Photo TR: Deep Powder and High Peaks 11.20-11.21.04

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11-22-2004, 01:03 PM
iskibc

Photo TR: Deep Powder and High Peaks 11.20-11.21.04

11.20.04
PowPig, Cletus, iskibc & milli
Guanella Pass

While most of N. Colorado got skunked from the passing storm, we got lucky and found some deep goodness up near Guanella Pass. It was puking for most of the day and we ended up tacking on several miles of skinning and a couple thousand feet of vert in knee to thigh deep blower. Not bad at all since most of the other areas in the northern mountains got shafted.

powpig and milli:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0232.jpg

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0229.jpg

Cletus:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0227.jpg

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0235.jpg

Powpig:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...al_Cnv0237.jpg

11.21.04
James Peak 13,294'
Wahamma, iskibc, knuckledragger Dave

Sunday brought us bluebird and a fresh coat of snow across the Indian Peaks. With the hope that the front range peaks got some decent upslopes, we headed up to James Peak. We arrived at the trailhead to only 3" of new snow, but we thought there would be more up higher.

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...al_Cnv0080.jpg

A couple hours of skinning and 3,000 feet later we were at the top of James. The summit of this peak is one of my favorites in the front range because of it's vantage points:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nv0085%7E0.jpg

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0084.jpg

The lines off James peak aren't that bad either:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nv0086%7E0.jpg

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nv0089%7E0.jpg

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nv0088%7E0.jpg
11-22-2004, 01:07 PM
MOHSHSIHd

is that eldo in the background?
11-22-2004, 01:07 PM
Cornholio

Excellent! Did you hit that couloir?
11-22-2004, 01:17 PM
iskibc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornholio

Excellent! Did you hit that couloir?

I wish. It's actually a close-out line to a 100+ foot cliff. In the spring time it's possible to ski the top section and then do a roped traverse over into the shooting star couloir. Here's another shot of the couloir entrance:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nv0090%7E0.jpg
11-22-2004, 01:19 PM
summit

Sick!

Was that old Geneva Basin in the BK?
11-22-2004, 01:24 PM
Mountain Freak

That's Winter Park in the background isn't it. James has to be one of my favorite peaks to ski/board down. I had a great time climbing it last weekend. Your pics are friggin awesome!
11-22-2004, 01:32 PM
summit

I think he meant a different James Pk b/c he said Guanella Pass. Right?
11-22-2004, 01:40 PM
Pinner

Quote:

Originally Posted by Summit

I think he meant a different James Pk b/c he said Guanella Pass. Right?

He posted two trip reports.
11-22-2004, 02:13 PM
Yossarian

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinner

He posted two trip reports.

Bingo! Yahtzee!
11-22-2004, 03:46 PM
homerjay

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:
11-22-2004, 04:16 PM
Ireallyliketoski2

so jealous, looks very nice.
11-22-2004, 04:27 PM
Kya

I'd love to hook up with you guys the next time you go to Guenella. Technically i live only a few miles from there and spend a lot of days at the old Geneva Basin.
11-22-2004, 06:00 PM
cumerritt

CO mags went out hard this weekend. Sick
11-22-2004, 06:09 PM
Mountain Junkie

Guanella looks pretty nice. Is that the sound of my foot kicking my own ass? Yes, yes it is....
11-22-2004, 07:54 PM
marshalolson

just curious where you parked to ski james?
it looks as though you skied the east shoulder, perhaps back down to st mary's? or is mammoth gulch still drivable past apex (and maybe parking near kingson mtn). we were thinking about doing starlight couloir next weekend if all goes well... so just wonderin if that seems possible.
either way, great pics...
11-22-2004, 10:22 PM
PowderPig

Addition to the photo stoke

Some more pictures to add to the stoke (sorry for all the studies :-):

Bushwacking - iskibc, yossarian, milli:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000437001.jpg

BurritoKing:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000442001.jpg

HappyDog:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000448001.jpg

Iskibc studying the composition of the snow:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000456001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000457001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000458001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000459001.jpg

Tracks:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000453001.jpg

Iskibc and milli:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000465001.jpg

Iskibc and yoss:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000469001.jpg

...

Edit: Pics should be back now...
11-22-2004, 10:22 PM
wahama88

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshalolson

just curious where you parked to ski james?
it looks as though you skied the east shoulder, perhaps back down to st mary's? or is mammoth gulch still drivable past apex (and maybe parking near kingson mtn). we were thinking about doing starlight couloir next weekend if all goes well... so just wonderin if that seems possible.
either way, great pics...

We parked at the base to the trail up to St. Mary's Glacier and skinned up at the Lake, not too bad, pretty mellow ascent to the top of James
11-22-2004, 10:23 PM
PowderPig

Additional photos part 2

...
Study of a real powder hound:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000470001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000471001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000472001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000473001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000474001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000475001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000476001.jpg

Yoss study #1:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000477001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000478001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000479001.jpg

#2
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000484001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000485001.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...1000486001.jpg

That's all folks!

Edit: The pictures should be back now...
11-22-2004, 10:39 PM
telechuck

Looks like a killer day.

Judging from PowderPig's condition Saturday night it was also a hard day. He was way tired when I talked to him and chose sleep over Berthoud at dawn. Even the much heralded B5 burritos couldn't give him the energy.

Excellent report and stoke!
11-23-2004, 12:14 AM
PowderPig

The B5's rock, BTW!
11-23-2004, 01:19 AM
Yossarian

thanks powpig! Great shots!!!
11-23-2004, 01:57 AM
freshie247

Right Arm Dave,

Sweet TR.I've been working non stop to pay for my passes & gear,hopefully I'll have the decks cleared soon for adventures on the high seas!
11-23-2004, 07:23 AM
shera

Very fine. I can hardly wait to get back over to Guanella...
11-23-2004, 11:00 AM
marshalolson

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahama88

We parked at the base to the trail up to St. Mary's Glacier and skinned up at the Lake, not too bad, pretty mellow ascent to the top of James

cool, thanks.
i bet mammoth is not even close to drivable... just hoping!
11-23-2004, 11:21 AM
PowderPig

Pics gone?

Hmmm... Can anyone else see the pics I added?
It seems Biglines have removed them :cussing:
I'll repair it when I get home...
11-23-2004, 09:14 PM
PowderPig

Bump because pics are back...
11-23-2004, 09:29 PM
Trackhead

Another great day in the mountains for you guys.
11-24-2004, 01:49 AM
FiveLarge

thanks guys. just great, great stuff.

do I dare ask where off guanella you guys went? hoping to get out Friday, was tentatively looking like Berthoud (off the beaten path there...), but looks like that might be a fun place to go explore a bit
11-24-2004, 11:08 AM
climb2ski

love Guanella.....
11-24-2004, 11:13 AM
Ireallyliketoski2

Quote:

Originally Posted by spthomson

thanks guys. just great, great stuff.

do I dare ask where off guanella you guys went? hoping to get out Friday, was tentatively looking like Berthoud (off the beaten path there...), but looks like that might be a fun place to go explore a bit

There's tons of great stuff off of Guanella, get a topo and go explore. It's a good thing when you don't know where you are going and find something nice.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nicetracks.jpg

Guanella is a good place to ski, not as much snow as Berthoud but you don't see 1/10th of the skiers up there. You will see lots of hikers though, but they're all doing Bierdstat and there's not much good skiing up that way anyway.
11-24-2004, 07:08 PM
FiveLarge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireallyliketoski

There's tons of great stuff off of Guanella, get a topo and go explore. It's a good thing when you don't know where you are going and find something nice.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nicetracks.jpg

Guanella is a good place to ski, not as much snow as Berthoud but you don't see 1/10th of the skiers up there. You will see lots of hikers though, but they're all doing Bierdstat and there's not much good skiing up that way anyway.

I don't want to know where tons of great stuff...I just want to know where THAT great stuff is. :wink:

Seriously, though, a good idea and always fun to explore around. Just looking for a little "direction" as to which way to head. As you said, not always a ton of snow...so I'm assuming it's best in spots. The pic you posted...of the bowl off Bierstadt opening toward sawtooth? Also aware of Geneva, of course. Have camped around Square Top...
11-24-2004, 07:11 PM
natty dread

[borat]Nice! Nice! I like![/borat]
11-24-2004, 08:00 PM
FiveLarge

ah, forgot...

what were the road conditions like? passable 2WD passenger vehicle?
11-24-2004, 08:20 PM
iskibc

Quote:

Originally Posted by spthomson

ah, forgot...

what were the road conditions like? passable 2WD passenger vehicle?

Yeah, 2WD should work since they plow that road. When you get to the top of the pass walk across the road and start skinning towards the willows and then make a right. Go straight until you run into good snow. Repeat. Have fun.
11-24-2004, 11:56 PM
PowderPig

Quote:

Originally Posted by iskibc

Yeah, 2WD should work since they plow that road. When you get to the top of the pass walk across the road and start skinning towards the willows and then make a right. Go straight until you run into good snow. Repeat. Have fun.

You might want to make a hard right (east) when the good snow has ended. Otherwise you end up doing some bushwacking and get a long hike back (it's not like you miss out on the bushwacking, but the hike back becomes shorter)... :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by spthomson

do I dare ask where off guanella you guys went?

Approx. two fingers NW of the parking at the pass...
11-25-2004, 12:08 AM
Benny Profane

well, this is a cool thread.
11-25-2004, 12:11 AM
homerjay

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowderPig

Approx. two fingers NW of the parking at the pass...

N. Slopes of Squaretop?
11-25-2004, 12:31 AM
Foggy_Goggles

Wow! Nice mission. Just my style.
But someone is on crack, it might be me. Is there more than one James Peak around here? 'Cause the one I know and have skied is not on the same side of the highway as or in the same county as or even that close to Guanella Pass? What gives?
11-25-2004, 02:09 AM
snowave

That second shot of the pup with the ears up is priceless!

thanks for sharing! great picts!!!
11-25-2004, 08:45 AM
PowderPig

Quote:

Originally Posted by homerjay

N. Slopes of Squaretop?

N slopes of the ridge between Naylor lake and the pass