051 | Mount Shavano

This week features a ski descent down the 14,299-foot peak that is Mount Shavano, the proper way to spell the word jealous, and a feel-good song. I know, there's a whole lot going on right now.




► Song of the week:


Snow Patrol: "Open Your Eyes" (Redanka remix)






► Mount Shavano (April 19, 2008):



(Click images to view in larger size)


This was my first ski attempt off one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners. I have climbed three others that were far easier; however, trekking along in ski boots for twelve miles is no cakewalk. I knew it was gonna suck ass, but just how much was unknown. And for those wondering, the ski descent off a fourteener is generally pretty crappy but you don't do it for the skiing. I could list the reasons why a person puts himself in such a disfavorable position, but I'll leave you to come up with your own reasons of why we do this.

I was originally set out to attempt a climb of Long's Peak (elevation 14,225) with Bernardo but had to back out because I could not get all the appropriate overnight camping equipment in time. Soon after, Carl gave me call Friday and we quickly made plans to drive down to the trailhead that night.

Once we arrived in Buena Vista, we knew we were less than thirty minutes away. And given that the moon would be full Saturday night, we decided to take advantage of the moonlight and snap some photos.


Below is Mount Yale (14,196 ft) on the left, Big Dipper above, Mount Columbia (14,073 ft) on the right, and the Little Dipper above that.




Mount Princeton (14,197 ft):




Mount Shavano is the right of the two tall peaks in the middle:




We promptly woke up at 4:45 AM and were on the trail at 5:35.



Here's what our day would entail.

Total elevation climbed: 5,097 feet
Time: 12 hours, 25 minutes
Distance traveled: 12.5 miles

535 AM - elevation 9132 feet
930 AM (3:55 into trip) - 4.5519 miles traveled - 11656
135 PM (8:00) - 6.0878 miles - 14229
255 PM (9:20) - 7.3453 miles - 11656
600 PM (12:25) - 12.4767 miles - 9132



In other words, it was a long one.



This is Caroline leading the way in front of Lance:




Here's me looking out for the rocks:




The group (L to R: Caroline, Lance, Dustin, Adam, Carl, Scott):




On our ascent up what is known as the Angel of Shavano because how the snow looks from a distance:




And a little further up (still slightly more than 1,500 feet from the summit):




If you have a good eye, you can see Adam directly in the middle of the picture:




Here's Carl at the summit:





Some views from near the summit ...

L to R: Mount Ouray (13,971), Chipeta Mountain (12,776), Pahlone Peak (12,615), Peel Point (12,142), Mount Peck (12,025):







West and East Buffalo Peaks (13,326 and 13,300, respectively) near left-center in the far distance:








Yes, we eventually did some skiing ...

Here's a few of Adam.









Here's Carl.









I give it a try.











Below are two pictures of the very scenic route back to the car. There was LOTS of bushwacking, we hiked through swampland, got lost a handful of times, but we made it.






Here's Carl looking extremely elated to arrive at the beginning of the trailhead:




A look back at what we did:




Here's the same picture but our descent outlined with red dots:






► Dear Loser Chris (aka video of the week):


Click here or watch the video below:






► Artistic photos of the week:








► Quote of the week:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

- Aristotle