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Peak(s):  Red Peak  -  13,186 feet
Date Posted:  03/26/2012
Date Climbed:   03/24/2012
Author:  KansasBoarder
 Sunny Fun in the Southern Gore   

What up 14ers.com!

I appreciate the chance to present you with the first Peak Report of my 2012 "Peaks for Peace" Campaign! It has been a little while since I have posted here, and I appreciate being able to do so once again. During the next ten weeks, I hope to find the fair weather, good health, safe snow conditions, and motivated partners to ascend and snowboard as many prominent mountains in the Western United States as is possible - with many of you, of course!

Unfortunately, three weeks of unseasonably warm weather has melted away much of Colorado's already thin snowpack, and my knees seem to disagree with me quite frequently (insertional tendinitis of the IT Ban). So, what would life be without a little uncertainty?

Image

The Undulating South Face of Red Peak B

Last Friday, I dusted off the old splitboard for an exploratory tour into the Southern reaches of the rugged Gore Range. Speedflyer Brett McNary joined up for the adventure, and we set out from the Buffalo Cabin TH around 6:30am. Our goal for the day was simple and understated; check out the alpine basin to the northwest of Buffalo Peak. I, of course, had my eye on the prominent south face of Red Peak - a surprisingly massive low 13er containing a ridiculous set of chutes, faces, couloirs, and bowls to shralp. And Brett, of course, was interested in finding suitable flying terrain with appropriate landing zones.

Image

Brett checks out the rising sun from a clearing on Buffalo Mountain's East Side

Being my first tour since October of 2011 (yikes), and being Brett's second tour in 12 hours (double yikes), we set a mellow pace from the get-go. The weather was warm and inviting, unseasonably pleasant. We made our way past the familiar turnoff for the Buffalo Mountain Trail and began a traversing descent passed the base of the Infamous Silver Couloir. Along the way we entertained ourselves with some fine downhill skinning through old growth forest, an uncomfortable and humbling warm up activity.

Image

The Impressive North Face of Buffalo Mountain Stretches Skyward from the Cabin Creek Trail

Previous excursions to this area of the Gore have yielded ambiguity as to a "best" route to reach the upper basin of Red Buffalo Pass. Matt Kamper and Ben Conners suggest staying to the south of the creek. The Summer trail meanders due north from the Silver Couloir and works West from the less dense North side of Cabin Creek. We seemed to do both, heading NW from the bottom of Silver...first gently descending, then gradually ascending, before crossing the creek and finding faint signs of the Summer Trail which we followed for the duration of our tour. In the end I think that the valley presents typical Gore Range Routefinding challenges that each group must solve; headwalls left from ice ages past choked with creeks and timber.

By the time we had worked our way to the Northwest side of Buffalo, the sun had risen high over head, transforming the snow into a warm glue-like state...

Image

Resistance training!

Image

Brett makes headway into the Upper Basin - SANS glop!


By high noon, we found ourselves relaxing and recovering just East of Red Buffalo Pass. Surrounded by steep ridge-lines 300 degrees about, we felt good. Our journey had covered 6.6 miles and 2400 vertical feet - and brought us to a wonderful place. The wind was still, the mercury up, and other human presence undetectable. We both wished we had brought our tents, a day's rations, and some whiskey - this basin is prime for Winter Camping.

Soon enough I found myself in motion again - heading up the pass to make an attempt at Red Peak's Summit from the SW Ridge. Brett stayed below to enjoy his time and scout potential flying zones.

Image

View from the SW ridge! Check out all the terrain!

The couple kilometer hike to the top proved more challenging than I had hoped, though it was tough to feel sorry for myself a midst such spectacular surroundings. The flaring of my knees and intensifying of my respiration was paralleled by an increase in a subtle contentment. It felt good to be hurting. It felt good to be back walking ridgelines in the sky.

By 2 o'clock I had made my destination.

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The SW ridge of Red Peak B extends towards Red Buffalo Pass. The North Faces of Demming and Uneva Peaks are seen foreground, with the mighty Sawatch Range rising in the distance.

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Looking southeast from the Summit towards Buffalo and Lake Dillon (Dillon Res....yeesh). This line is the more traditional (see rational) route to the top, cutting many miles from our choice of approach. However, the line catches sun from dawn - and we were late. Better safe and tired than...


I called Brett from the top to arrange a second set of eyes on my run. He had already Disgracebooked our progress and shared some stoke with our office-bound friends, gotta love the smart phones. Brett was set up on a highpoint along the pass, eager to fly. I made the changeover in gear and prepared to drop in.

Most times this paragraph would be full of multi-syllabic ramblings attempting to describe the emotion and experience of riding steep and committing lines in the backcountry. Today, I tell you this - my legs were shot and the snow was average. Did I enjoy arcing turns into the softening snows of the SW bowl? Sure! It was great! However, the fatigue of the approach, the secondary choice of lines, and the aches in my knees made Friday's tour more about...well...the tour!

Image

Brett proving that humans CAN fly!

I traversed back to our lunch spot and prepared to watch my friend take flight. I'm not going to lie, I'm so madly in love with snowboarding that the idea of flying OVER amazing riding terrain seems rather irrational. I mean, what golfer wants to fly over Pebble Beach instead of play it? I'm as fascinated with flight as any other boy who was raised on Air-Shows and the Blue Angles....and I'm also a snowboarder.

With that being said, the smile I saw on Brett's face after successfully landing a short but technical flight was as genuine as they get. He loves the stuff just like I love riding. Good on ya, Brett!

Image

Coming in for landing (not as slow as it looks in still frame)

By the time we packed up our gear, chowed on some food and water, and enjoyed another bit of down time in the basin, it was a touch past 3 O'clock. We had to get moving to make it back to the trucks before dark. As with many endurance efforts, the exit passed in a drawn out yet fluid and blurred fashion. We post-holed, took less efficient paths, delt with nagging pain, and grunted our way down the basin and back up to the TrailHead. My knees felt terrible, Brett was pretty worn out from 20 hours of touring in 2 days, both of which made the bourbon at the Pub all the better.



www.peaksforpeace.com



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
GerryRigged
User
Humans can fly
3/27/2012 3:22am
Man that flying sure looks like fun!!


RoanMtnMan
User
14ers needs this...
3/27/2012 7:27am
Thanks fellas. It's time someone took it up a notch in the name of good fun. You can't get hurt in the air. Write that down.. Brett, you still owe me $14 for beer and shotgun shells up in Lime creek last Oct.

P.S. Exceptional photos and writing KB.


Elliot
User
Wicked
3/27/2012 12:44pm
Nice


Matt
User
Welcome back
3/27/2012 1:26pm
You gave us a well-written report of a unique day! Thanks.


benners
User
Yeah Brennan!
3/27/2012 1:38pm
Great report man. You do a great job of highlighting why we do this stuff, and your photos are nothing short of spectacular. Also, good to see something is skiing well in the Gores; they were lookin pretty thin last time I checked. We need to get out this spring one way or another...if all the snow melts we'll just chill in an alpine basin and drink beer. How's that sound?

”Disgracebooked”, love it .


lordhelmut
User
Chuck Norris
3/27/2012 3:45pm
is alive and well and speedflying in the Gore Range.

Hell of a solid report, fun usually ensues when venturing in to the Gores.


FireOnTheMountain
User
Very nice
3/27/2012 3:50pm
You bring a new definition to my Gore factor now!

Do you know Mike Records?


pioletski
User
Right on Brennan -
3/27/2012 11:56pm
way to get after it. Is the Silver Couloir as thin as it looks in your pic?


KansasBoarder
User
Thanks!
3/28/2012 2:16am
Benners: beer and basins, or snow and skiing. They both don't suck.

FireOnTheMountain: I can't believe Mike Records is a pro, I'm so much better than he is.

Piolet: I think the picture you were looking at as ”Silver” was just west of the couloir. I will send you a pic of silver on the ole FB.

LordHelmut: when are we going to run into each other in the hills? It seems like we have been skiing the same peaks for years!

Thanks Roan and Matt as well!


Carl
User
Score!!
3/28/2012 5:14am
Sweet TR. Was surprised to logon and see a little speedflying. Been following Brett's take to the sky on TGR and his site. Impressive stuff. The learning curve scares me. PM me if you want to join us for Kit/Challenger this weekend - I can't find your email.


bckcntryskr
User
squirel
3/29/2012 4:54am
flight time in a TR, very nice!



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