Pikes Peak Trip Report 06/04/2011

Peak(s):	Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet
Date Posted:	06/04/2011
Date Climbed:	06/03/2011
Author:	Gueza

Pikes Peak Y Couloir Ski
Sam and I had tried to ski this 5 days ago, but mother nature and the Pikes Peak toll road had other plans. High winds forced the toll road to be closed. Today, Sam had great news, IT WAS OPEN! We drove on up to the summit, geared up, and dropped in. This was Sam's 8th time skiing the Y and it showed. We didn't get too many photos of the skiing of the upper route, I got a POV video though. We skied down the left branch until we cliff-ed out by the car wreckage. Then we traversed over a rock rib onto other snow in the Y. Sam making a transition on a steep slope. Did I mention the spikes on his pack repel bears? This was the crux. A steep narrow tight chute that was about the length of my skis. Some side stepping then a jump turn was my choice. If you are hardcore, you will huck the cliff or straight point it down the thing. > Sam skiing the lower Y Sam's buddy Ben I'm getting sprayed... Now for some fun! Pretty soon your back where you started Summit Photo Thanks for a great day guys!

Pikes Peak Y Couloir Ski

Sam and I had tried to ski this 5 days ago, but mother nature and the Pikes Peak toll road had other plans. High winds forced the toll road to be closed. Today, Sam had great news, IT WAS OPEN!
We drove on up to the summit, geared up, and dropped in. This was Sam's 8th time skiing the Y and it showed.

We didn't get too many photos of the skiing of the upper route, I got a POV video though.
We skied down the left branch until we cliff-ed out by the car wreckage. Then we traversed over a rock rib onto other snow in the Y.

Sam making a transition on a steep slope. Did I mention the spikes on his pack repel bears?

This was the crux. A steep narrow tight chute that was about the length of my skis. Some side stepping then a jump turn was my choice. If you are hardcore, you will huck the cliff or straight point it down the thing.

Sam skiing the lower Y

Sam's buddy Ben

I'm getting sprayed...

Now for some fun!

Pretty soon your back where you started

Summit Photo

Thanks for a great day guys!

Comments or Questions

Dancesatmoonrise	Sweet! 6/5/2011 6:18pm Nice, Eric! Looks like you guys had some heavy wet mashed potatoes, and skied it well. But I wondered about one thing. Why'd you slip in that photo (#11, third from the end,) of the Eiger? Way to get after it! So... how many does this make?
Presto	Bear repelling spikes ... 6/6/2011 3:30pm gotta get me some of those. 8)
Gueza	, 3/4/2012 6:31pm Because we don't mess around! Definitely a little tilted in that photo. Pikes was my 16th ski. Thanks Jim

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