Winter Mountaineering

[ekalina]

While summer is my favorite season to be in the mountains, I like to get at least a few peaks in the winter. I tend to favor the 6–9K ft range though rather than the 13ers/14ers. It's easier to stay out of the wind, and there's usually less snow!

[9patrickmurphy]

Summer 2019 I climbed something like 80 peaks, then took a ~5 month break because the skiing was just so fun. Once the lifts closed in March, it was back to the 13er grind. It's just really hard to find the motivation to get super cold and windy when you could get tons of laps in at the resort instead. Covid definitely has me doing a lot more winter climbing. Hard to say I'll do any winter ascents next year when the world and the resorts are back to "normal".

[osprey]

# 5 for me.
Which led to the frequent telling by my mother of my difficult delivery.

[ltlFish99]

#4 for me.
I hike year round mostly local below timerline trails in winter.
That may change as I just got new winter hiking boots and they feel great.
So, I might go after a few snowflakes during what is left of this winter.

[headsizeburrito]

#4 for me too. I'd love to do more but am trying to be aware of my own limited experience and gaps in knowledge. I'm sticking to safe and well known routes for now because I don't want to get avalanched out of ignorance and get laughed at for being a noob. Hopefully I can expand my options in future winters.

I did Pikes via Barr yesterday, forecast said low teens and -15 windchill. I was kind of stoked to test out some new gear and instead ended up overdressed and sweating. I didn't even wear gloves the first two hours from the TH, much less my expensive new jacket. I felt a little ripped off but if the weather did turn out like that forecast I may not have summited, so I guess I'll count it as a win.