Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
"Coffeepot" (far left), Potosi Peak and Stony Mountain (right).
March 14, 2011
"Coffeepot" (far left), Potosi Peak and Stony Mountain (right).
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Teakettle Mountain, "Coffeepot" and Potosi Peak.
March 14, 2011
Teakettle Mountain, "Coffeepot" and Potosi Peak.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Gilpen Peak draws lots of attention in Upper Yankee Boy Basin.
March 14, 2011
Gilpen Peak draws lots of attention in Upper Yankee Boy Basin.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Sunrise over Potosi Peak. We've just reached the highest summer trailhead.
March 14, 2011
Sunrise over Potosi Peak. We've just reached the highest summer trailhead.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
We continue up the basin and it takes longer than it seems it should for the route to Lavendar Col to appear.
March 14, 2011
We continue up the basin and it takes longer than it seems it should for the route to Lavendar Col to appear.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
At long last, here it is (on the right). Looking very non-spooky today, we're in luck!
March 14, 2011
At long last, here it is (on the right). Looking very non-spooky today, we're in luck!
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Its hard to make forward progress as Gilpin demands long and frequent gazes behind us.
March 14, 2011
Its hard to make forward progress as Gilpin demands long and frequent gazes behind us.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Matt skins toward Lavender Col.
March 14, 2011
Matt skins toward Lavender Col.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Gilpin and the Block Tops are a stunning sight to behold. Notice the person far below us; it turns out to be a skillful local mountaineer named Les from Montrose.
March 14, 2011
Gilpin and the Block Tops are a stunning sight to behold. Notice the person far below us; it turns out to be a skillful local mountaineer named Les from Montrose.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Our snowshoes with built in crampons are perfect for conditions and enable us to stay on top of the snow. As the slope steepens Matt is forced to take off his skis and posthole. This is the only point during the climb that snowshoes trumped skis.
March 14, 2011
Our snowshoes with built in crampons are perfect for conditions and enable us to stay on top of the snow. As the slope steepens Matt is forced to take off his skis and posthole. This is the only point during the climb that snowshoes trumped skis.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Dominic approaching the Sneffles-Kismet saddle. Too steep for snowshoes now; they are stashed just below the col.
March 14, 2011
Dominic approaching the Sneffles-Kismet saddle. Too steep for snowshoes now; they are stashed just below the col.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Hanging a left, we enter the couloir that leads to the summit of Moutn Sneffels. Les has caught up and leads the way.
March 14, 2011
Hanging a left, we enter the couloir that leads to the summit of Moutn Sneffels. Les has caught up and leads the way.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
We exit the couloir almost immediately and tackle a 3rd class rock step to gain the ridge above. The couloir looks safe enough and easy to ascend but we've heard the exit can be quite nasty in winter conditions.
March 14, 2011
We exit the couloir almost immediately and tackle a 3rd class rock step to gain the ridge above. The couloir looks safe enough and easy to ascend but we've heard the exit can be quite nasty in winter conditions.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Heading up the ridge toward the summit.
March 14, 2011
Heading up the ridge toward the summit.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Les made a nice traverse just below the ridge on good snow. With bucket steps in place we were more than happy to follow.
March 14, 2011
Les made a nice traverse just below the ridge on good snow. With bucket steps in place we were more than happy to follow.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Les tops out and Matt climbs some slabby rock just below the summit.
March 14, 2011
Les tops out and Matt climbs some slabby rock just below the summit.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Kevin and Dwight make their way up the ridge.
March 14, 2011
Kevin and Dwight make their way up the ridge.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Kevin tops out as Les makes his exit.
March 14, 2011
Kevin tops out as Les makes his exit.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Mighty Dallas Peak and "T0" across the way.
March 14, 2011
Mighty Dallas Peak and "T0" across the way.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Kevin, Matt, Dwight & Dominic enjoying a warm and well-deserved summit break.
March 14, 2011
Kevin, Matt, Dwight & Dominic enjoying a warm and well-deserved summit break.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Mount Emma, Gilpin Peak and Telluride ski slopes.
March 14, 2011
Mount Emma, Gilpin Peak and Telluride ski slopes.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
View to the west into Blue Lakes Basin.
March 14, 2011
View to the west into Blue Lakes Basin.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Dwight begins the descent.
March 14, 2011
Dwight begins the descent.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Cirque Mountain, Teakettle, "Coffeepot", Potosi, "Kismet".
March 14, 2011
Cirque Mountain, Teakettle, "Coffeepot", Potosi, "Kismet".
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Gilpin Peak still looking stunning.
March 14, 2011
Gilpin Peak still looking stunning.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Teakettle and Coffeepot.
March 14, 2011
Teakettle and Coffeepot.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
Dominic walks the shelf portion of the Camp Bird road. The ice is melting quickly on this hot afternoon and passing under it is scary.
March 14, 2011
Dominic walks the shelf portion of the Camp Bird road. The ice is melting quickly on this hot afternoon and passing under it is scary.
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Mount Sneffels Winter Ascent
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Thirteener Potosi Peak (left) and twelver Stony Mountain (right) tower over Yankee Boy Basin on a colorful dawn.