GoreRange.info

One thing about starting at 10:45am in July…its HOT. The flower’s in the Pitkin Creek drainage are kickin’ right now. The Wild Rose’s were my favorite on this trip. Quick trip to the lower falls, about an hour. Pretty good for 35 lbs on the back. I slowed it down as I approached the upper falls. My perspective of all these mountains in the Gore Range changes the more I ski out here. I spent a lot of time pondering Outpost and Solitude, Skier’s, and Climber’s. Shortly after Pitkin Creek trail climbs above the upper falls I left it behind…I love that feeling…starting to trend towards the eastern drainage of Pitkin Creek. I trended further right than planned and ended a bit above the lower tarns at tree line. It gave a fantastic perspective and made it easy to pic a spot to set up camp. Hour nap. Maybe I’m getting older, but I’m digging the nap thing lately. Second lunch. Off to Uasable Pass. I wanted to preview Peak X. I jumped onto the snow to climb up to the pass. No crampons…the snow was soft enough. I spent an hour on the pass viewing and snacking. I was very excited to see a good size snow field I would get to use the next morning. I finished my preview and glissaded back to camp.