First Tracks Fresh Year

November 7th, 2011 

Highlands Mountain Aspen, CO

November 7th, 2011

           Every fall as the winter begins to slowly slide in there are moments that the anticipation of the upcoming ski season is too much to bear.  5-10 inches of fresh snow had fallen several different times in the previous two weeks here in the Elk mountains and the new 10 inches from the evening before tipped the scales.  Early season hiking is not for the faint of heart and the suffering is the same for the newbie as it is for the seasoned climber.  Everyone starts at square one every season.  This is the time to get at it!

            Our photographer had driven over from Salt Lake after completing his day job shooting homes to sell to the rich in park city and arrived on Friday night.  After allowing him a few days to acclimatize and having done the first half of the peak the day before, it was time to push the limits and see where we were at this early in the season.  Monday morning came and it was time.  We started out in the late morning not knowing how long it would take us to reach the summit but ready to get some early season shots for the publication.  Couldn't lie that another part of us was in this to make our friends jealous all over the world.  The first half of the hike felt great and we were really making good time.  A playful moment of a woman and her beautiful dog running down the fresh snow as she skied in front took the mind off the pain and the little bit of euphoria that comes along with endorphins makes me smile.  We stop for a moment at the mid point to assess our physical condition and grab some water.  The view is already breathtaking but only I know what awaits us from the summit.  My photographer is in for a special treat.

          Again we set off, this time just along the catwalk that splits the two steeps on the mountain.  Kick gliding along the trail, our muscles have the ability to regain their strength.  I feel good, unexpectedly good.  This is inspiring and pushes us to the next set of steeps toward the summit.  The steeps then take their tole.  Muscles begin to freeze up around 11,000 feet but I give props to our photographer as this is his first season and it takes experience to know just how much mental effort it takes to push the body upward.  

"You aiight?"  I call back to my friend.

"Ya," he responds exasperated of breath.  
 "I'm good".

    

           Making it to the last steep, I can see that the effort has taken its mental totality on my friend.  I assure him that not only are we close, it is going to be completely worth it!  He looks skeptical and I know that he would love nothing more than to strap in and ride down to the cold fresh beer awaiting us at the bottom.  We push up the last steep and the view that I knew would blow him away slowly reveals itself.  Maroon Bells, the most photographed peak in the Rocky Mountains, opens up and instantly he understands what the effort has been all about.                                                                                                 

                     Looking to our right as we hiked we see two tracks down Oly Bowl and they look perfect.  Slightly covered from the fresh snow but tracks that will allow us to find our way down without getting choked out in the gully and ending up at the river 3,200 feet below.  With bears still foraging before laying down for the long winter, it would be in our best interest to make it to the base of Highlands without getting lost.  So it was decided and we strapped in to get at the 3,120 ft of skiing below our feet.  Doug dropped first and set up down below.  The turns looked creamy and stable.  

Stopping about half way down the opening pitch we were able to get these shots, the first of the season.  It was clear that we had been well rewarded for our early season efforts.  With it being so early, we are even more motivated to get after it and not stop!  Elevate Thyself Everyday!

Grizzly Peak, Independence Pass, CO 13,988ft 10/13/11

Grizzly Peak

Independence Pass, CO

13,988ft

10/13/2011

          As we drove away from Aspen, the freshly covered peaks of the first snows of the season shifted our focus to anticipation for the upcoming ski season.  Far from the summer climbing and camping, the cold chill in the air as we rolled down the windows brought images of face shots and powder lines mixed with chute descents that send chills down your spine.  We cant wait.  As we began to climb independence pass, the views of fall overtake the horizon and the Aspens are aglow with the golden foliage that brings so many tourists to the area year after year.  As we climb further up, one can not help but think about the recently held Tour of Colorado and how amazing it was to see men on flimsy road bikes built for weight in climbing, not descending, traveling at mind blowing speeds down tight and uneven roads.  Slowly the road tightens and turns toward the actual pass, itself an amazing achievement in engineering.  About half way up the pass on the Aspen side we take a sharp right and headed down Lincoln Creek road.  This dirt road just keeps meandering its way east into areas that are shut off for most of the year to only snowmobiles and dreamers of winter accents of the many 14ers here in Colorado.  Before the pass is closed and then reopened in the late spring this area is rarely seen let alone skied.  Time to take advantage of the conditions and late season warm temps as much as possible.  This being just a reconnaissance mission our eyes are only on viewing the routes and checking to see snow depth in the area and the possibility of skiing it on a later date but before they close Independence Pass.  

         

The hike began from the reservoir in temperatures that felt very much like late fall and the smell of the evergreens immediately overtook the rest of my senses.  All at once the back and forth of speech is replaced with the heavy breathing of labored effort as we pass into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.  "The first mile is always the hardest..."  keeps repeating in my head and onward we push until you find the zone that runners and climbers all secretly love.  It was just at the moment when my pace had established itself that i remembered how far away from help we were and also how deep into bear country we were!  My breath quickened and I very quickly became very much aware of my surroundings.  Looking for any movement on the horizon and along the banks of the river that slowly made its way down the center of the vast valley from Grizzly Lake.  The very name of the peak only heightens my sense of awareness at the possible danger of bears that are foraging for as much food as possible before hibernating for the winter.  With no signs of immediate danger we push forward, cautiously. 

Bear print in the snow reminding us of where we are...

           It was about the hour and a half mark when we began to hit the high country still full of snow delicately covering the trail.  As we progress the snow becomes deeper and deeper until it is a steady shin depth.  This would not be a problem in the proper gear but as most of my equipment is not even in the same state we have to make due with sneakers and very light apparel.  Hiking in a t-shirt is a welcome breath after the covered shaded areas of the first half of the climb and the sun remains warm enough to sustain us forward.  The surprising part is how efficient i feel. Apparently all of that off-season training and backpacking has paid off in spades!  We take a moment to appreciate the amazing beauty of Colorado above tree line while slowly scanning the upper ridges for mountain cats and goats that make us look like pure amateurs in this world of theirs.  The afternoon chill has begun to set in and lacking proper gear we make a decision to press forward to the lake and the base of the ski descent that taunts us so brazenly up above.  

       

Turning the corner toward Grizzly Lake

  The snow depths are now beginning to become a legitimate hazard along with the sun and time fading away.  Hitting the ridge line and looking across at the summer hiking trail, one wonders who would ever traverse under the cornices and rock chutes that define the east facing side of the canyon.  My feet by this point are relying strictly on my progression to stay warm and stopping for any instant quickly reminds me of this inescapable truth.  As the ski descent comes into view and the ridge flattens we see our simple objective of Grizzly Lake.  It is too pristine for words and presents an oddly cold and isolated sense of accomplishment, as many are in the world of snow accents.  

Slowly but surely making it up and over the ridge line to Grizzly lake.  Notice the complete lack of proper gear...

Ross with Grizzly Lake in the background. Above it lies the ski line to the left of the fading sun 

Ross with proper gear and an axe.

The sun almost at the breaking point of disappearing behind the north summit, we take just a brief moment at the lake to survey the ski descent off of the north-west facing ridgeline.  What we see is exciting and in that moment, we both know that the peak has to be climbed and skied as soon as possible.  With excitement and a healthy respect of the dangers involved with being stuck the high Colorado backcountry we turn and begin our descent back down to the jeep.  It has been a good day and very shortly this mission will allow us an efficient and glorious day of backcountry skiing in the upcoming ski season. 

             

Until the next time...

A Pow-Pow Powder Run

Here is a little Powder Run as we all wait anxeitly for the season of the white stuff to fall from the sky to arrive.

Maple Canyon

 Last weekend Dave and I drove down south to Maple Canyon to get in some climbing. Later in the evening we were accompanied by Jeff and set out to go do some routes throughout the night. We camped and the next day was not so well for me. Drank a little to much some puking at the base of the climb before I roped up for some climbs and, yeah it was one of those days. But it let me shoot Jeff and Dave more and allowed them to take advantage of a beautiful day on some great rock.

Photos By Doug Geraghty

Lone Peak Project

This was a fun hike. Through the night only to wake up in the morning that we were completely in the wrong place on the mountain. Venturing all the way across the south face to make it into the cirque to realize we have been defeated by fatigue and time not to make it onto the wall. But other then that it was an awesome trip.  Check out the full story in the next edition of Elevate.

Photos by Doug Geraghty