Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
| Messages 1 - 80 of total 80 in this topic |
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 19, 2008 - 11:43am PT
|
Colorado's iconic mountain scene, the Maroon Bells above Maroon Lake.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 11:54am PT
|
I heard the north face was skied years ago too. Definitely the no-falling zone.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 12:08pm PT
|
Long before I knew anything about ropes or guidebooks, I imagined climbing the Bells. And when I started 14er-bagging in high school, a grizzled veteran told me those were the toughest 14s.
In my freshman dorm, I had a poster of the Maroon Bells with yellow aspen and fresh snow. But by then I was learning that among real climbers, the Bells were not in fashion.
I set that goal aside and went on to climb other things. Years later, though, I found myself in Aspen one morning with extra energy and no partners. Friends dropped me off at the lake, promising they'd come back around 4.
I took a few pictures that day, and just recently rediscovered and scanned them.
|
|
WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 12:11pm PT
|
Beautiful mountains. I've climbed North twice, South once and Pyramid twice. North and Pyramid are much fun; I wouldn't climb that trash heap South again if forty vigins were waiting for me on top. Come to think of it, what would I do with forty virgins anywhere?
|
|
Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 12:34pm PT
|
A guy nicknamed Woody shouldn't have too much problem figuring out what to do with 40 virgins. :-)
Nice photos!
|
|
Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 12:40pm PT
|
There are a few good trails that go through the foothills of the Bells and a few miles in there's some very good bouldering on hard red rock. High ball stuff, too.
JL
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 12:45pm PT
|
Any photos of that, John? I recall some cliffs along the way, but wasn't watching for boulders at the time. It would sure be a scenic location.
|
|
don coyote
climber
mahogany ridge
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 01:01pm PT
|
The ski descent off north maroon deserves attention but has numerous successful descents almost every winter/spring.Then you bump it up to pyramid and you've got serious extreme.Then if you want to push the volume up to 11, you've got the descent down capitol.The line taken by Davenport and Beidleman is sick in the worst way.Oh,I almost forgot,this is a Bells thread,there is a reason you see them photographed so much!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 01:06pm PT
|
Oh,I almost forgot,this is a Bells thread,there is a reason you see them photographed so much!
Naw, in its heart this is an "Elk Range" thread -- Pyramid, Capitol, Snowmass & the rest are fair game. Got pics or stories?
I titled it "Maroon Bells" just because I like the name.
|
|
don coyote
climber
mahogany ridge
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 01:09pm PT
|
Sorry Chiloe,I'm not much of a photographer.But,I can look out my window right now and just see the tippy top of capitol from my window!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 01:11pm PT
|
Out my window I see trees and snow and a neighbor's red house, but the Maroon Bells are 2,000 miles away. So these old slides have to do.
|
|
don coyote
climber
mahogany ridge
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 01:16pm PT
|
I suppose it beats a sharp stick in the eye. Nice photo's by the way.Please keep them coming
|
|
WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 01:41pm PT
|
Mighty Hiker,
You have more faith in my 66 year old woody than I do. But, thanks for the effort.
We did Capitol in a storm. We did it in a day from Leadville. We jogged in and started up just as the weather went to hell. We'd hunker down under our ponchos as the lightening cells and snow flurries passed over then up and pushed on and repeat. We finally got to the final "knife" edged ridge and waited for a little clearing. A hole broke through the clouds and a beam of sun hit the very top of the peak. My memory is a little hazy here, but we think we heard a voice out of the beam saying something like " Boys, your abject stupidity has impressed me so I'm going to allow you out of this alive. Be damn f%kin careful over the ridge; not everyone makes it. Particularly when it's soaked." Those were the days. We dropped off, jogged back the miles to the truck and back to Leadville.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 09:23pm PT
|
Made a ski descent of S. Maroon last spring.
Cool photos of your route and surroundings. Looks pretty unforgiving to ski, especially for a guy in a kilt.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2008 - 09:23pm PT
|
WoodySt:
We did Capitol in a storm.
Those high country afternoon t-storms turn things scary in a flash, don't they?
On the morning I started my Maroon Bells hike the skies looked harmless as could be. I'd heard so many stories about the bad rock, though, I was curious to see that for myself.
|
|
TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 10:16pm PT
|
Here's a Pyramid climb I did with Fillmore around 1985. One of my fave shorts-and-tshirt summits of all time.
The approach cirque on the north side.
Skirting the west flank and catching the first view of the Bells.
A trail in the sky.
4th Class conglomerate.
The Bells on the other side of the valley.
Found: summit.
Snowmass and Capitol
Aspen to the north.
Fine memories, these.
|
|
philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 10:49pm PT
|
The north face of North Maroon was first skied in 1957 by Fritz Stammberger. Amoung many other amazing accomplishments Stammberger founded Climbing magazine. If you think of the gear available in 1957 his is a most remarkable feat. If you don't know anything about this remarkable charecter you owe it to yourself to at least google his name.
This is a nice thread.
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
The West
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2008 - 11:42pm PT
|
In 1963 that road was open to all traffic, my stressed out, exhausted parents (on a 2 week vacation form Chicago) parked the country sedan wagon pulling the rented pop-up camper in the vista overlook, I remember some anxious conversation as I slept in the unseatbelted back seat. Fortunately they decided to risk it.
When I woke up the next morning,it was to a view very much like the op's photo that started this thread; this midwestern boy's introduction to western mtns.
A few days later we went to the tetons and my older sibling, chasbro, climbed the grand with exum; starting the whole merry go round. Today, 45 yrs later, we (my two brothers and I) still have one of four of our collective progeny to get up Deto. There is time, she's only 5. It all started with that view of the Maroon Bells.
_I'll dig through mom's kodachromes™ if I can find the right box in the garage.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 06:58am PT
|
hey there chiloe... wow, say, you got the ol' BELLS up... i had been waiting and hoping for to see this... :)
now it is so cold in here, though and my computer is a mite slow... so i will wait til the the heat kicks in a bit here..
seems it is like, 10 out, or something...
wellllllllll, i will be back to check this out...
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 09:32am PT
|
Jaybro:
When I woke up the next morning,it was to a view very much like the op's photo that started this thread;
Here's that amazing view in reverse, back down towards Maroon Lake.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 10:24am PT
|
philo:
The north face of North Maroon was first skied in 1957 by Fritz Stammberger. Amoung many other
amazing accomplishments Stammberger founded Climbing magazine. If you think of the gear available in
1957 his is a most remarkable feat.
I had been impressed reading about that, perhaps in an early issue of Climbing? So as I hiked,
I was looking towards the north face, trying to pick out a good ski route. Snow would have covered
up some rubble, but the cliff bands must have kept things exciting.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 10:43am PT
|
TwistedCrank:
Here's a Pyramid climb I did with Fillmore around 1985. One of my fave shorts-and-tshirt summits of all time.
I was hoping we'd see Pyramid on this thread. I hiked that one with my (then) kid brother a few years
before doing the Bells, but stupidly did not bring my camera. Those are all photogenic peaks.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 10:45am PT
|
neebee:
hey there chiloe... wow, say, you got the ol' BELLS up... i had been waiting and hoping for to see this... :)
Hey there neebee, this thread's for you. Sorry there are so many pixels, but the story needs them all!
|
|
philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 10:47am PT
|
Chiloe,
Interesting to be sure. The only thing I can figure is he made continuous jump turns snow patch to snow patch over the rubble bands. Too extreme!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 10:58am PT
|
Found this crisp image of the north face ski route, along with a story, on Chris Davenport's "Ski the Fourteeners" website.
Looks like it works past the lower cliff bands by going to the right side of the face.
I think the cliff band in my summer photo above is probably the one right where the arete narrows, at about
1/3 height in this ski picture.
|
|
philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 11:42am PT
|
In 1976 or 77 I did a backpacking/peak bagging trip from Crested Butte to Aspen culminating in a spectacular ascent up Pyramid Peak. Our route started from the prominent cirque and went straight up the imposing north face involving snow and rock and mixed climbing near the summit ridge up to 5.9 AI3. Mostly the climbing consisted of numerous short steep rock walls with mantels on to dangerously rubbly ledges. Due to the dangers and lack of protection potential we simul-climbed the first 2/3rds un roped.
Rock fall was constantly shedding off the north face like fleas off a cur dog. One of us would keep vigilant watch while the other would scurry to the next potential shelter. Every minute or less we would hear the tell tale clatter of impending doom approaching. Close calls were the norm. Once my partner Bob got creamed by a toaster sized former chunck of the north face. Fortunately I yelled in time for him to duck his head and take the impact on his backpack. It still amazes me that Bob was strong enough to not get shoved off the rubble he was perched on at the time. By the time we were finishing the summit ridge the weather was deteriorating which was worrisome as the night before had been a tremendously violent thunder storm. We topped out into a swirling cap cloud beginning to develope. A very trippy experience was seeing our shadows cast upon the cloud face and wreathed in rainbow aura. We rapidly descended the east ridge where the only further excitment was when the snow patch I was descending caved off and I had to self arrest with my adze in slushy scree. That was a really cool climb certainly not for the faint of heart but spectacular none the less.
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 03:30pm PT
|
Nice thread! I had a lot of time to check out the Bells from the North Face of Capitol Peak back in 74 or so. Always my favorite shot of Maroon Bells is this Ansel Adams (cropped to fit the scanner). Skiing is the perfect approach!
|
|
TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 06:28pm PT
|
Did somebody say Capitol Peak? Another trip with Fillmore ca 1984.
About that north face of Capitol... I watched some major rockfall on it from Cap Lake under a moonless night. The roaring woke us - being granite the sparkshow was nature's own firefall. Now I know where all that rubble comes from at the bottom of mountains. (sic)
The last one is a "Look at out tent. It's tiny" shot. It's a VE-24. Remember those?
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 08:32pm PT
|
Did somebody say Capitol Peak?
Six years before the Maroon Bells hike I've been writing about, back when my technical climbs could be
counted on one hand, I had an adventure on Capitol Peak. My partner, equally inexperienced, decided
to stop here. Not encouraged by my unanchored belay with our 120 foot, 3/8" goldline rope.
But the peak was calling so I went on alone.
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 11:50pm PT
|
From N Maroon Summit
Maroon- N Maroon behind- UV was kinda high that day.
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2008 - 11:51pm PT
|
All from Maroon..
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:07am PT
|
From Pyramid
Capitol
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:09am PT
|
check it out- the same spot as TwistedCrank "trail in the sky"..
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:17am PT
|
Pyramid from the Saddle- Pyramid is a good scramble for Colorado. You gotta enjoy that sort of thing though..
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:20am PT
|
One of my favorite pics of all.. Snowmass from Capitol.
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:22am PT
|
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:25am PT
|
Previously posted in Summit Photos- I think. See that thread for other Bells pics. Actually the back side of the Bells are visible to the left in the distance.
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:43am PT
|
View S from S Ridge saddle on Maroon?
|
|
the museum
Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:45am PT
|
Pyramid from somewhere on Maroon..
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 07:56am PT
|
Museum, I've got near-duplicates of some of your views.
Guess those are places we stop and think wow, look at that!
As an aside (and I've been guilty of this too), I'd recommend down-scaling your pics a bit --
if they're too wide then on most monitors, people have to scroll horizontally to view the pics
or read text. And then posters start using hard returns to shorten their lines like this.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 08:02am PT
|
Meanwhile, back on North Maroon ...
Around 13,000' I caught up with another party, who must have started before dawn.
Until that point I'd been thinking the famous loose rock was no big deal, pretty similar to an Eldorado
approach hike in those days before trails. Nearing this party, though, I heard shouts of "Rock!" and
realized there was an advantage being solo. Gave the rock-rollers a wide berth and kept going;
these were the only other people I saw on the mountain that day.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 08:04am PT
|
Summit marmots no doubt have tough winters, but in summer they make out OK.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 08:08am PT
|
Maroon Peak from the summit North Maroon, at just over 14,000'. The airy ridge between them looked fun.
|
|
TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 09:40am PT
|
You guys are tapping into the deep dark abyss of my memory banks.
Museum is right: scrambles on red conglomerate peaks are different.
BTW I was disappointed in the Capitol K2 ridge. I recall not being too impressed by the exposure on the knife blade - which was really only about 100ft long. A buddy of mine soloed it in winter and said it was exciting though.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 09:48am PT
|
You guys are tapping into the deep dark abyss of my memory banks.
Excellent!
BTW I was disappointed in the Capitol K2 ridge. I recall not being too impressed by the exposure on the knife blade
Yeah, after seeing all these old CMC photos of folks humping across it cautiously, even with no experience
I found the Captiol knife edge just a no-hands walk. The intimidating part of that day for me was not the
climbing moves but the feeling of being up there on a big peak alone, far from home.
Determined but clueless.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 11:13am PT
|
The ridge over the Bells is a sidewalk in the sky.
Looking back over the ridge to North Maroon, from the higher summit of the south peak:
At this point in the day, shortly after noon, the weather was still fine. But I wasn't sure how to get down.
|
|
don coyote
climber
mahogany ridge
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 11:22am PT
|
If either of the two fella's who did the Capitol ascent last oct.or nov. visit this site,would you care to share photo's?Very,very impressive.
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
The West
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 12:40pm PT
|
Okay, that's it. Next time I get there I'm going beyond the parking lot!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 01:50pm PT
|
Okay, that's it. Next time I get there I'm going beyond the parking lot!
So here's the classic parking-lot view, looking better than real life. I wish this was my photo, but it's not.
|
|
spectreman
Trad climber
Fort Collins
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 04:05pm PT
|
For a wild winter adventure check out the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. A ski race through the backcountry from Crested Butte to Aspen. 40 ass kicking miles through some amazing sections of the Elks.
|
|
Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 07:23pm PT
|
Chiloe, I like that sidewalk in the sky routine.
Yes Spectreman; The Grand Traverse, I'm looking at that (it can be a bit of a suffer-fest).
The contenders do it on lightweight racing gear, skating if conditions permit. Some carry a spare real short ski in case they snap one.
My strategy will be to do it the day after the race, so the trail will be broken in and I'll be on somewhat beefier nordic norm touring gear.
|
|
spectreman
Trad climber
Fort Collins
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 07:37pm PT
|
I did the Grand Traverse last year and, yes, it is a sufferfest! I'm training to do it again this year and I just got my new skis today. We're going to do it on Fischer Superlights. A narrow nordic ski with no metal edge. I hope we survive the steeps of Ajax on the way to the finish line. The top contenders do the race on skate gear for the absolute lightest rig.
|
|
Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2008 - 07:40pm PT
|
Go fast, stay warm!
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jan 22, 2008 - 12:22am PT
|
How many Crested Butte to Aspen routes are there? The first time that I EVER got on touring gear was to reach Aspen from CB. I guess the Udalls figured that I had some decent survival potential because I was lime green on skiis. We ended turning around due to some nasty wind slabs approaching the pass. I had an electric fuscia/purple Class 5 parka and earned the nickname of the Purple Streak for lack of brakes.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jan 22, 2008 - 02:55am PT
|
hey there chiloe.. say, i just dropped in again, to keep checking this out... sure is very speical, in deed...
|
|
Fletcher
Trad climber
Varied locales along the time and space continuum
|
|
|
Jan 22, 2008 - 03:09am PT
|
This is a great thread! I second that Jaybro. Next time I'm up there, I'm going past
the parking lot too! My family has decided to make an early fall trip to Aspen a
regular thing.
The first time I was up there at that lake, ole Fletch got himself engaged... far end
of the lake, right side where the creek flows into the lake in the not-by-Chiloe
photo. Biked up from Aspen, hanging out by the lake enjoying the warm fall sun...
waiting for the right moment... I had the right spot, but there was this guy nearby
who was loudly yammering away about some inanity and wouldn't go away.
Eventually he did... I wasn't giving up this spot, especially after I'd been carrying the
ring around Aspen wrapped up in a bandana in my fanny pack looking for just the
right place to ask.
The ride down the hill was like flight. :-)
Fletch
Edit: Thanks for starting this one Chiloe... inspiring!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 22, 2008 - 02:16pm PT
|
Tarbuster:
Chiloe, I like that sidewalk in the sky routine.
Hey, your scrambling threads inspired me to unearth and scan these ancient slides.
neebee:
say, i just dropped in again, to keep checking this out
Cool. I'm almost out of slides and stories from this one day in 1974, though. Perhaps we'll get
some new stuff from others.
Who's got more from the Bells, Pyramid, Capitol? Castle and Cathedral have made no appearance yet,
and Snowmass had barely a cameo.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 22, 2008 - 03:00pm PT
|
Fletcher:
The first time I was up there at that lake, ole Fletch got himself engaged...
Now that's a neat story, much better than mine.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 28, 2008 - 10:49am PT
|
End of the day: looking back up at the Bells as an afternoon thunderstorm gathers.
|
|
cowpoke
climber
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2008 - 11:06am PT
|
love that last one, Chiloe. the storm approaching with the scree spilling down the slope on the right really captures the short-term and long-term dynamics...and the latter has such a fluid appearance.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2008 - 11:22am PT
|
Cowpoke, I'd bet that rock glacier below the north face was a real white glacier not too many years ago.
Imagine what the summer view would have been then.
|
|
ydpl8s
Trad climber
Denver, Colorado
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2008 - 06:44pm PT
|
I did an ascent of the North face in '79. I remember standing on a block the size of train car that was teetering back and forth! Simulclimbed with my partner at close range so that the rocks wouldn't have too big of a start as they were raining down around whichever one of us was unlucky enough to be following at that moment. A good warm-up for this is to do a few laps on the Rotwand in Eldo.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2008 - 08:13am PT
|
Looking through my old slides last night, I came across this one from a much earlier trip (1969).
Out of season now but it seemed worth sharing.
|
|
Fletcher
Trad climber
The hear and now, currently Pasadena, CA
|
|
|
May 24, 2008 - 01:29pm PT
|
Wow, Chiloe, I need to get back to Colorado this fall! Beautiful!
Fletch
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
|
May 24, 2008 - 01:43pm PT
|
A really wonderful thread! Great Saturday a.m. viewing over breakfast and rain. Thanks to all the pic contributors!
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2009 - 05:27pm PT
|
Some views don't seem to go out of style. The June Outdoor Photographer arrived yesterday with this cover:
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2009 - 05:32pm PT
|
The photographer behind that cover shot is a familiar name to many climbers:
Glenn Randall has made a career photographing the rich diversity found in Colorado's
landscapes. Among the most iconic of subjects in the state are the Maroon Bells, located
near Aspen.... In this beautiful summer image, Randall framed the scene with blooming
cow parsnip in the foreground. The white flowers set off the dramatic colors in the sky and
the alpenglow on the mountaintops.
Capturing a photograph like this is the product of anticipation and knowing an area well.....
|
|
Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
|
|
|
May 23, 2009 - 05:51pm PT
|
We saw Randall present here in Boulder a year or two ago.
A lot of his work showcased that great depth of field with the indigenous flowers in the immediate foreground leading the eye across great expanses finally to rest upon those marvelously structured peaks.
I always thought it was too bad that Vertigo Games wasn't offered in hardback: or was it?
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2009 - 12:03am PT
|
Vertigo Games is said to be "hard to find." I don't have a copy myself.
|
|
Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
|
|
|
May 24, 2009 - 11:54am PT
|
This is what the Maroon Bells look like from the backside. This photo was taken from Lead King Basin which is on the western side of the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness Area.
|
|
Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
|
|
|
May 24, 2009 - 12:05pm PT
|
Snowmass Mountain as seen from Lead King Basin on the western boundary of the Snowmass Wilderness Area. In the basin at the foot of the mountain is a lake labeled Little Snowmass Lake on some maps but known more commonly as Geneva Lake.
|
|
Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
|
|
|
May 24, 2009 - 12:15pm PT
|
Looking further west. Sheep Mountain on the left foreground. Crystal City in the valley straight ahead, Treasury Mountain in the background.
There used to be a stage coach line that ran from Crested Butte over Schofield Pass and Sheep Mountain down to Lead King Basin and on down to Crystal City and Marble, then Carbondale.
I'm wondering if the people who skied from Crested Butte to Aspen went via Lead King or further south?
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2009 - 05:41pm PT
|
Nice views, Jan. Did you do that backpack circuit around the Bells -- by way of West Maroon Pass
and Buckskin Pass? I thought that was just about the coolest hike ever.
|
|
Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
|
|
|
May 24, 2009 - 09:42pm PT
|
Chiloe-
My hiking has all been from the western side as I lived in Marble every summer during the late 1950's up through 1964. Also, my family has a couple of cabins/shacks in Lead King. I hope to spend summers in one of them when I retire.
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2009 - 10:22am PT
|
Reflection from Bob D'A:
|
|
landcruiserbob
Trad climber
Maui or Vail ; just following the sun.......
|
|
I believe Fritz did the Bells in 71. He was the first true ski mountaineer of his time. I think he skied Cho in the mid 60's. He was a stallion who disappeared in Afganistan during the war with Russia. The women in Aspen still miss him.....rg
|
|
Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 17, 2009 - 07:51pm PT
|
As an early birthday present, my folks gave me a copy of this charming new (2009) book by
Jack Reed and Gene Ellis:
Rocks Above the Clouds: A Hiker's and Climber's Guide to Colorado Mountain Geology.
It's been fun browsing through, range by range.
Here's part of what I learned about the Maroon Bells:
|
|
| Messages 1 - 80 of total 80 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!