14,150′ Sneffels Peak #52 Tuesday May 31
Clear Across the Elks from Summit of Sneffels 14,150′
14,018′ Pyramid Peak #53 Wednesday June 1
An excellent view from high on Pyramid with Snowmass and Capitol in the distance.
After a couple days of rest in Telluride, it was time to head north and try and finish up a few more peaks. I did a quick ascent of Sneffels from Yankee Boy basin (Only 3 hours round trip, including 30 minutes on top) and skied the south face and couloir direct, and followed that up with a ski of the quite challenging and dangerous Pyramid in the Elks.
A buried trailhead in Yankee Boy Basin.
I closed out the month of May with Sneffels, making it my 16th peak of May. It was also a close-out peak in the San Juans as I was able to ski every peak in the San Juans now.
Lavender Couloir and looking southeast into the San Juans.
With very warm temps and June now here, I am lucky to have only Longs, Snowmass, and Capitol left. Honestly I am not so sure that Capitol will be realistic to ski from the top this late in the season. the coverage is good but snow conditions and warmth may not be safe enough. Fortunately I climbed and skied it last season so now I have officially skied every 14er as Longs and Snowmass are repeats.
Down from the danger zone on Pyramid……
For now I will still climb and finish the final peaks and try to put this project to bed in the next week or so. It’s been such an amazing ride and I am thankful for all the good conditions, good fortune, great ski partners and of course the peaks for challenging me and allowing me to climb and ski them!
Once middle of June hits and I am done with all the skiing I will have more time to get the Trip Reports for each peak posted which tell the full stories.
Thanks for all the support-
Dr. Jon
