TR: Mt. Sneffels (5-26-2008)
Mt. Sneffels (14,150')
5-26-2008
Frank, mtnbikerskierchick
After skiing Missouri on Saturday, I headed over to Crested Butte for a day of rest. The weather was still a bit unstable and we were debating between hitting Sneffels or Wetterhorn on Monday. After skiing powder on the north face of Missouri, we'd hoped that the north-facing Snake couloir on Sneffels would also be stacked with fresh snow. So, on Sunday afternoon we headed south to Sneffels!
In November of 2006, goldenboy and I attempted Sneffels. However, weather and snow conditions were not in our favor. We reached the top of the Col Couloir, and didn't have crampons. There was a crux that we could not get past. So, we turned around about 100' from the summit. Sneffels had to wait until later...
From the north, Sneffels appears as the most prominent peak in the San Juans.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...31SanJuans.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...38sneffels.jpg
On the way to Sneffels we passed through the beautiful town of Ouray, one of my most favorite towns in Colorado.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w..._3303ouray.jpg
The road up to the Sneffels trailhead is adventurous itself.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_3282road.jpg
Higher up the road, evidence of the huge San Juan winter was everywhere. The season's continuous avalanches took a toll on the forest's old trees.
This slide path was new. If you look past the first few trees you can see the path all the way up to the top of the mountain. The slide took a turn to the right before crossing the road.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...3265debris.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...3266debris.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...3269debris.jpg
Higher up, snow was plentiful. We were thankful that they had plowed the road!
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_2943road.jpg
We lucked out, as the road was plowed nearly to the trailhead.
The next morning we woke up to clouds and wind. Lots of wind. The poor weather sucked away our early-morning motivation, and we didn't start out until 6:45 am.
This picture says it all. The San Juans have a LOT of snow.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_2952skis.jpg
I truly can't believe they plowed this road!
Skinning up Yankee Boy Basin.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...51skinning.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...66skinning.jpg
The clouds may have obstructed some of the scenery, but they did provide some amazing light.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w..._2959light.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w..._0048light.jpg
View of the Birthday Chutes off the southwest side of Sneffels.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...hdaychutes.jpg
Our original intention was to climb the Birthday Chutes to the summit. But the winds were still high. So, we opted for the easier Lavendar Col route. We were able to skin nearly to to Col before switching over to boot packing.
goldenboy on the Col, bracing after the wind knocked him down.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...MG_2974col.jpg
MBSC climbing up the Col Couloir.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w..._0053climb.jpg
goldenboy.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...colcouloir.jpg
This picture shows the crux at the top of the couloir that stopped us in November, 2006. On that trip the snow prevented us from being able to climb it. On this trip, the snow made it easier to climb. Thankfully, previous users had blazed the trail and the steps were solid.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...G_2980crux.jpg
On the summit!
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0055summit.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...ranksummit.jpg
Telluride looks like it should still be open for skiing!
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...2telluride.jpg
Wilson Group.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...ilsongroup.jpg
The San Juans are still a sea of snow. Here it is still winter.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0teakettle.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...62sanjuans.jpg
View north, to the green valley, where it is spring.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...reenvalley.jpg