Grizzly Peak Trip Report 07/13/2015

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Grizzly Peak - 13,997 feet
Date Posted	07/13/2015
Modified	07/27/2015
Date Climbed	06/28/2015
Author	SnowAlien
Additional Members	Manky, moneymike, mkmiller

Finishing Centennials on Grizzly A
June 28, 2015 Trailhead: Grizzly Reservoir/Portal campground Route: Grizzly couloir ascent/descent Mileage: ~9 miles Vertical: 3,500 ft climbed, 1,800 ft skied Time: ~ 8 hours (with an hour rest/nap on the summit) Team: Mike S, Mike M, Jaaron, Jennifer, Sam and Natalie Not sure what to say other than it was a great day and an exciting ski... Weather was perfect, snow was great... Thank you guys for joining me on this one. Grizzly couloir This could possibly be my favorite lake now - Grizzly lake Starting the climb Sam and me Sam and I chose to put crampons early on, and it slowed us down a bit. The rest of the group, crampon-less, ran ahead of us. MoneyMike, fresh from Capitol, was our step-kicking fairy that day. Topping out on the ridge We left our skis at the top of the couloir and made a short stroll to the summit. Mike is giving me a high five as Sam and I summit ~9am The crew - Mike S, Natalie, Sam, Jaaron and Mike M. Jennifer was at the camera Since it was still early to ski and we were waiting for the snow to warm up, most of the group took a nap on the summit. Note that MoneyMike is the last man still awake. The weather was perfect and the views were outstanding, so I just took it all in. Nap time Just past 10am, we started the descent. Mike S was so fast dropping in, I only got the tail end of that action. MoneyMike skiing Jaaron drops in Jaaron skis as the group watches Mike M is making a jump turn Sam skiing Natalie skiing Lower on the apron conditions got more challenging - snow with some runnels, old avy debris and rocks, but we made it work Finishing the ski to the lake. We milked the snow down to about 12k, when it was time to put skis back on the pack. Back at the trucks around 1.30pm to celebrate such a good late season ski with beers. I also appreciate very much and thank all for the kind comments in this finisher thread. Climb on and ski down! My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): View on the Map Download GPX file used in this map

Finishing Centennials on Grizzly A

June 28, 2015
Trailhead: Grizzly Reservoir/Portal campground
Route: Grizzly couloir ascent/descent
Mileage: ~9 miles
Vertical: 3,500 ft climbed, 1,800 ft skied
Time: ~ 8 hours (with an hour rest/nap on the summit)
Team: Mike S, Mike M, Jaaron, Jennifer, Sam and Natalie

Not sure what to say other than it was a great day and an exciting ski... Weather was perfect, snow was great... Thank you guys for joining me on this one.

Grizzly couloir

This could possibly be my favorite lake now - Grizzly lake

FullSizeRender%252520%2525283%252529.jpg

Starting the climb

Sam and me

Sam and I chose to put crampons early on, and it slowed us down a bit. The rest of the group, crampon-less, ran ahead of us.

MoneyMike, fresh from Capitol, was our step-kicking fairy that day.

Topping out on the ridge

We left our skis at the top of the couloir and made a short stroll to the summit.

Mike is giving me a high five as Sam and I summit ~9am

The crew - Mike S, Natalie, Sam, Jaaron and Mike M. Jennifer was at the camera

Since it was still early to ski and we were waiting for the snow to warm up, most of the group took a nap on the summit. Note that MoneyMike is the last man still awake.

The weather was perfect and the views were outstanding, so I just took it all in.

Nap time

Just past 10am, we started the descent. Mike S was so fast dropping in, I only got the tail end of that action.

MoneyMike skiing

Jaaron drops in

Jaaron skis as the group watches

Mike M is making a jump turn

Sam skiing

Natalie skiing

Lower on the apron conditions got more challenging - snow with some runnels, old avy debris and rocks, but we made it work

Finishing the ski to the lake.

We milked the snow down to about 12k, when it was time to put skis back on the pack. Back at the trucks around 1.30pm to celebrate such a good late season ski with beers. I also appreciate very much and thank all for the kind comments in this finisher thread. Climb on and ski down!

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

View on the Map

Comments or Questions

jaymz	Congrats! 7/13/2015 9:11pm I fantasize about finishing the centennials. Good to see it lived out! Helluvan accomplishment!
Monster5	Congratulations! 7/13/2015 10:18pm Great choice for a finish. Can’t wait for your 13er finisher in a couple years.
dillonsarnelli	nice!! 7/13/2015 11:03pm I was wondering where this report was. Big congrats again Natalie! 21 pictures. I like it :) Looks like a great day.
SolarAlex	Congrats!! 7/14/2015 9:38am Your level of dedication is inspiring to say the least. Hell of an accomplishment!
SnowAlien	Thank you! 7/14/2015 1:05pm Ryan – I (and my partners) found Grizzly to be very enjoyable. Not too hard, not too easy, not too long, not too short, not too far, not too close, took just the right amount of time with a decent size group. It was one of the 5 peaks I had left earlier this year, and looking back at the list of 47, I would be hard pressed to pick a better finisher peak. As for finishing 13ers – it’ll only happen if I can’t find partners to do technical peaks with me :( I am fairly committed to BiCents though. Dillon – so sorry for the delay, haha! Between family visits, other peaks, and (gasp!) resting, I felt behind on blogging! I’ll keep in mind the allowable TR picture count :) (although in my defense I typically throw several peaks in the TR). Jaymz and Alex – my only level of dedication is constant to having fun! haha. Now I just have to find new challenges.
piper14er	ditto on congrats 7/14/2015 7:34pm a very good accomplishment
jbchalk	What a great finish! 7/15/2015 3:43pm Congratulations again, Natalie.
SnowAlien	I appreciate 7/15/2015 7:15pm the comments, Al and Brandon. Thank you so much! It was a pretty spectacular day – for once this spring we had such a great weather! :)
moneymike	Natalie Moran Wanted for Murder... 7/19/2015 10:13pm after completely KILLING IT this season! Nice work SnowAlien! Oh, and my ski partners love the comment you left under image 7. I’m totally looking forward to next season, when I have to listen to my partners yell at me "Yo Money! Go kick us a booter, you step–kicking fairy!" Thanks for that, Natalie :wink: Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3iVtPFUf8o. I saw your trip report and remembered I was still sitting on the go pro footy. Sorry I took so long. ––Moneymike (the "step–kicking fairy")
SnowAlien	Hi Fairy 7/20/2015 6:23pm See you got your wish for the fun title ;) Hey, we didn’t beg you to kick steps, you just chose to do so. Seriously dude, congrats to you on the amazing season and finishing the ski list on Cap. Strongest skiers/boarders in Colorado can only aspire to do so. I learned from you a lot a few times we got out. Looking forward to the next season!
Sean Nunn	Congrats 7/24/2015 10:27am Congratulations on finishing the centennials. Quite an accomplishment. Sean Nunn Raytown MO

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