Sneffels - Snake Couloir
Date: 04/29/2023
Partners: Alex Neal (Junior), Justin Kuchta, Krishna Ghandi
Trailhead: CR7 below Blue Lakes TH
Distance: 13.5m
Elevation Gain: 5600ft
Duration: 9.5hrs
GPX
A day on the Snake has everything you might want for a day in the mountains. An all round mountaineering experience with skinning, booting, scrambling, rappeling and an iconic ski line. We were fortunate to have a blue bird day, no wind, great snow and a stellar crew. Won't soon forget this one and will definitely repeat it!
13.5m - 5600ft - 9.5hrs
Finding our way below treeline
Sneffels' north face appears
Krishna and Justin teamed up to carry the rope
Junior setting the track to the base of Lavender Couloir
Cirque Mountain
Near the base of Lavender Couloir. Kismet front and center. Cirque, Teakettle, and Potosi to the left
Junior leads the way on Lavendar
Looking down Lavendar
We met a group of two from Grand Junction who climbed and skied Lavender but were not feeling a summit
Junior on the class 4 pitch before the summit ridge. I thought this was the crux of the day
Alex tops out on the airy class four crux
Junior 'hunks' below the summit
Justin and Krishna on the final summit pitch
Dallas Peak from the summit
Justin gets started on the rap. A 70m rope was just right
Justin
Alex
Alex transitions to skis
Snake Couloir and un-tracked powder
There aren't many safe spots to stop. We skied in two groups of two, stopping at the elbow
Junior skis the top section
Junior turns the corner and enters the choke
Looking down the choke and final section of the Snake
Alex on the apron
Krishna
The damage done
Apron party
The crew is stoked... what a day!
The skate back to the truck