Aspen for trouble
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 5:17 am
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.
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.