Another Double TR: Beartooth Pass, MT (6/24/11-6/26/11) AND Quandary Peak North Couloir (6/28/11)

[jordan]

Me, My roommate Mike, and our friend from loveland, Matt decided to head up to Beartooth Pass Ski area In Montana/Wyoming for the big mountain comp and free on3p demos this weekend. There is still an incredible amount of snow up there

 

Some Wyoming Mountain Range:

 

 

 

a really cool mountain...I wonder if it is ever skiable from the summit..

 

 

 

a really cool waterfall on Beartooth Pass:

 

 

 

Matt Livin' on the edge...

 

 

The ski area has 2 Poma lifts and some SWEET terrain. The pitch up top pushes 45 degrees if not more:

 

 

Me trying out some 191 on3p Wrenegades:

 

 

 

Coming down the other side of Beartooth Pass into Red Lodge, we saw this... One day i hope to go back and ski that..

 

 

It was a great time. The big mountain comp was awesome. Mike got 4th. The on3p demos were awesome, and I am definitely going to purchase some Caylors next year.

Matt wrote a complete TR of our trip on Newschoolers. It can be found here: http://newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/629093/

 

So, When I got back, i really wanted to get back out into the CO backcountry because the snow is melting quick here in Colorado...unlike in Montana and Wyoming where they still have an incredible snowpack. I have wanted to ski the north couloir on Quandary for quite some time. I skied the Cristo couloir on the south side of the mountain last year.

 

I found no one to go with me, so I decided to go climb quandary solo and see if I could make a safe ski decent down the couloir by myself. If I was uncomfortable with it, I always had the option of just skiing the mellow east face.

 

I left my house at 5:00, got to the main east ridge trailhead at around 6:45 I left the car at 7:00

On my way up, I ran into two climbers who had ascended the North Couloir. They reassured me that the couloir still went all the way to the valley floor and the snow was supportive and not too wet.

 

I summited at 9:30, 2.5 hours after I started, where I met this guy:

 

 

An Aussi at the summit was kind enough to take my picture:

 

 

Looking North from the summit into McCullough Gulch and at the Tenmile Range (which includes Breckenridge)

 

 

Looking West towards the Holy Cross Wilderness:

 

 

Looking back towards the front range...starting to look more like summer:

 

 

I was able to ski off the true summit...

 

 

Looking down the North Couloir:

 

 

 

Looking back up:

 

 

My Tracks:

 

 

The whole couloir is visible here....there was a small section in the apron melted out that I had to walk across:

 

 

An unnamed lake in McCullough Gulch:

 

 

More of my tracks lower down in McCullough Gulch:

 

 

A waterfall in McCullough Gulch:

 

 

Another line that looks fun off the north side of quandary:

 

 

Atlantic Peak has a fun looking cirque:

 

 

Driving through Breckenridge on the way home:

 

 

My route:

 

Edited June 29, 2011 by jordan

[Barb]

What else can I say...you're the man. Love the pictures.

[jordan]

What else can I say...you're the man. Love the pictures.

I look forward to having some new BC partners in you guys in you within a year or two

Edited June 30, 2011 by jordan

[ectobar]

Keep killing it. Love the posts/pictures.

[Ride Delaware ?]

Killing it again, and in a completely different state... Keep up the good work and dedication... I love seeing it now that it's basically July... Even though you said the snow cover was still good, it is definitely visibly thinning and your having to hike down small sections... Either way, keep getting at it while you still can... Summer may yet arrive in the CO backcountry...

[mbike-ski]

damn sweet