SKIING A 14'ER,
DON'T FORGET THE SNACKS
THE ASCENT
A 3am wake up call is always intimidating, but the mission ahead of us promised to be worth it. For Sven Brunso, Josh Kling and myself, the objective was to summit Mount Sneffels (14,157 ft), and ski the Snake Couloir off its north face. The first hour was spent skinning in the dark. Halfway up Yankee Boy Basin sun began kissing the highest peaks, as we glided across a huge expanse of blue.
GNARNIA Halfway down the Snake, the couloir splits on a saddle. It’s a safe place to post up, away from the random rocks that plummet down the chute and the Gnarnia view provided me an excuse to take a picture.
FUEL MATTERS The quick snack up top proved crucial, as the crux of the day lay ahead of us. A 100ft rappel off the summit was required to get into the Snake. Seen here, Sven walks off it backwards. Skier: Sven Brunso, Location: Mt Sneffles (14,157' ), San Juan Mountains, CO
NO CHAIRS NEEDED There are no benches or tables on the summit of 14’ers, but skis will make due. Hat and gloves drying out on one side, snacks on the other. #mountainpantry
SIGHT SEEING Three miles into our trek we passed Gilpin Peak. The sight was a skier’s dream, with a narrow chute dropping from its summit. Its summit would have to wait this go-around as we had bigger fish to fry…
SKIING VS. FLYING COMMERCIAL Skiing Mount Sneffels got Sven the same perspective you get flying commercial airlines, except his abuse was limited to 8.5 hours hiking in unpressurized air; tons of leg room though. Skier: Sven Brunso, Location: Mt Sneffels (14,157' ), San Juan Mountains, CO
SNACKING IS A MUST I once overheard a chairlift attendant make the claim- 'you can't be happy AND a vegetarian.' I think Josh Kling agrees! Tasty snacks to go alongside our tasty views.
TOPPING OUT Topping out on Sneffels and looking over Yankee Boy, our journey was displayed before us. We began in the valley floor, below tree line, just to the right of center. Yet the adventure was only beginning. Instead of dropping back to the truck to the south, the Snake descends Sneffels' north face into Blaine Basin.
WORTH IT Looking west from the North face of Sneffels, Canyonlands National Park of Utah lay on the Horizon. I couldnt help but think, that while we were skiing, desert explorers were having their own field trip. Skier: Sven Brunso, Location: Mt Sneffles (14,157' ), San Juan Mountains, CO
INTO THIN AIR
The cliff walls of Blaine Basin seem to stretch to the sun. We were unsure if the rainbow ring was real or a side effect of 5,000ft of climbing in thin air. Skier: Sven Brunso, Location: Mt Sneffels (14,157' ), San Juan Mountains, CO
THE ALMOST END
Returning to the truck after skiing the Snake required a 1,600 ft climb out of Blaine Basin to Lavender Col, and eventually dropping back into Yankee Boy. Fortunately the views kept us motivated. Skier: Sven Brunso, Location: Mt Sneffles (14,157' ), San Juan Mountains, CO.