Training 12/09/2006
Buck here. Decided to drive up to the pass last minute to get some hiking excercise in. It was a Nice Saturday! Mostly clear skies, a very light breeze and a temperature of about 28 degrees at 8:00am.
Parked and soaked in that peaceful view while scooping my lines for the day. I was drawn again to the West Wall towards Loveland Resort. It was the steepest and had the most snow in view. I got geared up while enjoying a group of Avalanche Level 1 class, preparing for their day. On my way up the first incline of the hike...after the stairs. I ran into a Beautiful hawk watching me watch it. It was a stunning view. I wish I had taken more time to focus the camera. This is my 2nd time with my new compact Panasonic Lx2 10.2MP with a 28-112 Lens. Need more practice:)
I was continuing on the ridgeline to the West Wall...but I kepted eyeing the left () steep snow covered runs. As I got up to the top of the West Wall, I waited to see if I could get someone else to hike it with me.
Fate would have it that at the time of waiting, about 2 minutes, Jason from Thorton CO walks up the ridgeline right towards me while looking left at what I was eyeing! He asks me if I knew how the run off was and hiking out of the bowl. He looks like he can handle his own. I told him I have just been studing it just today but see 3 easy ways out. Let's do it I exclaimed.
It was about 45 minutes til the top where we sat for 25 minutes taking in the views of Loveland ski area and some nice untouched lines over there. As we were sitting there waiting for the clouds to clear for less flat lines, we saw a paraglider enjoying the updrafts around Gray's and Tory's Peak. What a view that guy was having!
Jason decides to drop in before the clouds cleared. The clouds looked like a snap shot photo of them...not moving:) I waited about 8 more minutes but did not want Jason to get too far ahead down in the bowl.
It was a very nice run. Wind blown soft crust but fun!
Jason and I took off our snowboards once gravity was not in our favor. Hiked 20 yards towards A-Basin and HI-Way 6 but we decided to hike back up again towards our first goal of the West Wall.
We take our time and make it up the incline. Take a breather and strapped back in. Sun is about to set in 5-10 minutes from our point of view. We head down the West Wall surfing it to the bottom of the bend and pick up point. Nice day excercising!
