High winds today but still good snow to be found on high, north facing slopes.
Luther and I skied the north couloir on Gilpin (left of center in the photo) today.

I skied the Snake Couloir on Mount Sneffels today with Luther Birdzell. The forcast was for extremely high winds, but they stayed at bay until we were off of the summit. Conditions were prime for skiing the steep stuff after the recent snow storms: chalky powder on a well consolidated base. It made for super fun skiing in the 50+ degree, narrow couloir. The road into Yankee Boy Basin is plowed to over 11,000 feet so getting to the summit via the normal, southside route is easy: 3 hours from the car.
We rapped off the summit into the Snake, then skied to 12,000 feet in Blaine basin from where we could skin back over Dyke Col and return to Yankee Boy.
All in all, the skiing is fantastic for this time of year, but it will turn to crap in a hurry as soon as the dust layer surfaces, possibly in a few more days.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of riding with Ridgway’s very own hardman, Randy Charette. Randy carries the proverbial “big stick” when he rides and pretty much destroys any and all in his path as is evidenced by the unlucky fellow pictured here.
We rode the classic Gunny Loop, which has a fast, furious, flickable and fun (4F) descent. Hopefully, he’ll be crushing it like he did here at the Breck Epic, in which he’ll be competing this summer with his wife Jen.

Chasing down Colleen across the Colorado National Monument.

It’s been a great weekend in the Grand Valley. Though it’s still stormy in the high country, temperatures and conditions have been perfect for the desert trails and I’ve been keeping busy on them. I’ve been sticking close to home after being gone so long but there’s plenty to do close by. I was able to do an out an back on the Ribbon with Cody Oates of Aspen on Friday. Here’s a few photos.

After three ass kicking rides over the weekend, I was pretty damn sore all over. Two days of office work, domestic chores and resting has me ready for more intense aerobic and full body action that only a single speed can deliver.
Unfortunately, the weather may have other ideas, at least for today. If so, I’ll take advantage of a recent well spent $7 pictured below. There’s something about the Nuge that just soothes the soul no matter how bad things get outside. Plus, the added benefit of it being on vinyl gives it that special audial quality and requires more attentive listening, if only during the two twenty minute sides.

Mark Cartier & I spent four days on the Tokasitna Glacier waiting for the recent snow to clear from the West Face so we could have a shot at the Harvard Route on Mount Huntington This didn’t happen and with just a few days left on our trip, we decided to bump over to the Root Canal Glacier to try Ham ‘n Eggs on the Moose’s Tooth. This route is a bit lower and faces south, so we figured it was more likely to be clear. Also, we were getting pretty bored sitting around, doing nothing for the past four days.
It was a good call: Ham ‘n Eggs was clean and in good condition. We had spectacular day on which to climb it. The weather and views were amazing! It was a perfect day to be in the mountains. We completed the ascent to the REAL summit (not many go all the way across the ridge to the true summit anymore and, yes, in case you were wondering, the summit still matters) in 9 1/2 hours round trip from our camp. The route had some very fun climbing and is festooned with fixes anchors, many of which are in need of some cleaning. Here’s a few shots.

I had a brief, but action packed break at home between trips this weekend with family. Today, I’m heading for Alaska to climb Mount Huntington with Mark Cartier. We’ll be up there until May 7th.
Besides some quality time at home, sipping margaritas, spinning some vinyl and hanging out with my family, I was able to get in three great rides at the Lunch Loop. The cactus is starting to bloom here and the temps are quite pleasant: mid 70′s. The desert should be in full bloom when I return.
Here are some photos from this weekend’s rides.

I just returned home from teaching a ten day AMGA Rock Guides Course in Red Rocks. I caught a nasty cold while there so didn’t do much biking; only one ride. I was able to get on some great rock climbs and had a lot of fun with the students.
The one ride I did was awesome. It was at the nearby Cowboy Trails on a trail called Bob Gnarly. It lived up to it’s name as it descended a smooth, water polished, limestone dry streambed with numerous gaps, ledge drops and spooky technical sections. The surrounding desert landscape and views into the canyons of Red Rocks were equally amazing. I’d highly recommend this place for riding to anyone visiting Vegas.
Climbingwise, I was able to get on some popular AND neglected classics like Bruja’s Brew, Lotta Balls, Bullah’s Book, Johnny Vegas, Community Pillar, Group Therapy, Tunnel Vision, Fiddler on the Roof (highlight of the week) and Black Orpheus.
I get to spend a restful weekend at home with my family before leaving for Alaska on Monday. I’m going on my annual “Freeze Your Ass Off Trip”, this time to Mount Huntington.

I just finished up three days of riding in Moab with my wife and am now heading to Vegas to instruct an AMGA Rock Guides’ Course: sunny, warm rock climbing and, perhaps a bit more riding on the Cowboy Trails near Red Rocks.
In Moab, I was able to ride the Slickrock, Porcupine Rim and Svereign trails, all considered area classics. Though I have yet to do Amasa Back, I have to say that what I’ve experienced of the mountain biking in Moab is way over-rated. The scenery, however, is not and that is the main reason to go duke it out amongst legions of other bikers, jokers, motorcyclists and jeepers on the (scenery withstanding) miles of mediocrity.
I’ll still put Gooseberry & Little Creek at the top of the list for high quality riding in the beehive state.