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Mt Sneffels
Ascent: Snake Couloir
Descent: East Slopes ski
9.0~ miles round trip
I'd been looking at Sneffels for quite awhile and this weekend it finally seemed to come together. I loaded up Saturday afternoon, left Gunny, and car camped at the trailhead (Blue Lakes TH). Around 3:00 am Sunday morning, I was off.
Somewhere around 4:00am, the first tragedy struck as I was crossing East Dallas Creek. I found an ice patch on the log I was on and went shoulder first into the creek, not a great start to the day. A little soaked, but determined though, I manned up and kept going as I'd waited to long for this peak to let some water stop me. If nothing else it made post holing the last half mile to tree line much easier as I was already wet.
Around 5:30 I broke the trees and got my first good view of Sneffels and the Snake. I put my skins on and started cruising up.
Just around 7:00 the second tragedy struck as I was skinning up towards the snow field just below Sneffels north face. The snow was getting steeper and icier when my skin lost grip and my ski slid. I lurched forward to catch myself and caught the top of my thumb with the edge of my ski. It initially felt like game over, as I could see a little bone and tendon, but after I got it taped up I felt good to go. However, the skins went up and the crampons came out.
Things went smoothly for a bit after that as I made my way into and up the Snake. The snow in there was just perfect and steep. I switched between plunging the shaft and swinging the pick; it was just too good.
The exit was great too, I nice little 4th class chimney with some good ice in it and big exposure below.
I summited around 9:15 just as a father and son we're coming down. The went off towards lavender col, and I enjoyed a long awaited summit. After a few minutes I wrapped things up on top as the clouds started looking omnious. I knew I wasn't a good enough skier to handle the snake so I opted to go down the eastern slopes back to Blaine basin.
Just as I got my skis on the thunder started. I booked it down to the saddle of lavender col. and found a corner to hide in. But, after just a few minutes I remembered an epic on Kit Carson where waiting would have killed us, and I had skis on for a speedy descent today, so I just started skiing again in the storm.
The ski went really well, and there was some good corn too, and after 20-30 minutes I was out of the danger zone and back at treeline where I stashed my wet boots that morning. The hike from there was pretty uneventful, although it did rain most if the time ensuring I got nice and soaked before I got to the car. All in all, that was one of the best summits I've done and quite the adventure of a day!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Thanks buddy for the report. Excellent pics and report. Despite adversity you have kept a positive mental attitude, which is very inspiring.
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