
Continuous snow through the cliff bands, or rarified airtime?
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- naomig
Re: Aspen for trouble
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.
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.
- skykilo
- olikyks
- from Santa Fe
- Contact:
Re: Aspen for trouble
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.
I need to give the script an order to make ''previous' and 'next' happen for the enlarged photos; last night I prioritized sleep.
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- TeleRoss
- from on the beach
- Contact:
Re: Aspen for trouble
Nice..a good epic is good for the soul
- DonJuanPakistan
- Trippin' travellin'.
- from Seattle, Washington
- Contact:
Re: Aspen for trouble
Thats like a 72oz can of whoop ass.
Re: Aspen for trouble
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.
Re: Aspen for trouble
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!
- huevón
- are we there yet?
- from el mundo
- Contact:
Re: Aspen for trouble
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