TR: Feeling the Sickness on the Spire Couloir | RMNP, CO | 3 March 2013

This past Sunday, I joined Carl (frontrangedrummer) and my buddy Zach for a tour in RMNP, a favorite playground for us and a place I haven't been to since early January. We heard reports of good snow inside DT on Saturday so we figured hitting up the Spire off Notchtop would be a solid gamble. Then the weather reports said 10-20mph. Okay ... we can deal with that. But as we often forget along the Front Range, certain spots you just have to double that. So most of the day we got slammed with gusts over 40 and a barrage of wind drifts that made the day all the more entertaining. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.




View as we enter the park

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Notchtop Mountain with the beautiful east face showing its radness

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Zach eying a thin, but skinny Ptarmigan Finger begging for slayage with Carl climbing close behind

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More deliciousness off in the distance

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Now the fun can begin

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View down below from mid-way up

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Now back to getting our heart rates up

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View down below

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Ski time!

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Not over yet

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Out, safe and sound

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well played!

could you find a more challanging line ???

Way to get after it with the low snow conditions! Crazy to see all rocks coming out of the apron. Been one of the worst years for coverage and good to see somebody still getting some!! Get a peek at Notchtop Couloir?

geez, usually you try to find something steep...:rolleyes2

http://thomas-armento.smugmug.com/Ot...climbing-L.jpg

Great TR! What makes it even more impressive is that your partner appears to have done this on Hellbents. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Thanks for sharing.

The climb looked just as ballsy as the descent... Well played.

Damn Tom, that's a sick TR. Well played.

the dreaded kneewalk booter!!! thanx

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rmnpsplitter

Get a peek at Notchtop Couloir?

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Didn't get a look at Notchtop Coolie ... spin drifts made it near impossible to see most of the time. If you head back there, some of the Ptarmigan Fingers look FAT! Definitely check those out.

Hella Extreme....

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Ca Caw! Sickbird!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PappaG

Didn't get a look at Notchtop Coolie ... spin drifts made it near impossible to see most of the time. If you head back there, some of the Ptarmigan Fingers look FAT! Definitely check those out.

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Right on. Been basically riding around the terrain park this year. Haven't ventured anywhere north of Emerald Lake mainly because Flattop has been bare as shit all year. DT and DE some of the worst coverage I can remember. Even the banana bowls haven't really filled yet. This weekend could do wonders for us if the forecast verifies. Good shit though for you guys making the most of it! Way more ambitious than I've been this year. I remember seeing your shots from this route a few years back. Prob easier run out with less downclimbing that time. Who wants to ski to the bottom anyways am I right?

Same line on April 2, 2011 (still had to downclimb, but it was MUCH easier):


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Inspiring!

boney, well played!

Sick man

Wow...props to you guys, seriously.

Woah that is a STOUT line, way to go!

way to work it to the bone dudes

Sick, burly, ridiculous, ballsy, rad, fuck.
That is all.

Awesome! I was in RMNP for an AIARE course in January and there wasn't nearly that amount of snow. Way to get after it! That is a wicked line!

nicely done

Nice, Tom. Glad you found some!

Way to get it done. I have a soft spot in my heart for this one. Great pics, fo sho.