Peak 10 Trip Report 06/22/2010

Peak(s):	Peak 10 - 13,641 feet
Date Posted:	06/22/2010
Date Climbed:	06/22/2010
Author:	lordhelmut

4th of July Bowl/Tenmile Conditions
Peak 10 - 4th of July Bowl Began - 5:50pm Summited - 7:15pm RT - 6.5 to 7 miles, 2800ft Since moving to Summit County, I have tried to take advantage of 1, living at 10,000 feet and 2, getting in all the Tenmile, Eastern Gore and anything else within earshot of I-70 so I have more time on the weekends to focus on the goods. Since I usually get off work around 5pm, nabbing some classics in the region has been a nice change of pace from the Rec Center. Anyways, this is more geared towards a conditions update and Tenmile beta report. Plus climbing and skiing stuff on a clear early evening is therapeutic. Slipped out of work around 4:45pm and straight lined it for Beaver Run near the base of Peak 9 in Breckenridge. On a side note, the directions to the 4th of July TH (for low clearance vehicles) by EdF on Summitpost are sufficient enough to get you there. Just refer to his description if you are unaware of that road. From a Subaru Impreza owner's perspective, once you pass Pk.9 House, you have no more than � a mile before you should begin looking for spots, which there are plenty of FYI. Right now, high clearance 4wd vehicles can make it to just above treeline. There is still a relatively deep (2-3 foot) snowbank blocking any further passage. snowbank just above treeline, blocking further passage for any vehicle I decided to go with my AT boots for hiking, which wasn't too bad for such a quick outing. I had skied Breck many times over the years, but never was able to see it in this light. Very unique experience. Not too long after the initial snow crossing, I got my first good view of the 4th of July Bowl and Peak 10. Its pretty refreshing to see this kind of coverage on any slope in any range this time of year, even if it's starting to melt a little up top. 4th of July Bowl, 2nd day of Summer, 2010 My initial plan was to just boot up the NE ridge along the snow to the summit, but hiking up the switchbacks on the road were just too convenient. Old cabin along one of the switchbacks towards East Ridge I turned up my Ipod and just zoned out till I reached the East Ridge and then the road topped out and I had some solid views of Quandary's North side, Crystal's East Face and the very top of Pacific and its North Couloir. Father Dyer was dry. Quandary North Face Crystal and Pacific Then continued up the ridge after some Gatorade and cheese bread. Somewhere along the ridge, a wave of nostalgia passed through me as I gazed over at Crystal and Steve Winwood came on the headphones. I think it was a mixture of listening to my dad's old favorite band and my first mountain ever on AT skis, but it was an extremely calm feeling. Had I more time, I would've enjoyed it longer, but the realization of the coral reef snow and my timeframe, I pushed on to the summit, reaching it a little after 7pm. This was notably one of the more peaceful hikes I've done, so straightforward and a nice way to end a day. Looking west towards 4th of July Bowl This is obviously an extremely popular mountain in anytime of the year, but it's a cool feeling sitting up there after a day's work, reflecting on stuff in your life, being so close to a town, but feeling a world away. I was reminded why I love solo outings so much and to say this happened on a Tuesday is something worth cherishing. Anyways, there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day on a fine evening like this, but I eventually took some summit shots, clicked into my skis and began the rough ski down. Flag on summit Tenmile Range Tenmile Traverse looking North looking down 4th of July Bowl The ski was rough, but quick. I can't complain cause I was up here mainly for the solitude and the exercise, skiing down 1500 feet was just a nice bonus, regardless of the hardened snow. Some shots of the way out : looking to the Northeast from the road out Peak 9 Put on some Paul Simon and was back at the car in no time, just in time to get one last shot of the lights of Breckenridge with Grays and Torreys in the background. Lights of Breckenridge Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

4th of July Bowl/Tenmile Conditions

Peak 10 - 4th of July Bowl
Began - 5:50pm
Summited - 7:15pm
RT - 6.5 to 7 miles, 2800ft

Since moving to Summit County, I have tried to take advantage of 1, living at 10,000 feet and 2, getting in all the Tenmile, Eastern Gore and anything else within earshot of I-70 so I have more time on the weekends to focus on the goods. Since I usually get off work around 5pm, nabbing some classics in the region has been a nice change of pace from the Rec Center.

Anyways, this is more geared towards a conditions update and Tenmile beta report. Plus climbing and skiing stuff on a clear early evening is therapeutic.

Slipped out of work around 4:45pm and straight lined it for Beaver Run near the base of Peak 9 in Breckenridge. On a side note, the directions to the 4th of July TH (for low clearance vehicles) by EdF on Summitpost are sufficient enough to get you there. Just refer to his description if you are unaware of that road. From a Subaru Impreza owner's perspective, once you pass Pk.9 House, you have no more than � a mile before you should begin looking for spots, which there are plenty of FYI. Right now, high clearance 4wd vehicles can make it to just above treeline. There is still a relatively deep (2-3 foot) snowbank blocking any further passage.

snowbank just above treeline, blocking further passage for any vehicle

I decided to go with my AT boots for hiking, which wasn't too bad for such a quick outing. I had skied Breck many times over the years, but never was able to see it in this light. Very unique experience.

Not too long after the initial snow crossing, I got my first good view of the 4th of July Bowl and Peak 10. Its pretty refreshing to see this kind of coverage on any slope in any range this time of year, even if it's starting to melt a little up top.

4th of July Bowl, 2nd day of Summer, 2010

My initial plan was to just boot up the NE ridge along the snow to the summit, but hiking up the switchbacks on the road were just too convenient.

Old cabin along one of the switchbacks towards East Ridge

I turned up my Ipod and just zoned out till I reached the East Ridge and then the road topped out and I had some solid views of Quandary's North side, Crystal's East Face and the very top of Pacific and its North Couloir. Father Dyer was dry.

Then continued up the ridge after some Gatorade and cheese bread. Somewhere along the ridge, a wave of nostalgia passed through me as I gazed over at Crystal and Steve Winwood came on the headphones. I think it was a mixture of listening to my dad's old favorite band and my first mountain ever on AT skis, but it was an extremely calm feeling. Had I more time, I would've enjoyed it longer, but the realization of the coral reef snow and my timeframe, I pushed on to the summit, reaching it a little after 7pm. This was notably one of the more peaceful hikes I've done, so straightforward and a nice way to end a day.

This is obviously an extremely popular mountain in anytime of the year, but it's a cool feeling sitting up there after a day's work, reflecting on stuff in your life, being so close to a town, but feeling a world away. I was reminded why I love solo outings so much and to say this happened on a Tuesday is something worth cherishing.

Anyways, there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day on a fine evening like this, but I eventually took some summit shots, clicked into my skis and began the rough ski down.

The ski was rough, but quick. I can't complain cause I was up here mainly for the solitude and the exercise, skiing down 1500 feet was just a nice bonus, regardless of the hardened snow.

Some shots of the way out :

looking to the Northeast from the road out

Put on some Paul Simon and was back at the car in no time, just in time to get one last shot of the lights of Breckenridge with Grays and Torreys in the background.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

scotthsu	very soulful 6/23/2010 3:31pm (despite the proximity to civilization)
lordhelmut	I was thinking more along the lines 6/23/2010 4:11pm of being back in the high life again, but either will do. After checking out Crystal Peak and Atlantic, maybe not?
pioletski	Thanks Brian - 6/23/2010 4:27pm I was wondering if there were any skiable lines left over there!
bckcntryskr	nice 6/23/2010 11:03pm real nice. It is indeed very hard to put away the sticks, when good lines still exist. Thanks for sharing
Jesse Peterson	very nice 6/24/2010 12:27am I had been wondering about conditions on Crystal, thanks for the beta. Way to get P10 before it gets bumped out on the 4th! I‘m on my third year of skiing at least once a month every month... good to know where the snow is hangin‘ on. Nice TR
dubsho3000	still skiing 6/24/2010 6:09pm I was wondering who was still skiing. I wasn‘t surprised
lordhelmut	still skiing 6/24/2010 6:39pm yep, still goin at it, maybe not this weekend, Gore scrambling season has officially begun. Pk10 is a good time and there is time left to ski it, FYI though, its 80 degrees in Summit county today.
bcrowley	Walking Distance 6/30/2010 5:18pm How long and far was the walk from where the snow stop ya.
lordhelmut	it was at treeline 7/1/2010 2:41am about 1/2 mile from top of Mercury Lift and about 2 miles from base of pk.10. Keep in mind this was a week ago and its been in the 80s in Summit County.
elkheart22	Very nice!!! 7/1/2010 4:31pm We are planning on doing Peak Ten this Sat. 7-3. Hopefully with the high temps, some of the snow will be off of the road....
bcrowley	Still unpassable 7/1/2010 6:23pm I drove up 6/29 just to see how far my jeep would make it, still unpassable snow blocking the road, the pic you posted looked like the same spot i got block at, and that snow looks like its going no where soon
lordhelmut	thats some stubborn snow 7/1/2010 7:48pm bcrowley, thanks for the update, it was still relatively deep on the 22nd, but I‘d assume most of it would melt. Dug in like a tick is sounds like. elkheart - don‘t let the snow deter you. Like I said, it took an hour and 25 minutes from the Mercury lift, its 6 miles and 2800 feet from where I began. If you have a higher clearance vehicle, it‘ll be probably 5 miles RT and 2200-2300 vertical. Either way, a very easy day.
Matt	The Finer Things 1/19/2011 3:38am Keep shining through. And you thought your ski season was over?
Carl	Wednesday night ski club... 5/2/2011 2:23pm Maybe we should have kept it going. 4th of July bowl looks like a pretty grand way to spend a mid work week evening.

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