Originally posted on my Thrillhead Blog
At the end of each season, I always like to reflect on my accomplishments and set goals for the following season. At the beginning of the season, I look on my reflection from the previous season and use it to remind myself of what I have set for my following season. Goals, however, are always changing- especially in skiing. Goals surrounding backcountry skiing are often dependent on weather and snow conditions, so these goals must be subject to change throughout the season.
My goals for this season can be seen here:
http://www.14erskiers.com/brittanysblog/2007/12/goals-for-this-season/
My goals for the 2008 season were entirely surrounded around my fourteener project. My major goal was to ski 15 fourteeners this season, and I did accomplish that goal. However, the original fourteeners I had in mind to ski had to change a bit. One major peak I hoped to tackle was Pikes Peak, but Frank has convinced me to save that for my last peak. Pikes is a great one for just about anybody to ski. So, I can invite all of my friends and have a big party for my last fourteener ski. Besides, many have told me to save an easier peak for last.
I originally wanted to ski one of the following trios: Little Bear/ Ellingwood/ Blanca or Wilson/ Wilson Peak/ El Diente. But, as the season progressed, it became obvious that neither of the trios had enough snow to ski. I ended up only skiing Wilson Peak out of the six mentioned above.
Instead, I tackled North Maroon and South Maroon- both peaks that I was skeptical about being able to ski this time last year. In June last year, I attempted North Maroon, but turned around as I felt that the conditions were to scary for me to climb. This shattered my confidence, and left me with a sour feeling at the end of the season- even though I’d done a fantastic job by skiing 23 fourteeners that year.
But, this season, I went back and had success on North Maroon. Being only my 4th fourteener of the season, it built up my confidence. And my season continued to be full of success.
This season, I only skied 15 fourteeners which is a lot less than the 23 I tackled the previous season. But most of the fourteeners I had to tackle this year were more difficult- they were either more technical, or their access was more difficult. Most of the fourteeners this season were much more mentally and physically challenging than the ones tackled the season before. Because of this, I feel that I truly grew as a ski mountaineer. I felt a huge increase in strength, endurance, skills, navigation, line choice, and confidence. My 23 fourteeners last season prepared me for the 15 this season. And I hope that the 15 fourteeners I skied this season have helped prepare me for my 9 remaining.
So, what’s in store for next season? I hope to finish my fourteener project. The peaks I have remaining are:
Little Bear
Ellingwood
Blanca
Crestone Needle
Mount Wilson
El Diente
Pyramid
Capitol
Pikes
Many of the peaks above have the potential of not being skiable next season due to snow conditions. For instance, Blanca, this year, never had enough snow to ski. I think Little Bear and Ellingwood typically have snow every year, but even they can be thin. Regardless, I hope to tackle the trio in a long weekend, in April or May.
Crestone Needle has a steep line that seems to melt out early. I believe this will have to be my first fourteener of the season and I think I’ll have to hit it in March. People who skied it in early April this year showed it to be pretty much melted out. I believe this line typically has snow every year, and I’m not worried about a lack of snow as much as others, as long as I can ski it sometime in March.
Mount Wilson and El Diente are very close to one another and it’s possible to ski them both in one day. Despite a stellar snow year in the San Juans, these peaks never had snow on the summit this year. The wind kept blowing it right off. Both peaks can be technically difficult, and finding them with the right amount of snow makes them even more difficult. These peaks worry me as I approach the following season.
No peaks worry me more, though, than Pyramid and Capitol. These are the two most difficult fourteeners Colorado has to offer. I’ve seen picture after picture of the routes on these peaks, and I feel like I know the route without having been there before and I know exactly what to expect. But a picture is never the same as being there. My weakness has always been in the climbing, rather than the skiing. But, I feel like the skills and confidence I have gained this season have prepared me much better for climbing these peaks. I feel that with the right conditions and the right partners, I’ll be able to get these peaks done. But, I am worried about not having the right conditions in terms of weather and snow pack. In 2007, the snow never settled enough for these peaks to be skied. These peaks are best skied in April or early May. If I don’t have them by then, then they will have to wait for the following season.
As I said above, I am saving Pikes Peak for last. The Y couloir or the Railroad chute are usually in condition most seasons. So, a lack of snow does not worry me as much as some others mentioned above. I will be inviting all of my friends and family to join me on this last expedition- whether they ski with me or drive to the top- all will be invited!
I am most worried about lack of snow on Mount Wilson, El Diente, and Blanca. But, I am most worried about my skills being a factor on Pyramid and Capitol.
Since I feel like my skills may be maxed out on Pyramid and Capitol, I’ve made it a goal to try to progress my skills. I will rock climb more in the summer and fall. This summer, I plan on climbing Capitol (sans snow) to get the feeling of what it’s like to be on the famed knife ridge. I also hope to tackle some smaller peaks with large exposure earlier in the season to hone those skills.
One thing that is different for next season as opposed to last is that I have begun to see the end of my fourteener project. Whether it happens next year or not, with only 9 fourteeners left I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This has made me look past that goal and come up with ideas of what I want to do next. There are a bunch of peaks on my list that I may or may not accomplish next season. Some of them include: Sayers, Ice, Teocalli, Star, Drift Peak, Owens, Thunder Pyramid, unnamed peak to the SW of Holy Cross. I’d also like to go hit some different things on some fourteeners I’ve already skied, like: couloir off the south side of La Plata, Dead Dog couloir on Torrey’s, and the East face of Huron. A lot of these lines involve using technical skills and can be used to help me work on my skills for peaks like Pyramid and Capitol.
Many of you know that no woman has skied all of Colorado’s fourteeners yet. Which causes many people to ask me: What about the other women trying to ski all the fourteeners? Where do you stand with them? As far as I know, there are two other women trying to ski the fourteners: Christy Sauer and Pam Rice. Last I knew, Christy had 32 fourteeners done, and Pam had 42. Pam and I are especially close as I only have 45 fourteeners complete. I have had the opportunity to ski with Christy on Culebra, and with Pam on Crestone Peak, Longs, South Maroon, and Wilson Peak. Both women are extremely nice and I feel honored to be compared with them in their fourteener goal. I know each of us would love to be the first woman to ski all of the fourteeners, but each of us has some difficult peaks ahead of us. I also know that each of us wants to be safe in our endeavor. It’s a toss-up as to who will actually be the first woman to ski all the fourteeners. Some of it will depend on snow conditions and weather, some of it will depend on our skills, and some of it will depend just on sheer luck. Nevertheless, it will be exiting to see this little bit of history unfold in the near future!
Am I done skiing this season? Hopefully not quite yet. I do hope to have a few more days of enjoying turns on summer snow.
But, please keep checking my blog. I will be posting TR’s with some epic mountain biking trips, as well as from my planned trips to South Carolina (family wedding) and the Ukraine (2 week summer trip). Just because the snow is mostly gone doesn’t mean we still can’t have fun! 
Here’s to wishing all of you a fantastic summer!
