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Front Range

Mt. Bancroft – East Ridge Direct

October 18, 2016

Fall was having a slower start than usual in the high country. Winter was nowhere in sight and warm temperatures seemed to keep everyone’s minds on summer activities. The East Ridge Direct route of the 13,250 ft. Mt. Bancroft had been on my list for a while. Justin Ibarra and Pat “Perry” Johnson were interested in the idea so we decided to give it a go. After a bit of research to gain the necessary knowledge of the route, we figured out the gear we would need and set off early from Summit County.Read More »Mt. Bancroft – East Ridge Direct

Shit For Brains Couloir

April 6, 2016

Spring was on its way, allowing the snow pack to consolidate as warming temperatures allowed for melt/freeze cycles here in Summit County. With a bluebird day in the forecast, Lexie Anderson and I ventured outside of Arapahoe Basin’s inbound terrain in hopes of descending the Shit for Brains couloir. We planned to ascend a western ridge south of Grizzly Peak and traverse Black Mountain to reach the line from above.Read More »Shit For Brains Couloir

Longs Peak – Keyhole Route

10/11/15 – 10/12/15

Summer was fading away and fall was already in full force in the high country. Pat “Perry” Johnson and I decided it was time to knock out a Front Range 14er that we had waited to do until tourist season was over, Longs Peak. We planned to depart from the trailhead in Estes Park on a Sunday morning, camp at the Boulder Field right below the Keyhole, and summit Longs Peak the following day. This would hopefully ensure relatively low traffic on the route and allow us to enjoy an unfamiliar area without the congestion it typically attracts in the summer months. I talked to a ranger a few days before to make sure a campsite was available and work out any fees we would need to pay before heading up on the mountain. He informed me that the Trough section of the route contained both ice and snow so I decided it was a good idea for Perry and I to bring an ice axe and crampons to be on the safe side.Read More »Longs Peak – Keyhole Route

Front Range Splitboarding 12/6/15

December 6, 2015

Pat “Perry” Johnson and I ventured into a new zone in the Front Range with relatively low expectations. Our 7:20 AM trail start was greeted with a frigid 2 degree temperature that kept us in our puffies and insulated gloves well into the approach. After making our way off the well traveled road and towards our objective we were greeted with warming temperatures and sunny skies.Read More »Front Range Splitboarding 12/6/15

Front Range Camping Trip

November 8 – 9, 2015

With snow accumulating in the high alpine, Pat “Perry” Johnson and Jon Creasy planned a camping trip into a part of the Front Range not too far from Breckenridge. Since I haven’t camped in winter weather in a while, I decided to take the opportunity to brush up on my skills and get out there with them. We reached the trailhead and started the skin to our destination. This consisted of pretty good snow but did have a lot of rocks and melted out areas to avoid.Read More »Front Range Camping Trip