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#24 Vestal Peak 13,864 ft.

Date: May 9, 2014
Team: Christy, Dav, Ted, Ian Fohrman, Sean Shean
Route: South Couloir

We had been looking forward to skiing Vestal Peak since we began this project. So it seemed fitting that we would get to attempt it on the final day of what was already agreed to be an epic trip, our Weminuche Traverse (read here).

After four challenging days of moving through the mountains, we found ourselves at camp along Vestal Creek. Above us was the mountain’s dramatic North Face, a ramp of quartzite known as the Wham Ridge. The next day, we were hoping to climb and ski this awesome mountain and then break camp and make the big move down and out to the Animas River for the train pick up that afternoon at 2:55 pm. It would be a big effort.

From camp in Vestal Creek, it was easy to skin below the west side of the peak. Wham Ridge is the right skyline.

Despite being a classic Colorado climbing route, the Wham Ridge wasn’t our ski goal. It only seems to hold skiable snow on its lower half, and a summit ski descent is what we wanted. So we set our sights on the mountain’s south side, where a narrow couloir led to a steep upper face and a continuous (though very thin and rocky) ski line right from the top.

Chris Davenport, Vestal peak
It was the nicest morning in a few days. Dav is seen here on his way up to the saddle between Vestal and West Trinity.
vestal peak, centennial skiers
Once on the saddle, we switched from skins to crampons.
The view to the south.
Chris Davenport, Vestal Peak
Dav climbs the lower couloir.

The climbing was really exciting. The semi-technical, mixed terrain increased in angle as we moved higher, and wind and blowing spindrift made everything more gripping. But once we were on top and could look down the line of Grenadiers to the east and the impressive Needle Mountains to the south, we were all keenly aware that we were experiencing something special.

Sean Shean, christy mahon, vestal peak, centennial skiers
Christy and Sean top out.
Everyone say “Vestal!”
christy Mahon, Weminuche wilderness
After playing around on the ridge, it was time to suit up and ski. We had a train to catch. To our south, you can see Jagged and the 14ers.

The skiing was pretty fun, committing off the top with some delicate moves through the exposed rock, but it was filled in enough to allow for a continuous descent. At the bottom of the couloir, we traversed back to the mountain’s long east ridge and the saddle with West Trinity Peak. From there, we cruised north-facing powder all the way back down to camp.

chris davenport
Dav skis.
ian fohrman, vestal peak
Ian skis through the steep upper section.
christy mahon, vestal peak
Christy
Sean and Ian track up the powder back down to camp from the Vestal/Trinity saddle.

Vestal delivered. It was a memorable outing, augmented by the hustle that ensued to catch the train. Many beers were consumed to honor this five-star day (and week).

Check out Vestal. The big effort to get there will definitely be rewarded.

Ski the Centennial 13ers trip reports

Pages

  • #1 Grizzly Peak – 13,988 ft.
  • #2 Stewart Peak -13,983 ft.
  • #3 Columbia Point – 13,980 ft.
  • #4 Pigeon Peak – 13,972 ft.
  • #5 Mount Ouray – 13,971 ft.
  • #6 Ice Mountain – 13,951 ft.
  • #7 Fletcher Mountain – 13,951 ft.
  • #8 Pacific Peak – 13,950 ft.
  • #9 Cathedral Peak – 13,943 ft.
  • #10 French Mountain – 13,940 ft.
  • #11 Mount Hope – 13,933 ft.
  • #12 Thunder Pyramid – 13,932 ft.
  • #13 Mount Adams – 13,931 ft.
  • #14 Gladstone Peak – 13,913 ft.
  • #15 Mount Meeker – 13,911 ft.
  • #16 Casco Peak – 13,908 ft.
  • #17 Red Mountain – 13,908 ft.
  • #18 Emerald Mountain – 13,904 ft.
  • #19 Horseshoe Mtn. – 13,898 ft.
  • #20 “Phoenix Peak” – 13,895 ft.
  • #21 Vermillion Peak – 13,894 ft.
  • #22 Cronin Peak – 13,870 ft.
  • #23 Mount Buckskin – 13,865 ft.
  • #24 Vestal Peak – 13,864 ft.
  • #25 Jones Mountain – 13,860 ft.
  • #26 North Apostle – 13,860 ft.
  • #27 Clinton Peak – 13,857 ft.
  • #28 Dyer Mountain – 13,855 ft.
  • #29 Crystal Peak – 13,852 ft.
  • #30 Mount Edwards – 13,850 ft.
  • #31 California Peak – 13,849 ft.
  • #32 Mount Oklahoma – 13,845 ft.
  • #33 Half Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #34 Atlantic Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #35 Hagerman Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #36 Turret Peak – 13,835 ft.
  • #37 PT 13,832
  • #38 Holy Cross Ridge – 13,831 ft.
  • #39 Jupiter Mountain- 13,830 ft.
  • #40 “Huerfano Peak” – 13,828 ft.
  • #41 Jagged Mountain – 13,824 ft.
  • #42 “Lackawanna” – 13,823 ft.
  • #43 Mount SiIverheels – 13,822 ft.
  • #44 Rio Grande Pyramid – 13,821 ft.
  • #45 Teakettle Mountain – 13,819 ft.
  • #46 PT 13,811 – 13,811 ft.
  • #47 Dallas Peak – 13,809 ft.

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