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Extremely frustrated with Otina and I's previous Lindsey failure a few weeks back (which I called the most miserable day in the mountains I've had up to date), resulting in my inability to ski Culebra alongside with 14er snowboard finisher Marc and friends the following day because of how much of a beating my feet sustained-I had to get revenge. A combination of a downed tree forcing us to hike winter like mileage in crappy conditions only to turn around at the saddle and hike down the melted road in ski boots made the last attempt so bad, but hey how bad could it be this time?
With all of my ski buddies busy working, or rather uninterested in the sure to be FUN day, I accepted the fact that I would be going solo. I left my trip plan with a few friends and Otina (who new the exact route I would be taking) as well as a few planned spots above treelike where I would check in with them via a quick text. Got off of work at 8pm and hit the road at around 9pm. Made the trail head er the furthest I could drive up the road because of snow coverage at around midnight. Was very excited and optimistic about the new snow coverage from the weeks storms. "This won't be that bad!" I thought as I started skinning up the dark road at around 2am.
Putting one foot in front of the other, one step more away from civilization and the nearest people with each stride in the dark, combined with being solo under the moonlight is an incredible experience. You can learn so much about yourself by doing these kind of trips. You've got so much time to think about everything. Listening to my favorite music, the skis slid effortlessly alongside of Huerfeno creek, and up above treelike as dawn approached.
Looking back at the alpenglow on Blanca, all up there alone was unreal
The skins stayed on until the saddle
Ah everything was so perfect until this point, however, every mountain has it's price. Had I known what Lindsey would take in the current conditions, I would have second guessed my decision. The new snow on the ridge traverse to the base of the N gully, and for the rest of the way to the summit, was balls deep swimming territory.
Looking back at the saddle. The coverage looks good, but in reality it was mostly just new unconsolidated powder on top of loose rock with occasional sections of spring like snow underneath.
After a grueling last couple of hours, I stumbled onto the summit at around 9:30am. Look how happy I was after that climb!
The north couloir looked good, albeit for a few shallow windslabs on top of the dust layer which were easily managed.
Skins off, heel lever locked, time to click in, it's a great feeling when you get to do all of this on the summit.
So close but so far
Now things really started to get FUN! Down to my base layer because it was so hot, time to skin! The snow was so shitty and shallow along the base of Lindsey's north face that every stride resulted in potholing all the way down to the loose rock underneath even with skins on, which would then move, causing me to slip slightly while damaging my skis in the process. To add to the fun, I forgot my sunscreen, I ran out of water, and the snow glopped ferociously to the bases of my skins. Back at the headwall to the saddle, twas time to swim some more. Balls deep, every step, sink back into my previous step, repeat. Regained the saddle and thought "oh glad that's over!"
The ski back to treeline was relatively fast and enjoyable albeit a few significant gouges to my bases from hidden rocks. Then my skis stopped sliding downhill...It got so warm, the snow turned into unskiable, unsupportable slush. Skins went back on and I proceeded to skin downhill while postholing and breaking more trail on top of the trail from which I already broke with the glopmonsters still showing me their worst....After getting back to the trailhead proper, the skins came off while I remained in touring mode. This made things a little faster but the glop demons stayed with me all the way back to the car even though my skins were off...HOW? Made it back to the car at 4:00pm. To put in into perspective, I can with confidence, say that the amount of suffering these two ski trips on Lindsey put me through exceeds that which EVERY other peak I have climbed up to date has, combined. The biggest piece of humble pie I have every received. Still with that being said, I felt accomplished, proud, and happy as I drove back to Gardner.
You should have waited 2 more weeks and gone with me! Much better conditions, only swimming in places, and the glop monster only attacked on the summit ridge - with a vengeance.
Oh, I also found a better way down from the saddle without the sharks! No core shots or gauges this time
Lindsey is done and done - Thank goodness!!!
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