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So long as work isn't in the way, Dirk and Christy have never turned
down a potential 14er ski trip. It had been two weeks since we skied
down in the Chicago Basin and although
we were wearing shorts in Aspen now, our friend in Telluride insisted
we could still ski Wilson Peaks' classic NE face.
I was here with Dirk back in 2004 where
a big downclimb from the summit was required to get down the Northwest
face. I knew I would have to return to get a true summit ski descent.
We drove to Telluride and camped at the Silver Pick Trailhead the
night before.
In the dark I marked the car with my GPS(useful later) and we walked
up the road. By treeline we were skinning and before long, the sky
was lit and we were switching to crampons and booting up the NW
side Dirk and I had climbed and skied a few years earlier.
Arrival at the summit brought the blazing June sun, it was a beautiful
morning. The NE face drops precipitously and some quick recon was
needed this late in spring to find the continuous line off the summit.
We found it, looking similar to the one Dav and crew skied the
year before. We descended the ridge to the east and then made a
VERY careful sideslip back towards the center of the face, where
the couloir was skiable. Once we all passed through that crux there
was some relief.
The skiing was fun, on old corn snow. Lower down we had to traverse
far around the lower cliffband(usually skiable), stopping in the
warm sun for a lunch break. We hadn't been here before so when I
pulled out the GPS we were all psyched to have the geeky gadget.
We were a long way from the car, and it lead us right to it.
Back in shorts, in Telluride, we met our friend Chris, for ruebens
and tots at the Cornerhouse what a day. I've learned these peak
redos are good not only for completing the proper line or getting
the official summit ski, but sometimes you just get a better day.
So this wrapped up 2007 or me and at my count left only Capitol,
Culebra and Crestone Peak to ski. Hopefully 2008 would be a good
winter. Which peak would be first?
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