Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
After a few days of hanging around the Castle Creek area and getting some firsthand beta from people coming down, I decided to head up to the Castle Peak area to check out the North Face Couloirs. I ended up climbing summiting and skiing (on my day-hike).
Most of the road I was able to walk with hiking shoes. I'm sure things have changed in the few days after this, but the snowbanks that were on the road were solid for me, I barely postholed at all the whole hike. It was pretty easy to follow the footprints where the snow was already packed down. But mostly it was just walking the road and I got up the road quickly.
This is probably close to where I put the skins on
Checking out the headwall, rounding the road. The sidehill skinning wasn't the funnest thing ever but I was able to head straight and the snow wasn't acting funny at all. On that same spot on the right side someone spotted slide activity a few days later, but I was headed up the other side and this was triggered from south-facing slopes so I decided to continue.
First view of the summit.
Looking down the valley. I donned the skins on about the highest section of road in this picture, far to the left.
Getting a good look at Castle Peak and the steepness of the couloir.
Getting a look up Conundrum. Big slough slide. The north stuff was pretty good this day but most everything south facing looked pretty sketchy.
Time to draw my sword (ok it's just an axe) pack the skis and head up.
Looking across to Conundrum and down the N Couloir.
Looking up the last snow scramble. At this point I was so focused and in the peak zone I would have summited with a pack of mountain lions on top.
Happy to be at the top!! All I gotta do is catch my breath, take a few photos, and blaze down the couloir. Great run, enough of a wintery surface to make some great turns on. I was back to the road in no time flat.
Back to slogging it down the road, at least I'm wearing normal hiking shoes again...and that's always more comfortable...
And then I remembered I had a few cold Boulevard Wheats in the truck!!!!
Thanks for reading, I'm sure conditions have changed since this so be careful out there!
Missouri's N Couloirs next sometime soon????
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I also have those karmas with Freeride bindings and blue skins. good job... battle ax adventures
Don‘t I know you from Summit County?
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
