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"...
Finally got to go play in the mountains again. I have been on skins maybe 10 times this year? Too much traveling for work and a torn MCL have kept me on the sidelines. Particularly frustrating was missing out on skiing the North Face of Capitol a few weeks back. Man, I have been thinking about that line for 2 years, the invite came and Jordan even waited to do it on a weekend! Oh well, stoked he got that done.
Saturday I blew off some steam in McCullough Gulch. The trailhead is accessible with low clearance 2WD. The approach is very soggy. A mild freeze didn't help. The snow flying up high did though, giving me time to stretch out a few different lines this day.
Fletcher was first. I intended to climb the East Face direct but with low-vis just punched steps upward and found myself in a nice couloir which meets the SE ridge a hundred feet below the summit.
Steep snow through here. The finish was great fun, here it is. You can see my boot tracks. No angle modification. An interesting ski entrance on the trip back down.
The summit ridgeline held snow which reminded me of a day of resort skiing on Mt Bachelor this spring.
I couldn't quite make out the exit of the East Face direct from the snowcapped summit. It looked like it didn't go through so I headed back down my ascent route. It turns out it barely did go through, maybe one ski length wide for 20 feet. The descent I got was great though, full value steepness up top and powder through the middle and bottom. Next I headed over to Atlantic via Atlantis Couloir.
I was astonished by all the snow on the summit ridgeline of Atlantic. Neat to see what everyone has been talking about all year. The summit cairn was actually well below and 150 feet west of the highest summit snow.
I was ready to pop! Four to six inches of dry fresh coated the upper slopes of my ski descent. These turns were worth every step. After a dozen fast pow turns, I came over a roll into the Y couloir. Great conditions. Smooth snow, fresh pow. June... thank you Colorado.
Next was what I really came out this day to ski. The North Face direct on Quandary. Why is it this doesn't get skied more often I wonder? More dangerous snow pack or harder access? Whatever it is, I think this is the primo line off this popular peak.
The skiing began 30 feet below the summit cairn and the choke goes through.
Always a good feeling when the plan comes together. I have Debbie's banana bread and my brother's tamarind candy to thank for getting me through all the booting this day.
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
to see a TR from you man! I feel like it's been awhile. I was actually eyeing the north line on Quandary just the other day thinking, ”that looks like the best way to ski it”. Way to go getting the other two as well. Banana bread from the wife makes for an excellent trail snack doesn't it?
Hey Matt, ya hope that new snow smoothes out the Sawatch for this weekend.
Fritz, you picked a nice range for your book. There are a ton of really good lines in there all smashed next to each other with easy access. If only they were 1000-2000 vert longer, eh? Then we would be (even more) spoiled.
Ben, been a while is right. Kind of took a year off, voluntarily and not so voluntarily. You had a good year, nice push. Love the wife's banana bread. Mountain Power!
Hey man, thanks for stopping by. I was out in Bend visiting some old friends. Brought the stuff to ski Hood but the weather stunk it up. Did get the closing day at Bachelor, which was a powder day! Nice mountain. Thanks for the ski offer, I will definitely hit you up to get some of that stuff in Oregon, looks fun (Hood and Jefferson, the sisters?). Will have to wait till next year though, MTBing the Colo trail in July and my training is behind. Where are you living?
Seems this couloir on the SE side of Atlantic may or may not be Atlantis. This couloir I climbed has a small tower/boulder in the middle near the bottom and chokes out a bit 3/4 way up. Good climb. Y is a better ski.
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.