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Thought I'd share a quick little report on Sunshine Peak this past weekend.
Stoked by the above average snowpack for this time of year, Mike and I decided to drive down to Lake City with a plan to ski Sunshine. Sunshine from the Mill Campground is the preferred route to do in Winter because of the low avy danger and the easy access, well easy access to the trailhead.
Step 1. Get to treeline. I'll let you figure that one out.
Surface Hoar
This low angled slope just at treelike would prove to be great skiing on the downhill
Sunshine is looking mighty fine!
At this point we were both pretty exhausted from the shenanigans that exist below treeline (Lots of trail breaking, maneuvering over downed trees, sliding back while skinning, switchbacking) so in combination with the intense winds, Mike decided to call it a day. I ended up taking him up on his offer to wait there while I would then tag Sunshine. Thanks for doing this Mike. I planned to stick to the ridge line as much as possible and to avoid all avy terrain.
Skinning up towards the ridge with the winds pounding, I saw an unusual amount of spindrift coming off of the ridgeline in the distance which then proceeded to travel down Sunshine's SE bowl. Took me a few moments but then I quickly realized that this spindrift was actually an avalanche. Here's a pic from when I got closer. This avalanche started off as a small, naturally triggered windslab near the ridge line, but as it traveled down the slope it stepped down to one of the persistent slabs.
Took me about an hour and a half to summit from treeline. The views are spectacular up there this time of year. Looking towards Wetterhorn, Unc, and Redcloud
Luckily I was able to find continuous albeit thin but in coverage back down to treeline. The planks didn't come off until well below treeline.
Met back up with Mike and then we ensued what I would undoubtably call one of the shittiest deproaches I have done up to date.
Winter is definitely in the San Juans, looking forward to some more adventures down there in January! Thanks for a great day Mike!
I don't do snow, but I love to see them! Beautiful views indeed! Thanks for your post!
BTW, where exactly is that shot of you on Longs? Is that at the Notch or somewhere along there? I don't remember seeing a sharp ridge like that near the summit.
To leave some for March and May. B
Strong work down low
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