Torreys Peak Trip Report 04/30/2009

Peak(s):	Torreys Peak - 14,272 feet
Date Posted:	04/30/2009
Modified:	11/03/2009
Date Climbed:	04/30/2009
Author:	RoanMtnMan

Torreys - Dead Dog (the easy way)
After the frustration of a spring cold/flu that put a damper on the Princeton ski last week, left me with little energy on a San Juans hut trip last weekend, and shut me down on the Wilson's Monday, I hibernated on Tuesday and Wednesday. Feeling better, I wanted make sure I was finally rid of the bug. I've wanted to ski the Dead Dog for a while now. It does get skied a lot, but it sure is an aesthetic line. I called my buddy Pete and he was in. Pete drove over from Summit County this morning and met me at the TH at 6:15am, we unloaded Leddy (the sled), and were up at the basin by 7:20am. We had gotten a good overnight freeze, but knew we needed to keep the pace going to beat the heat. The snow was in good boot packing condition and progress was steady. Bluebird boot packing = a sweat fest on an eastern aspect. There was the occasional cool wind, which was appreciated. Pete is a mountain man and walked up the couloir like it was a sidewalk. He was kind enough to let me lead the last few hundred feet since the trip was my idea. We topped out on the ridge and got a nice look down the NW side. It looked yummy. Not a track on it. Someone needs to go change that this weekend. Had the sled not been on the east side of the mountain we probably would have changed plans. We made the last few feet up to the summit and were greeted by the standard 14er wind. A little food, a little water, and it was time for the payoff. Skis went on, parting pics were taken and down we went. We talked about skiing down the east face and then dropping into the Dead Dog, but it was surprisingly wind loaded and thin. Not feeling that it was totally safe we skated down the ridge and dropped into the cornfield. Just need to say here, that Pete is sick skier. Skiing great spring lines is one of my favorite things regardless of the partner, but it's a real bonus for me when I get to watch someone that has mastered their craft. The tricks at the bottom may have been a little over the top though . (Want to apologize now for the ski pic overload but it was a nice day.) The snow was in pretty good spring shape. Recycled powder on skier's right, corn on the left. We bottomed out and made our way back to the sled. The road down to the I-70 lot is still well snow covered so we made it back to the trucks with ease. 4 hours truck to truck. I hate sleds, unless I have access to one. A good day with a good partner and I think my cold is finally gone. Red = Up Blue = Down

Torreys - Dead Dog (the easy way)

After the frustration of a spring cold/flu that put a damper on the Princeton ski last week, left me with little energy on a San Juans hut trip last weekend, and shut me down on the Wilson's Monday, I hibernated on Tuesday and Wednesday. Feeling better, I wanted make sure I was finally rid of the bug.

I've wanted to ski the Dead Dog for a while now. It does get skied a lot, but it sure is an aesthetic line. I called my buddy Pete and he was in.

Pete drove over from Summit County this morning and met me at the TH at 6:15am, we unloaded Leddy (the sled), and were up at the basin by 7:20am. We had gotten a good overnight freeze, but knew we needed to keep the pace going to beat the heat.

The snow was in good boot packing condition and progress was steady. Bluebird boot packing = a sweat fest on an eastern aspect. There was the occasional cool wind, which was appreciated.

Pete is a mountain man and walked up the couloir like it was a sidewalk.

He was kind enough to let me lead the last few hundred feet since the trip was my idea.

We topped out on the ridge and got a nice look down the NW side. It looked yummy. Not a track on it. Someone needs to go change that this weekend. Had the sled not been on the east side of the mountain we probably would have changed plans.

We made the last few feet up to the summit and were greeted by the standard 14er wind.

A little food, a little water, and it was time for the payoff.

Skis went on, parting pics were taken and down we went. We talked about skiing down the east face and then dropping into the Dead Dog, but it was surprisingly wind loaded and thin. Not feeling that it was totally safe we skated down the ridge and dropped into the cornfield.

Just need to say here, that Pete is sick skier. Skiing great spring lines is one of my favorite things regardless of the partner, but it's a real bonus for me when I get to watch someone that has mastered their craft. The tricks at the bottom may have been a little over the top though

.

(Want to apologize now for the ski pic overload but it was a nice day.)

The snow was in pretty good spring shape. Recycled powder on skier's right, corn on the left.

We bottomed out and made our way back to the sled. The road down to the I-70 lot is still well snow covered so we made it back to the trucks with ease. 4 hours truck to truck. I hate sleds, unless I have access to one.

A good day with a good partner and I think my cold is finally gone.

Red = Up Blue = Down

Comments or Questions

lordhelmut	damn 4/30/2009 10:42pm some amazing action shots of your buddy in the couloir. And I thought yesterday couldn‘t have been any better, guess I‘m wrong.
tink	Wow 4/30/2009 11:41pm Great pics! Didn‘t hurt that you had some wonderful weather, but fantastic action shots! Makes me wish I got the hell off the east coast and developed the skills to do the same.
Easy Rider	cool fisheyes 5/1/2009 12:08am what kind of lens is that?
RoanMtnMan	Lens 5/1/2009 12:14am Olympus 8mm 1:3.5 You can take a look on Saturday. Heavy but worth the weight.
BCSkierDG	No Overload at all on the Pics! 5/1/2009 5:26am It is great to see all the pics. I am think of doing Grays this Sunday if the my schedule works out. Is the road covered all the way from the bakersville exit? (No sled so i‘ll be skinning) Nice job, I love that line and it looks like you had great snow for the most part. (It gets baked so fast on the east side, I had mashed potatoes last year when i did it.) Again, Love the pictures!
RoanMtnMan	Road 5/1/2009 6:29am Snow cover starts about 150 yards above the I-70 lot and is consistent all the way up (sans two small dry patches when it turns south facing below Kelso. Definitely gonna need skins. You could probably get a truck up a ways in the morning but probably not down in the afternoon. The good news is that Grays has good coverage for the summit ski.
jbchalk	Yup, Petey is sick! 5/1/2009 5:05pm The sickest telemarker I know...makes me look like I‘m on training wheels on my teles Nice shots buddy. I missed being with you guys...F‘in work.
USAKeller	SWEET photos! 5/3/2009 2:31am Those are some nice-looking pics. Thanks for the beta Caleb!
aHudge	Also, Sweet Photos. 5/20/2009 2:50pm Good work carrying that camera up the mountain

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