Grand Turk Trip Report 04/14/2014

Peak(s):	Grand Turk - 13,167 feet Sultan Mountain - 13,375 feet "The Python" - 12300
Date Posted:	04/14/2014
Modified:	04/14/2015
Date Climbed:	12/27/2013
Author:	cmcquade

A Grand Turk, Sultan Mtn, "The Phython" - Hat Trick
Wrapped up 2013 with good friends and several crystal clear days among the always spectacular San Juan mountains. We experienced rather stable conditions for the San Juan's allowing for us to safely enjoy the alpine. It had been quite a while since the last major loading event and the snowpack was largely settled and generally nonreactive. While the snow structure remains poor in most areas with our lovely CO persistent slabs. Slides appeared to of become more and more difficult to trigger. All but southerly aspects below treeline seemed to mainly be made up of very weak faceted snow. Which will likely cause a problem during the next major snow event. But for now the SJ's were Good to Us. Here a view of the Sultan group which we we enjoyed on day 1 of the trip, riding three of the summits seen in the pic. We started the amazing alpine tour at Molas pass with an ascent of the Grand Turk followed by a descent of a northern couloir to the basin in between the Grand Turk and Sultan Mountain. Next we climbed the SE face and ridge of the Sultan, then dropping into the basin via the Northstar Couloir. Followed by a final ascent north to pt. 12300', and a final run down the "Python" and back to HW 550. Our first decent off the Grand Turk seen from the SE ridge of the Sultan (The widening chute in the middle of the ridge line in the background) Nia with the days final climb up pt. 12300'. Seen in the background is our descent down Sultan's Northstar Couloir ( directly above Nia's head) John catching some air halfway down the Sultan's Northstar Couloir Todd topping out the steep climb up Grand Turk's SW col For more pics and info Click -- Oh San Juan ' ness - How Good You Are

A Grand Turk, Sultan Mtn, "The Phython" - Hat Trick

Wrapped up 2013 with good friends and several crystal clear days among the always spectacular San Juan mountains. We experienced rather stable conditions for the San Juan's allowing for us to safely enjoy the alpine. It had been quite a while since the last major loading event and the snowpack was largely settled and generally nonreactive. While the snow structure remains poor in most areas with our lovely CO persistent slabs. Slides appeared to of become more and more difficult to trigger. All but southerly aspects below treeline seemed to mainly be made up of very weak faceted snow. Which will likely cause a problem during the next major snow event. But for now the SJ's were Good to Us.

Here a view of the Sultan group which we we enjoyed on day 1 of the trip, riding three of the summits seen in the pic.

We started the amazing alpine tour at Molas pass with an ascent of the Grand Turk followed by a descent of a northern couloir to the basin in between the Grand Turk and Sultan Mountain. Next we climbed the SE face and ridge of the Sultan, then dropping into the basin via the Northstar Couloir. Followed by a final ascent north to pt. 12300', and a final run down the "Python" and back to HW 550.

Our first decent off the Grand Turk seen from the SE ridge of the Sultan (The widening chute in the middle of the ridge line in the background)

Nia with the days final climb up pt. 12300'. Seen in the background is our descent down Sultan's Northstar Couloir ( directly above Nia's head)

John catching some air halfway down the Sultan's Northstar Couloir

Todd topping out the steep climb up Grand Turk's SW col

For more pics and info Click -- Oh San Juan ' ness - How Good You Are

Comments or Questions

Elliot

Epic San Juan tour!
4/15/2014 3:47am

Way to push on up to python, much better than skiing out that sultan drainage early season.

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