Having just returned from a sailboat accessed week of skiing in NW Iceland sandwiched between descents of the Grand Teton and Mount Rainier(and some neighboring peaks), I was ready to focus on things closer to home.

A year earlier, Christy and I went for Tabeguache, packing in our overnight gear for the five and a half miles to Browns' Lake. Awoken early by tent-shredding winds the following morning we decided to bail. One year later, along with Dirk, we returned, and with a favorable report as to snow conditions from Frank Konsella, we blazed back up to the mountains north side- no overnight this time.

Trail shoes got us all the way to the lake, in 2:45. Switching to ski boots and grabbing a snack, we were skinning towards the north face couloirs and assessing the choices, it was nice to see a lot of snow and several options as for climbing/skiing routes. Around 13K, the angle steepened and we had to rack our skis and switch to crampons. The snow was pretty supportive and good for kicking steps.

The late May date was evident by the blooming spring storm clouds overhead, something you don't see in winter. As Christy and Dirk arrived up top, some distant thunder over Antero along with some electrified humming from our ice axes had us scurrying into ski mode and off the summit.

Second only to LaPlata(if not first) this was the most interesting and fun ski lines I've found in the Sawatch range. The couloirs run long, at a good high angle and right off the summit. If a ski from Tabeguache is the goal, this north face is a must.

Back down at the lake(the storm passed to the side), we switched back to sneaks and boogied on down the trail back to the cars— ten hours round trip. I headed south, alone, to Little Bear. Dirk and Christy drove back to Aspen.

This was a fun one.