Bob sent me the photo below, figured we’d better head up there for a few days to the semi-secret spot. Trip planning is fun. First I got the NOAA weather synopsis, looks like a good window Monday and Tuesday in central Colorado. Then off to Topozone for a few GPS numbers. We may be doing some approaches in the dark — who wants to wander around like a goofy springtime Ptarmigan when yet another of Colorado’s nearly infinite variety of couloirs awaits the kiss of glisse? A quick email to a few web clients letting them know I’m pulling the plug for a few days, and don’t forget to call the dentist and cancel Monday’s appointment (heck, I’ll just floss more). Full report Tuesday, about the skiing, not the flossing.
 |
| Looks good, still enough snow a few days later? We’ll see. |
 |
| Time to review a bit of safety technique. Colorado snow this time of year starts to become summer neive. If you fall, you’re not stopping unless you’ve got your self arrest technique covered. We’ll do some real-world practice as well. That’s a shiny new Black Diamond 55 cm Raven Ultra that Louie got for an end-of-school present from Alan G., a former guiding client of mine. Thanks Alan! (The book, “Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills” of course!) |
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
