TR: Late Season Lines – The Emperor Couloir on Torreys (26 June 2019)

Torreys was the second fourteener that I skied during my fourteener skiing project. I skied it back in 2006 and was lucky to have descended the luscious Emperor Couloir. You can catch a glimpse of this iconic line for just a couple of seconds as you travel down I-70. This line is respectably steep, aesthetic, long, and fun. It has all the makings that a classic ski route should have. Yet, Dead Dog seems to get more love. But I love the Emperor much better.
Backcountry skiing the Emperor Couloir on Torreys Peak

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Mountain Biking Mount Elbert (5 Sept 2017)

Mount Elbert (14,439′ – the highest peak in Colorado) is one of a few fourteeners that is not in Wilderness or private land, where mountain biking is actually allowed. Although few mountain bikers make a point to ride this awesome peak, the riding is here is top notch. I’ve been mountain biking Mount Elbert off and on for over 10 years now, and every time I find myself giddy with joy.

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TBT: Pikes Peak Climb and Cog (29 July 2012)

Pikes Peak has always been a bit of a favorite 14er of mine. I’ve hiked it multiple times, taken the cog, driven to the top, and skied off the top. It’s no coincidence that I saved Pikes Peak as my last peak when completing my 14er skiing project. So, when Frank’s sister and her kids were coming to visit from San Francisco, and Pikes Peak was brought up as something we could “do with the family”, I was in.

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Guest TR: Pyramid Peak Ski Attempt (19 March 2017)

Hitting the ridge is the moment of truth. There is only one way off the summit on skis – descending east on 60° snow above an enormous cliff. If you fall anywhere between the summit and the point where we were standing, you go in the ground. That’s really all there is to it. There’s no real escape route – your only options are to downclimb what you came up (arguably more dangerous than just skiing it) or downclimb the NW ridge, where routefinding is tricky especially since it’s not the route you came up. Once you begin the final push to the summit, you are committed.

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My Condundrum on Conundrum Couloir

It’s August, and it’s that time of year when many people start to look ahead, dreaming of snowflakes and skiing. For me, I pretty much think of skiing all the time year-round, even though I don’t typically ski year round. Which is why this post hurts the most. I won’t be skiing this coming winter… or spring. That bites hard into the deepest part of my core. Skiing is my being. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. Perhaps that’s why I waited so long to write the report. Although, I’d like to say it was because I decided to wait until people were having thoughts of skiing again. But in reality, I had a conundrum on Conundrum. And it will be my last ski for a very long time….

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