TR: Dragon's Tail Couloir | RMNP, CO | Jan 6, 2013
With not much new snow in a week, clear skies, and warm temps over the last few days, I headed up to Bear Lake TH on Sunday with burnhard. And while meadow skipping does have its purpose, our love for the alpine and making the first trip of the season to a place many of us call home was in order. Easily my favorite playground and one that offers so much terrain and endless possibilities.
From Emerald Lake:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0077-L.jpg
Some shitty pics of the terrain park:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0078-M.jpg
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Burnhard in the lower left corner making the climb up:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0066-L.jpg
Not feeling a rush to get after it early, we had a leisure start from Bear Lake and quickly made our way to the base of the couloir. Along the way, some friends passed us on their way down after graciously putting in the bootpack for us and skiing from the crux. Conditions were good for them, but unfortunately for us, the sun started to make its way behind the mountains to the south effectively allowing for a steep descent on ice which again, is a refreshing break from more mellow terrain.
Burnhard in the choke and working his way down the lower part of the chute:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0072-M.jpg
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0057-M.jpg
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Token artsy exit photo:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...IMG_0062-M.jpg
In the end, it was a great day to be out in the mountains and couldn't have asked for more except for maybe a few more dozen feet of snow. Always a special treat to visit this area under blue skies and calm wind. So often we take our surroundings for granted and it's nice to take a step back for a brief moment and enjoy what we have ... even if it's on a super thin and icy line.
More photos here:
http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...uloir-20130106
