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I set out to write a trip report about skiing Mount Columbia and that's what I'm going to do.
Nick: What is this?
Ben: I wrote a trip report about skiing Mount Columbia!!!1
Nick: But we didn't ski Mount Columbia. We didn't even come close.
Gaper alert!
Note: This trip was in May of 2014. I'm sorry (or you're welcome) for taking so long to post this. I'm slow. Also, it's my first and I'm nervous about doing it wrong. Anyway, I wrote this shortly after the fact and left it as if it were written then. Also also, all photos of me are 100% copyright Nicholas Gianoutsos, The MonGoose, and MonGoose Productions with all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without written consent. Although I am not, he and his lawyer are actually pretty serious about that.
So this is a trip report about not skiing Mount Columbia. Before we left, I thought I'd write about not checking boxes. I really want to climb the 19 fourteeners that I haven't yet, but have a strange habit of prioritizing other things that hopefully will be more meaningful in the long run. The MonGoose and I planned our second date with Columbia's SW Couloir eleven months ago. We weren't about to stand her up for, say, the Yawner Gullies, or even Castle and Conundrum. In the end, we did not shred the gnar (well, maybe a little, almost). But we got a good lesson in humility and seeing things from the better side.
I seek the gnar.
Theme song: If it's not working for you, it's probably not loud enough.
Let the gaping begin.
The road to North Cottonwood Creek TH is 99% free of snow and in good shape, classic rough 2WD. There was a Geo Metro up there upon our return.
Catch and release. Catch and release.
Nick insisted on a solid breakfast before our big day. I knew better than to risk an encounter with a hangry MonGoose, even at the expense of precious time. After a delicious feast of scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, blueberries, strawberries, and a bonanner, we should have gone back to sleep. Instead we shouldered our gear and I cringed as my new ski boots got their first taste of rocky trail at 04:30.
04:00 Breakfast Yard Sale You're not geared up properly.
Having scoped out the trail the evening before, we booted over dirt and firm snow for about fifteen minutes before gearing up for the skin as the snow became more continuous. In hindsight, crampons or microspikes might have been appropriate up to the main bridge (at 10,280') due to frequent bare stretches and sidehill action. Or maybe my skins are way too narrow. I paid $15 for them at Mad Mike's in Georgetown, and dearly for them on even the slightest sidehill. Total gaper. I managed to stay upright most of the time, just not without great exertion. Nick learned some new words.
Travel with many transitions takes quite a while.
We reached the main bridge at 05:45 for a much-needed break. A few minutes of reflection had me wondering why I was so flustered by our slow progress and nearly-extinguished summit hopes when I should have been enjoying a nice walk in the woods and the fact that the MonGoose hadn't brought his speakers. At least there was plenty more time to think on that.
We lost the trail when it hit a large section of debris shortly after the bridge. We assumed the trail wouldn't be very well trodden and didn't look for it much on the other side. But in hindsight that may have saved us quite a bit of time, as it was easy enough to follow on the way down and kept the terrain much more manageable. A GPS with waypoints loaded would have been helpful.
Off Route, clearly, always
Instead, we map-and-compassed our way to the base of the couloir, where we found ourselves at 08:30, four hours in and pretty beat. A summit ski descent was not going to happen. The MonGoose kept skinning up towards the choke while I took the easy out and switched to crampons.
MonGoose demonstrates the French Technique on skis. ...and the Rest Step
We reconvened above the choke and tried to make sure one of us had an eye upwards at all times. There weren't any large falling rocks, but a few of baseball size were moving at a pretty good clip. If you find yourself in the couloir, pay attention at ten o'clock as well as straight up the gully; there were some ominous tracks from rocks that had hucked the lip and torn up sick gnar down the double fall line. There's not much time to see stuff coming over that edge.
I'll take your picture if you promise to watch for rocks.
I clung to my axe and a sliver of hope that a large cloud would park itself between us and the sun and buy us another hour or four to push on for the summit. MonGoose contemplated the inaugural Treeline Dance Video contest. But by 11:00 the snow had softened and it was clearly time to head down. We topped out around 12,400' and oh-so-quickly cashed in our efforts. At the tail end of a season that most will remember as well above average, we found another 1,000 feet or so of quality skiing. Enjoyment came easily.
Man Skis LOOK AT MEEEE!!!! SEND IT!!! epic
By staying in the bottom of the runout drainage, we miraculously found a single set of boot tracks that lead the way on what we believe was the actual trail. It was remarkably easier to make progress in the downhill direction. I felt like we were gaining precious minutes of our lives back. At the same time, I had to question my wanting to be back at the car. But nine hours in ski boots had that effect. I even skied over pine needles and (very, very gingerly) stepped across some short sections of dirt. Sorry skis!
Sure, there were some rough stretches on the deproach and plenty of carrying. But it was more efficient than walking the whole way. And the weather was lovely. Getting back to the bridge was pretty great for morale.
Look at yourself.
Insert something profound.
Taking off my boots was the second-best feeling of the day. With a better attitude (and some proper skins) I think the whole experience could have been positive.
We should have left earlier.
Did I mention how much time all those transitions add?
Rumor has it that the summit ridge is in. But currently there is not a third date planned. You could say she's safe.
Hey la
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Ben, I’m proud of you for writing your very first trip report. Granted, it only took 374 days to write a TR about climbing half of a mountain but hey, you did it! Perhaps this is just the beginning of bigger things to come like: finishing the 14ers, proposing to your girlfriend and finally moving past Dave Matthews.
...and I agree with him. Especially about the Dave Matthews. Have you heard some of these other bands? They make this thing called music, and it’s really pretty neat. Nice job skiing the bottom bit. Remember, it’s Columbia, and nothing above where you turned around has any redeeming qualities.
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