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Wetterhorn Ski Descent: A Ski-the-14ers Finisher
Trailhead: Matterhorn Creek 2WD
East Face Climb
Ski Descent of Summit Snowfield and East Face
Crew: Debbie Baker, Prakash Manley, Joe Brannan
What better place to end a journey than in the Northern San Juan?
Photo: Joe Brannan
The route was dry until treeline, where we skinned up and wrapped around a vast moraine toward the base of Wetterhorn's East Face.
A Scenic:
Photo: Joe Brannan
Passing underneath Colorado's Matterhorn, we closed in on the interesting part of the route under blue morning skies.
Approaching the Face:
Photo: Prakash Manley
Skins were exchanged for crampons and axe. Debbie and Prakash dropped the sticks here.
The face was mostly covered in old wet debris, which had melted down into what mimicked a field of penetites. The dirt definitely contributed to some of these features as well.
East Face Conditions:
Photo: Joe Brannan
The snow was in good condition for climbing with the spaces between the spires perfect for foot falls. Although I have certainly cussed the dirt, I have found it has photogenic advantages.
Spring Contrast:
Photo: Joe Brannan
The mountains have many surprises up their sleeves. Today, Wetterhorn tried to swallow me whole! As I made my way around some rocks, a vacancy opened beneath my feet. Without my axe belay, I would have found myself under the snow at the base of an 8 foot cliff, which happened to be hidden beneath a consistently sloped snowpack. Up to my shoulders, my legs flailed until I found solid walls to stem on. Nice try big guy.
The final pitch of the face gets fairly steep, offering a bit of focused snow climbing to our day.
Upper East Face:
Photo: Prakash Manley
Uncompahgre, Debbie and Prakash:
Photo: Joe Brannan
The pitch relaxes during the final steps.
The Summit Tower
Photo: Joe Brannan
Here is where the skis are usually dropped...
Through the Keyhole:
Photo: Debbie Baker
The class 3 rock pitch on Wetterhorn makes it a special climb. Solid easy rock right to the summit!
The Wetterhorn Ladder
Photo: Debbie Baker
Prakash Yearns for More Ice:
Photo: Joe Brannan
Someday, this will be skied continuously:
Photo: Prakash Manley
Wrapping around the top of the upper west face, a significant summit snowfield came into view. What better way to summit a peak than on snow! This was also my second completion of the Colorado 14ers.
A Memorable Ascent
Photo: Prakash Manley
I am dedicating my ski-the-14ers project to my Fiancee, Debbie Baker, who was always there to support me through my ski the 14ers project and who is consistently the only person who understands what the mountains mean to me and why I make the tradeoffs I do to get away from it all.
As a good friend of mine recently wrote to me: "How grateful we lucky ones must be to have found such perfect partners in life!"
Photo: Prakash Manley
How true that is.
Seeing I could make turns up here was icing on the cake. I clicked in and pushed off:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Popped a bit:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Cut into the forgiving crisp:
Photo: Debbie Baker
And logged the summit descent with half a dozen fun turns up here:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Snow End:
Photo: Debbie Baker
As I hiked back up to the summit, I peered over the NW face drop-off... impressive. The down climb back to the east face went smoothly. Prakash and Debbie plunged stepped back into the basin. I started skiing again as high as possible, which was maybe 80 feet below the summit.
The turns up high on the face were the best of the day.
Photo: Debbie Baker
Photo: Debbie Baker
Photo: Debbie Baker
Out on the steep upper face, I found interesting conditions with the spires and debris. It's best to be aggressive with this type of snow so it doesn't throw you around.
Steep:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Photo: Debbie Baker
Once below the upper rock fields, the slope mellowed and the snow improved.
Smooth Snow is Nice:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Photo: Debbie Baker
I'm done! And Happy:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Lunch Time:
Photo: Joe Brannan
We took a nice long break, sunning ourselves and enjoying a perfect day. Eventually we kicked over to more fun corn turns on the way back to the truck.
An East Face Signature:
Photo: Debbie Baker
Thanks for Joining on this special day, Debbie and Prakash!
Photo: Joe Brannan
Thanks to all of you who joined me on one or more peaks along the way. A special thanks goes to Jordan White, who I did more peaks with than any other. He is an amazing story of strength and an outstanding person to be in the mountains with.
Lou Dawson, the first to ski all of Colorado's 14ers, wrote up an interesting blog post on my finish and the new wave of 14er skiing. Some of you may be interested in reading through it.
You are a fine mountaineer and a true gentleman. You inspire with your adventures and your kindness. I‘m so happy you got it done and that I shared some of those peaks with you.
It was really cool to see you grow as a ski mountaineer. From our 1st turns together on Trelease to our most recent trip on Eolus, the difference is truly impressive.
I wish I could have been there for Wetterhorn. But alas the wife had to work.
I have some projects for next year that I think you might be interested in 8)
A hearty congratulations, Joe! As a non-skier, I‘m still mesmerized by your accounts of the voyage you‘ve just finished. Climbing these things is hard work to begin with, but to do it when conditions allow for a ride back down is just incredible. Thanks for sharing the journey!
Just saw your comment in response to mine... 6/6/2009 12:23pm
Thank you for the nice words! They mean a lot coming from you; and my inspiration comes from someone as accomplished in the ski-mountaineering world as you are. Thanks again.
Now you’re just pissing us off... 11/30/2010 5:28pm
Finishing off all the 14er ski descents - AND having a partner that not only understands your obsession, but climbs with you - AND gives you face time on top? You are a truly blessed man, Joe.
Best of luck on future endeavors, and on the "betrothal" too. I have a good idea for a wedding cake
for the ride via your enjoyable and often poignant TR‘s! Congratulations!
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