Photo TR: Mount Valhalla, South Ridge, Gore Range 4.21.07

[iskibc]

With a spring storm knocking on the door, Kya and I headed up to Vail with hopes of skiing a peak in the Gore Range before the snow moved in. Our sights were set on skiing something off of Snow Peak (13,024') above Deluge Lake. The forecast was calling for clouds and snow to move in to the Vail valley around noon, so we got an early start and began the steep climb up the Deluge Creek trail.


We arrived to a snowless and dry trailhead shortly after sunrise with no wind and a few high scattered clouds in the sky.


No snow at 8K:




Knowing conditions would change in another several hours we wasted no time in getting going and knocked off the first couple thousand vert through the dense aspen laden forest within 75 minutes.



Typical Gore bushwhack:







We came across this guy hanging out trailside:






We went from zero snow on the ground to a 5' base within a matter of steps. It was quite amazing at how the coverage changed so drastically as we changed aspect and made our way around a bend. We switched from bootpacking to skinning and made good time to the upper basin as we glided on some nice and firm snow.


Some nice looking lines further up the Gore Creek Trail:






Unnamed peaks:






The Deluge Lake basin is home to three named peaks of the Gore (Grand Traverse, Snow Peak, Valhalla Peak). It was quite evident that one of the storms from last week carried along some dust from the desert SW with it as most slopes were covered with the infamous dust layer. Hopefully it doesn't cut the ski season in the Gore too short this year, as this area is suffering from a below average winter.


Some nice looking corn skiing up there:






From our initial vantage point it didn't appear that there was a line off of Snow Peak that went from the summit, so we opted for a line off the South ridge of Valhalla instead. Once we reached the upper basin and got a better look at Snow Peak, we spotted a couple of fun looking lines coming off the north side of the peak. Oh well, there will be another day for Snow.


As we crested treeline the weather system from the south quickly began to move it's way in to the Vail Valley. Within minutes the blue sky was gone and clouds and light snow pushed it's way in. Breaks in the clouds were still visible to the south, so we knew we still had some time to work with. The storm wasn't too threatening, but still something on our minds.


Kya climbing:


















Throughout the entire climb up the Valhalla face we kept our eyes on the approaching storm, but it never seemed to materialize. A few minutes of snow followed by several minutes of mixed clouds and sun was all that happened.


Other nice looking lines:






Summit ridgeline:






We reached the summit in the early afternoon and checked out the views of the surrounding area. Reaching the top of a peak in the Gore always takes the breath away as most summits are airy and have dramatic drops along most aspects. This south summit was literally an ass cheek or two wide, with not much room to move around.



Grand Traverse Peak and the Grand Traverse:








Kya hanging out below the summit block:









Snow Peak:






Our hopes of skiing some corn were gone long ago as the sun went behind the clouds a couple of hours earlier. We were stuck with skiing some hard refrozen granular, but it would suffice as anything is better than breakable death crust.



Storm starting to kick-in to the south:







kya dropping in:




































With more potent snow showers moving in we moved quickly and made our way down the face and down to the secret cabin near Deluge Lake.


Someone put some time in on this one. Wilderness area, 5 mile hike, lot's of bushwhacking, etc.:





It was great to get back into the Gore and work the legs a bit. Can't wait to get back there again and knock off some more peaks and lines.

[Fritz]

Thank you.

[marshalolson]

the gore is great. way to tag it.

[summit]

sweet!!!

[goldenboy]

Cool. I like the looks of this peak a lot:

[springsproject]

your Gore TR's are so cool, seems like you are the only ones who ever get in there.

[grskier]

Flippin sweet...

We got the dust layer here in the Elks also....

[Squirrel99]

The ski shots are cool, but I really like the background!

[iskibc]

The ski shots are cool, but I really like the background!

Yeah, we were kicking ourselves for not heading over there in the first place. That's the east side of the Grand Traverse. It's marked as a permanent snowfield or "Colorado Glacier", so it's skiable for most of the year. It's a long one day trip as you have to climb up and over the pass, and then back, but easily doable from the cabin below.




goldenboy,

Yeah, that's a nice looking peak. I like the sunnyside face down to the creek. It's a good 3K of vert down to the Gore creek. A bitch to reach, but well worth it.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Oh how beautiful the Gore Range is and not so far from home either! I'm so glad you've been taking the time to explore that range as it should be explored! Beautiful pics and looks like a sweet day out! Way to beat the storm!

[IridePow]

Strong work...... and hopefullly the powder makes a strong return also in the next day or so.

[Trackhead]

Yup, spring peak bagging season is here. Lovin it.

[Kya]

We ended up scoping some BIG lines out there, impressive stuff. A smooth Gore trip is always and and

[skimoore]

Nicely done....so I have to ask, how many EPIC photos do you have by now?

[detroit]

That's great. thanks for sharing

[Spark]

Awesome TR. Well done once again! Every ski day on the mountain is a great day.

[skier666]

This Gore place looks boring as shit.

[Pinner]

Deluge Lake cabin was installed by helicopter, IIRCC.

[Alpine Dreams]

Thanks for sharing the stoke.

[lemon boy]

Yawn.

Dude, you're totally slipping. This is merely a TR of an incredibly beautiful place with perfect snow, awesome shot composition and excellent ski action.

Where's the fire? The spark? Sooooo sad. I think you need to regroup yourself and really find out where your priorities lie in order to get the magic back.

[Ireallyliketoski2]

I took this picture from near the summit of James Peak and was quite taken by the peak under this arrow.


Could it be the same as the snowy face in this picture?

[Telemarketeer]

Nice TR!
Some friends are heading back there for a week long trip to tick off some lines we have been looking at for a few years. It was originally my idea but I'm too busy(and poor) to take a week off, LAME.

We found that same cabin on a trip last year. Pretty sweet. My guess was it was packed in on horses but a heli is definitely a possibility.

[grizzle6]

Still gettin' it done...

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

I am currently in talks with Frozen and the Suit because I feel the current emoticons like this and this and this no longer do your TR's justice and I have grown tired of using them. But for now you have earned yourself these

[iskibc]

Nice TR!
Some friends are heading back there for a week long trip to tick off some lines we have been looking at for a few years. It was originally my idea but I'm too busy(and poor) to take a week off, LAME.

We found that same cabin on a trip last year. Pretty sweet. My guess was it was packed in on horses but a heli is definitely a possibility.

It's a well kept cabin and sits in a perfect location. You can get a lot done spending a whole week up there. I would be happy with a night or two.

Keller, Peak X, Z, all looked really good. There are some really nice couloirs coming off the east side of Valhalla too. Rock Creek basin is absolutely beautiful.

Too bad you can't make it up for that trip.




Hey lemonboy,

Any idea what kind of bird that is? I figured you would know. I'm no bird watcher, so my first guess was some sort of Quail.