skiing 14ers

[BrianK]

its april put the skis away and lets go boating

[lmyers]

Originally Posted by BrianK

its april put the skis away and lets go boating

The local hill has recieved over 60" in the last couple of weeks - and the local river is only running 170 cfs @ #'s. You got water in the Poudre? I didn't think so, New Mexico is in the very near future, and I got some good Colorado paddling in Feb. and March. In case you haven't looked outside lately - it's winter again.

[stillkicken]

Why not do both? May and June is my favorite time for ski mountaineering as well as prime boating. Since you have to get a dawn start for the climb and typically be skiing down by 10-11 or so, that leaves plenty of time to get on the water.

Works for me

[caliclimber]

Castle peak is good one to hit up. Fairly easy route finding. Although I've had it whoomph big time on me. I would suggest some mountaineering skills. There are a couple of line from the summit but it is usually real thin. There are a lot of good lines in the area there. I have had a wet slide go on me there though. Nothing to bad but have a good head summit early.

[chasingh2o]

Brian, if my boating buddy wasnt so preocupied with law school that he cant run anything until mid may (thats right im talking about you) than maybe you would be right. But right now its full on winter anyways and Im enjoying watching that joe wright sensor keep jumping up. Lmyers I got youre info and ill contact you in a couple weeks or so, all this new snow and the crazy temps just arent giving me major confidence in the current conditions.

[Roy]

Cross Couloir on the Mount of the Holy Cross and Bell Chord Couloir on between the Maroon Bells both offer big, steep lines without any mountaineering requirements, although I'd advise crampons and an ice axe for both. Camp at the base and climb the couloir at dawn in both cases, so you can check the snow conditions and bail down if it's warming up faster than you're getting to the top.

[atg200]

Its not a 14er, but Grizzly Peak off Independence Pass is very close at 13,900+ and the Grizzly Couloir is one of the best steep ski lines i've done.

[caliclimber]

Grizzly is a good one. When Independence opens there are a lot of lines with minimal hiking.

[ZGjethro]

Chasingh20, I do not know what your comfort level is on the steeps, but many of the ski lines listed have proven fatal, more often than not with climbers. As soon as an axe and crampons are necessary, I consider it mountaineering, which is what you did not want to deal with. Something to consider.

[caliclimber]

Very good point. There is some definate mountaineering skills needed on alot of those lines. Although not super sustained but necessary.