TR: Bartlett Mountain Couloirs 6.1.05

[iskibc]

TR: Bartlett Mountain 13,550’
6.1.05
Duph, Kya, iskibc

Approach: 3.5 miles, 2,500’ vertical gain

A couple of weeks ago while climbing Pacific Peak in the tenmile range Kya and I couldn’t help but notice this gem standing high and mighty to the south:



Like any recon mission, we snapped some pics of it and saved it in the “must ski” files. I am passionate for this sport not because of the actual turns, but the discovery and the adventure that goes hand in hand with touring. Finding new terrain and discovering hidden stashes each time out will never make skiing in the backcountry boring. There are people who have been ski touring Colorado for over 30 years and are still skinning up newly discovered basins, and skiing lines in distinct locations for the first time. It’s a never-ending journey filled with bigger, badder, steeper, narrower, longer lines. Each day out is just a continuation of the previous day’s tour. There’s no end point, just rest stops at the completion of each day. I don’t know how I got on this wild ride, but I don’t want to get off…..


Ever since Kya and I came back from the Pacific recon tour, I’ve been staring at those lines and wondering. Studied some maps of the locale and drew out an approach for it. Bartlett Mountain stands near the far corner of the Clinton Amphitheatre, a magnificent glacially carved wall of rock spires, dwarfed by its surrounding neighbors of Drift Peak, Clinton Peak, and Mt. Arkansas. The peak itself has actually lost 150’ vertical due to the Climax mining operations. An entire mountain has also been blasted and removed from existence to the south:



Met up with Kya and Duph on the south side of Clinton reservoir just before dawn. We began our climb up an old mining road along the western broad shoulder of Little Bartlett Mountain. The first part of the hike was interesting as we crossed mushroom patches of snow, mud bogs, and dense willow meadows.

Eventually we got onto solid snow and we were able to start skinning:



We skinned along the broad open shoulder for about 1.5 miles before reaching the base of the mountain.

Our goal coming into view:



We met up with the road again and began zigzagging our way up the steep west facing side of the mountain:








Duph and Kya coming up the ridge:



We reached the spiny summit around 9:00 AM.

Kya reaching for the summit:



Our line needed a little more time to soften up, so we climbed around and took in the beautiful views of the surrounding Gore, Sawatch, and Elk ranges.

[iskibc]

Decisions, decisions, decisions. There were at least 3 potential lines down the north face of Bartlett, and we couldn’t make up our minds. This one in particular grabbed my attention:

It was hard to make a choice, so I decided to go for them both. The weather was looking promising, and we had some time to waste, so I decided to give it a go. Getting into the couloir was rather interesting:





Getting my skis on once I got into it was even more interesting.



One wrong move and my skis would end up 1,500’ below. After several minutes of struggling to get into my bindings, I was finally ready. The upper part of the couloir was rock solid. A little nervous since the rollover came fairly quick.


I made one jump turn and then pointed them and felt like I got rocketed out of the chute:



The slope steepened as I exited the chute and I quickly made a hip-slapping hockey stop. What a rush. I climbed back up the face and joined Kya and Duph:



They were ready to go, so they made the traverse out to the upper part of the chute.

Duph dropped in first and made some nice sweeping turns down the main face and into the chute:




There was a nice 2” of fresh snow laying on top, which made for some very smooth turns.

Kya dropped in next and painted the slope with some sweet swooping turns:







The rest of the run did not suck:













We skied back down into the base of the amphitheatre and rested on a grassy slope to take in the surrounding views. New lines popped out in every direction:



The hike back was mostly through dense willows and wet terrain.

Where's waldo:



We were back by 12:30 and took in the rest of the day by the reservoir with some beers and buds.

Lines for another time:

[skier0178]

snap! very nice...

[Foggy_Goggles]

No shit when I say i was driving that way last week and though, "I should let Dave know about how the snow is holding and all coolies in this zone." Here's one for your list, W face Shavano (other side from the Angel).

[kev259]

Damn! That's in CO? That snow looks really nice.

[skifishbum]

So "it AINT over" Sweet
Nice quality pics

[Mountain Freak]

Nice job guys... I want your work schedule.

[grizzle6]

Great TR. That is all.

[nhtele]

Total CO newbie here - where is that area?

[Max Gosey]

Wowza.

Git sum (in June, I might add)!!! Awesome.

[Trackhead]

Nice outing. I need to make it to CO next year.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Total CO newbie here - where is that area?

Off Freemont Pass between Copper Mtn. and Stringtown. It's right on the Divide and is the headwaters to the Arakansas river. Basically, it is right at the beginning of one of the highest mountian ranges in the US, the Presidentials.

[SkiJunky05]

"Objects...are closer than they appear"

That's a good mantra for hiking to the goods.

[hucksquaw]

good shit! schweeet TR!

[bad_roo]

Ballsy. Did no one sell you the benefits of making some mimsy little jump turns?

[bcrider]

I am passionate for this sport not because of the actual turns, but the discovery and the adventure that goes hand in hand with touring. Finding new terrain and discovering hidden stashes each time out will never make skiing in the backcountry boring. There are people who have been ski touring Colorado for over 30 years and are still skinning up newly discovered basins, and skiing lines in distinct locations for the first time. It’s a never-ending journey filled with bigger, badder, steeper, narrower, longer lines. Each day out is just a continuation of the previous day’s tour. There’s no end point, just rest stops at the completion of each day. I don’t know how I got on this wild ride, but I don’t want to get off…..

damn you're good at putting thoughts to words.

nice pics too!

[Trackhead]

damn you're good at putting thoughts to words.

My thoughts exactly. That's why skiing shit snow, side slipping avy runnels, etc, doesn't matter. Because it isn't just about the turns. That's just a small part of it. Skiing is just a way to get down.

[skier666]

Propa' post

[MOHSHSIHd]

what is that weird cable in the pic? old mining crap?

[Out_to_lunch]

"Objects...are closer than they appear"

That's a good mantra for hiking to the goods.

Damn, I was going to pull that one.

[sick.bird]

CAW!!! CAW!!! CAW!!!

[boofadeesnutz]

awesome TR, some of the best pics I have seen all year.

[Z]

very cool.

turns looked nice and smooth

[iskibc]

No shit when I say i was driving that way last week and though, "I should let Dave know about how the snow is holding and all coolies in this zone." Here's one for your list, W face Shavano (other side from the Angel).

Hmmm, west face of Shavano, eh? Were you up in that area boatin'? Have never really thought about anything off the west side of that peak. May have to check it out.


phishy,

Yeah, it's an old cable they used for mining. Kind of convenient having it at the entrance to the couloir.

[duph]

Thanks for putting it all together, man.

It was late on the night before this day when I found out I was going skiing. Talked to iski on the phone and he told me that we were going, where we were going, and that he'd arranged for Kya to pick me up and bring me there. He had the route up and down all thought out and all I had to do was show up, hike, and ski. It's not like I don't enjoy the whole planning process myself, but being spoiled by a friend once in a while can be way too cool. That rocked, and thanks again.

It was cool meeting you Kya, and thanks again for the ride. And your turns were sweet:



And I love the Canon A95.

A really great day. Perfect weather, perfect snow and friends to share it with.