Chicago Basin Part 4: Windom Peak 14,082′ 5-11-08
After gearing up again in the high basin between Sunlight and Windom, we started booting up towards the West ridge of Windom, since the North face looked surprisingly thin for such a deep year.
As with Eolus and Sunlight, the top of Windom got a little rocky and needed some negotiating. Brittany:
Eventually, we were on our second summit of the day. Jordan:
We skied off the top for a few feet, but then came back up to this snowy point, which is the same height as the summit anyway.
I got to descend first. The fluted-like wind lip entrance of the widowmaker couloir was really fun:
Jordan was the next to enjoy the entrance:
Brittany’s turn:
Jarrett a little lower:
A couple of me after the choke:
Jordan lower in the couloir:
Here’s a view of our ascent and descent routes:
The next morning it was time to leave beautiful Chicago Basin. Brittany crossing one of the many avalanche paths:
My “angry midget” was starting to scare me- it had learned to stand on its’ own 
Brittany crossing the bridge:
My turn:
We had some time to kill at Needleton, but thankfully we had remembered the most important part of the journey and had stashed some beers in the cold Animas river:
This guy came cruising by on his little train cart. Kind of a cool job- heading out before the train to make sure there’s no rockfall or anything on the tracks.
Then the train came to take us back to civilization:
We bought a round of beers, and the nice train folks gave us some donuts, too! Ummm, donuts and beer. Notice Jordan pratically drooling watching Jarrett:
All in all, a pretty great trip- there’s nothing more to say. Adios for now, Brittany and I are off for Harvard, and hopefully the end of my 14er project.
