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Peak(s):  Mt. Democrat  -  14,154 feet
Date Posted:  06/13/2011
Date Climbed:   06/11/2011
Author:  bergsteigen
 Democrat's South Slope Chutes   


Mt Democrat


Ascent Route: East Ridge
Descent Route: South Slopes
Vertical climbed & skied: 2,774'
Mileage: 5.9
Partners: solo (Ski descent with Brian and Justin)

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Red sky at morning...


Sometimes, one just has to go skiing. After 2+ weeks of working 14+ hour days, packing, cleaning, moving, painting, dealing with a cranky hospitalized grandmother, social workers, and assisted living directors, Friday afternoon arrived much sooner than I had planned. No plans and no partners, I was looking to get out and do something rejuvenating. Mt Democrat's south slopes looked inviting, if I didn't have to walk too far. So I took a chance that the road would be open farther and that the south slopes would be in skiable condition when I arrived on the summit.

The road is clear up to mi 4.2 (of the 6 to Kite Lake), so I already was ahead of my time schedule. I met one guy at the trailhead, but he didn't seem interested in climbing up the south slopes route, and as such I decided to take the safer way up the east ridge. Plus I would be able to check out the WROD (White Ribbon of Death) that exists on the east slopes. It's continuous... for now.

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First rays of sunshine on the peak, briefly


Early in the morning it looked as if the clouds would dissipate and the sun would beat down on the snow, but that wasn't the case. In fact I even saw a few snow flurries while I skinned past Kite Lake! No rush to summit on this day, in fact, I would have to wait. I was able to skin to about 13,200' before I put the skis on my back on my way to the east ridge.

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Pano showing Bross S-gully and Dem's east slope snow


The sun didn't make its full appearance until I was up on the false summit, and as such, the snow had barely warmed up. I knew I would be waiting awhile for the snow to soften, so I relaxed on the summit alone. About the time my summit rituals were done, I noticed two guys coming up the south slopes route. Great, some beta on snow conditions! When they arrived, they even invited me to ski down with them. A much more pleasant time to ski with others.

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Democrat's north face

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Approaching the summit, sun is finally out

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My 9'th 14er ski

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Summit Pano NE

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Sumit Pano SW


The ski down was quite a lot of fun. The roll over into the chutes gives that exhilarating feeling of not knowing what is below. I had been staring up at them on my approach, so I knew what to expect, but it's still a thrilling feeling to ski into the abyss.

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Looking down the south slope off the mini cornice

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Above the chutes

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Justin skiing

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Brian boarding

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Brian at the roll over

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Pano below the chutes, looking up at a fun line

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Just warm enough to see tracks.

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South slopes, from further into the basin


Once we got below 12,600' we had to try to keep our speed up through the Buckskin drainage. I ended up having to skate ski part of the basin, as the snow had warmed up enough to slow me down. Before dropping into the drainage below we had to duck under the swaying power lines. From there it was trying to stay high and contour our way down the drainage to where we parked.

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Cameron has a little snow left

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Had to duck under the power lines...

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Kite lake basin pano

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Parting shot of Democrat's south slopes


Overall, a great day out in the mountains, and just the relaxation needed!


My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):




Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20


Comments or Questions
dmccool
User
Solid work
6/13/2011 11:58pm
Still quite a bit of snow up there, but looks to be melting quickly. Thanks for the report, Otina


jam6880
User
awesome
6/14/2011 4:35am
nice job your killing it this year.


bckcntryskr
User
clicking them off
6/14/2011 8:21pm
Nice TR as usual, Otina.


bergsteigen
User
When the pieces come together
6/15/2011 4:31pm
... a great season ensues

Good snow year + optimal gear + improved nutrition & fitness = lots of skiing!



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