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My First Fouteener Attempt. Headed out of Denver 4AM and made TH at about 7:30 after 2 pitstops. Kicked off solo for the South West Route on the South Colony Trail around 8:00 AM to clear blue skies and Tshirt. There is a bit of water on the trail due to melt but easy to navigate and get around. Just past sign posts for Lower Lakes at about 3.5 miles in and 11,400 there's a bit of snow around making the trail a little hard to follow and warranting some attention to footwork especially in the fallen trees and rocks under snow. I went up with just hiking boots and poles and it was fine. Once above tree line there was sketchy snow on the bottom slope but the face was in top condition with little to no snow in most parts. I veered off path and went 500 Feet straight up the rocks and onto the face then walked west to connect up with the trail a couple of shoulders over approximately 1 mile to avoid the snow. Clouds coming in I put on a hoodie which was all the extra warmth needed. I reconnected to the trail, on the way up the saddle to some cut steps that zig zag up the face. The track also was a little snowed in where it crosses the exposed face so I opted to head straight up as opposed to cross the exposed section with sketchy looking snow. I've been keeping the eye on weather coming in from both sides and was kicking my self for the late start now. I ended up making it to 13,000 feet before getting turned around at 11:30 by the lightning and thunder. I had to move it on the way down and opted to go straight down to the upper lake which is partially frozen at the moment then out via the track. Near the second the larger of the two upper lakes I lost the track in the snow again and basically followed the river down most of the down regaining the proper track at about 11,600. The track was a lot of fun and the view from Humboldt toward Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle were absolutely amazing.
There was two of on the section today. I met the other guy on the way down about 2 miles from car park. He mentioned he was coming of Crestone peak where there was lot of snow and was very happy to have had crampons.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Thanks for sharing and wise call on bailing due to lightning. Cheers!
Rob
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