Front Range mountaineering is different than a lot of places in Colorado. It’s often dry, cold and really really windy! Maybe I needed a reminder, or maybe I just enjoy the pain; either way I signed up for a day on Longs Peak yesterday with Matt Kamper and Rob Steinmetz. It was fun, in a challenging alpine sort of way. We climbed the north face and descended Keplingers couloir and out to our stashed car at Wild Basin. This is just a picture TR though.
Stopping for some more clothes as we get our first dose of wind. Such a magical time of day when the sun is rising but the moon is lighting your way
Matt coming through the sunrise just below the boulder field.
The best part about climbing in the front range.
Looks like the north face requires a rappel.
Soon after this picture was taken Matt and I got hit by what felt like a shockwave. Never in my life have I been leveled with such authority.
Taken just below the start of booting, my favorite part of this photo is that it is unedited.
Nope it’s not snowing. That’s just the wind.
Lou Dawson once told me something along the lines of the the best photographers are the ones who get their cameras out even when shit hits the fan. I don’t think this makes me a great photog but I suppose I’m trying to work at it. Holy wind!
A pictures worth a thousand words, but in this case a video would be better. Despite looking warm and bluebird, Matt is actually leaning on the summit block to balance against the wind.
Matt dropping in on the homestretch.
Drop the knee or drop the sport. It’s so nice to see a tele skier who makes tele turns when the skiing is tough instead of reverting to alpine. Rob is one of them.
The traverse over to Keplingers is steep. Here is Matt.
pioletski April 30, 2013
Nice, Jordan! For those who are interested, my TR is on 14ers.com at http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=13445. Thanks for sharing your pictures, my writeup would be kinda lame without them.