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Humboldt - Southeast Flank Solo Ski |
Other than a ski back in 2001 of The Kirk Couloir on Challenger I haven't done any skiing down in the Sangre De Cristos. Back in 2000 we climbed Ellingwood Ledges on Crestone Needle and I had forgotten since then just how spectacular that region is. Setting my sights to this region and with no partners available a solo trip up Humboldt would be the cure for what ails the soul. Leaving town around 5pm, I made the drive down 115, through Florence and up to Westcliffe. High clouds and a low sun on the western horizon bathed the region in a myriad of colors: orange, red, gray, and a surreal blue. If the trip ended right now I would be satisfied, this might be my favorite area in all of Colorado.
After getting a few winks in my car at the lower trailhead I was up at 4:15am. The moon, just over half full, peaked in and out of the clouds and cast the high desert in enough light as to warrant the headlamp unnecessary. The first 5 miles up the road went smoothly and around 7am I saw some tracks heading north into the trees. Surely this must be the bushwhack up to the southeast flank. So I took it, and up I went, following what appeared to be the tracks of a hiker and a skier heading down the mountain. The snow is the trees was great, quite supportive of my idea of climbing on it.
When I got to treeline the footprints kept going to the ridge, but I thought I could save some time by doing a rising traverse to this saddle. This was a mistake, the snow was totally frozen or deep powder and through in some talus for good measure. The only thing that saved me were my Black Diamond Crampons. After eating yet another Clif bar and feeling nauseous, I was totally wiped out by the time I reached the saddle. A few more steps and I made it to the summit at 11:15.
The views of the Crestones from the summit are second to none, the Ellingwood Ledges route looked unbelievable, honestly I have no idea how I made it up that. By now the clouds that had been lingering all day engulfed the mountain and it started to snow. I was able to contrive a summit ski descent from the summit register back down the east ridge and then down stepping with my skis on through some rocks and snow to the start of the Southeast flank. The snow on the route was a mix of powder, wind slab and ice. With visibility down to next to nothing I followed the right hand edge of the flank using the rocks to keep my bearings. My legs were feeling it by now and I made it back down to the south colony road quite a bit west from where I left the road. The cold temps kept the snow on the road solid and I enjoyed a nice cruise in full on winter conditions back to the car at 2:15pm, only having to walk the last 1/2 mile.
For some reason this was one of the harder days I had in the mountains and I was wiped out by the time I made it back to the car. It was probably because I didn't eat enough, but that one Clif bar really turned my stomach. All in all, it was 13 miles, 5,300 vertical feet and 10 hours of fun in the Sangres. I can't wait to get back for me.
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