South Couloir, Buffalo Mountain (12,777ft)
Buffalo Mountain's South summit and couloir as seen from Eccles Ridge in November 2014
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Group/Date: Gary Fondl and Greg Dumas on 12/12/14 |
After and amazing day on Pacific on Wednesday the stoke was high. I had to take off Thursday for errands and work so was eager to get back after it on today. Long and behold we have a storm forecasted for the weekend and so it seemed as if we had about one more day to take advantage of the high pressure and snowpack. After an attempt on the South Couloir on Buffalo on Tuesday I was chomping to get back up there and lay a track down. Greg Dumas and Gary Fondl rounded out the crew and so on a bright and sunny morning we set off following our tracks from a few days prior up the Lakeview path.
Photo by Gary Fondl.
A quick ascent. Not long before I found myself on the tundra looking over at our line and up at the summit. Another beautiful day. T-shirt weather in the alpine. Hard to believe its December.
The remaining pitch to the South summit.
Gary, choosing to stick on the snow on his last pitch to the summit. Looking back on home.
The North Summit of Buffalo looking majestic.
Glorious!
Hello Colorado!!
Three hours later from the truck we found ourselves at almost 13k standing in t-shirts. Oh what a day. Not too often you find yourself on a summit in Colorado in this fashion... especially in December!
Gary ontop of Buffalo Mountains South Summit with Red peak and the Red-Diamond ridge behind.
Photo by Gary.
After enjoying some fresh air and views on the summit we were all wanting to ski. A snack and transition and a short walk down to the top of our line. Or in Gary's case, ski.
Gary's summit ski....
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....to tundra ski
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Gary and Greg getting ready to drop.
Down in it. December corn skiing!?!?
Gary mid-line with a beautiful backdrop.
Photo by Gary Fondl
Followed by Greg.
Photo by Gary Fondl.
Photo by Gary Fondl.
Greg ripping in the lower choke.
Sure doesn't look like December but sure is fun!!!
From there we found ourselves in the base of the Eccles-Buff valley and at the bottom of our line. Corn skiing in December. A quick wrap-around traverse back North and we got in a quick bonus ski down the lower Lakeview path and then out to the Lily Pad trail. Whoo boy that was fun but man now its time for some powder. Hoping the weekend storm produces!!
