OTHER Trip Report 05/19/2013

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Deming - 12906 East Red
Date Posted	05/19/2013
Date Climbed	05/03/2013
Author	Elliot

Gores-Powder and Corn
I was unable to get a hold of Calc on Thursday night. Even though we had previously discussed Deming for Friday there was no talk of a TH time. I suspected that with his phone dead he wouldn't wake up but I did have a little hope that he would make a showing. I was able to recruit my buddy Nate Goodman from Boulder who I skied with a bit on Mt Hood years ago. We made a 5am meadow creek TH with hopes that Calc would make a showing. As we were gearing up we see lights coming up the road. It could only be Calc right? One car two cars not calc... Turns out another crew was heading to the Deming Drop, after some brief dialogue we depart. Demming from East Red Joel Paula and his friend Mike catch up a bit before the upper meadows and we hike and chat. The skin went quick and we were looking at the southeast face by 7am. We were able to skin to the top and enjoy views of the Gores, eying up lines for the next day. Joel Drops into Deming Joel skied first followed by Mike. Turns looked good and appeared to only get better down the run. Joel Mike skiing up top We waited for Joel and Mike to clear down to a safe spot and followed. The skiing was really top notch with new snow in the Gores but not the 20 inches that the Front Range and 10 Mile had had received a few days prior. A little bit of wind slab up top Nate up top Nate mid Couloir Tracks out the apron Mike skiing the apron all smiles Joel getting some Mike and Joel Headed to Red Buff Pass and continued on to ski the caldera on buff while Nate and I hiked out the typical saddle route between Deming and Pt 12,435 at real casual pace spacing out as terrain warranted. A quick hike from the saddle and we were on top of Pt 12,435, were a better view of East Red was enjoyed. A soft ski down the bowl was welcomed. We were able to ski to a little past the cutoff for Lilly pad lake and hiked 10 min back to the car rounding out a 7.5 hr day East Red from Pt 12,435 The following day Calc Brian and Adam came over from Vail to ski East Red. Trailhead at 5:15am put Calc and Adam and Brian on top at 9:15 followed by myself at around 9:40 as I recall. Calc skied at maybe 10:30 and it seemed ok but a little time could make it better. We ended up hanging out and napping for at least an hr before skiing very ripe corn. The ski out the lower gully/avy path was great, followed by some pushing out past the silver and the standard skin up and back to the Buffalo Cabin trailhead. Calc Skiing The lookers right couloir in the photo above Brian East Red post ski. Post ski discussion of the next day's objective led to Calc's demands of an east aspect with no approach and ski to the car. We ended up skiing Mt Helen South Face, which was not east but at 5 miles round trip and a 1,500 face followed by a ski to the car. Calc described it like asking for a Ferrari for Christmas, you don't expect it to happen but it would be nice if it did. Helen delivered great bang for your buck skiing! Sorry no pics I was going lightweight after a few days in the Gore. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Gores-Powder and Corn

I was unable to get a hold of Calc on Thursday night. Even though we had previously discussed Deming for Friday there was no talk of a TH time. I suspected that with his phone dead he wouldn't wake up but I did have a little hope that he would make a showing. I was able to recruit my buddy Nate Goodman from Boulder who I skied with a bit on Mt Hood years ago. We made a 5am meadow creek TH with hopes that Calc would make a showing. As we were gearing up we see lights coming up the road. It could only be Calc right? One car two cars not calc... Turns out another crew was heading to the Deming Drop, after some brief dialogue we depart.

Joel Paula and his friend Mike catch up a bit before the upper meadows and we hike and chat. The skin went quick and we were looking at the southeast face by 7am. We were able to skin to the top and enjoy views of the Gores, eying up lines for the next day.

Joel skied first followed by Mike. Turns looked good and appeared to only get better down the run.

We waited for Joel and Mike to clear down to a safe spot and followed. The skiing was really top notch with new snow in the Gores but not the 20 inches that the Front Range and 10 Mile had had received a few days prior. A little bit of wind slab up top

Mike and Joel Headed to Red Buff Pass and continued on to ski the caldera on buff while Nate and I hiked out the typical saddle route between Deming and Pt 12,435 at real casual pace spacing out as terrain warranted. A quick hike from the saddle and we were on top of Pt 12,435, were a better view of East Red was enjoyed. A soft ski down the bowl was welcomed. We were able to ski to a little past the cutoff for Lilly pad lake and hiked 10 min back to the car rounding out a 7.5 hr day

The following day Calc Brian and Adam came over from Vail to ski East Red. Trailhead at 5:15am put Calc and Adam and Brian on top at 9:15 followed by myself at around 9:40 as I recall. Calc skied at maybe 10:30 and it seemed ok but a little time could make it better. We ended up hanging out and napping for at least an hr before skiing very ripe corn. The ski out the lower gully/avy path was great, followed by some pushing out past the silver and the standard skin up and back to the Buffalo Cabin trailhead.

Calc Skiing The lookers right couloir in the photo above

Post ski discussion of the next day's objective led to Calc's demands of an east aspect with no approach and ski to the car. We ended up skiing Mt Helen South Face, which was not east but at 5 miles round trip and a 1,500 face followed by a ski to the car. Calc described it like asking for a Ferrari for Christmas, you don't expect it to happen but it would be nice if it did. Helen delivered great bang for your buck skiing! Sorry no pics I was going lightweight after a few days in the Gore.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

lordhelmut	The Drop delivers 5/20/2013 6:00pm Good to see you skied some chalky powder on Deming, I didn't realize from your description how good it actually was. Makes sense given its aspect. Line on E Red looks sweet as well.
benners	Rad 5/20/2013 7:29pm Way to get the Drop in pow conditions fellas! Elliot, CALC, you're killing it up there this spring. Maybe we can get out for one or two more before it's over...
mtnfiend	Excellent Elliot! 5/20/2013 8:27pm The drop looks really fat this year. Which is surprising to me given the snow year. Well done!
Elliot	The drop 5/20/2013 8:56pm The top was steep but after that I was suprised at how wide and mellow it got. A very fine ski. Ben certainly plenty of time for a few more skis maybe a class III Wehawkin and some bang for your buck

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