Check out part 1 of my weekend warrior trip to altitude in Colorado if you haven't read it already!
---
We both agreed side-tabling a 14er was certainly the reasonable and safe thing to do since the original plan detailed a 4am start time.
At last done and feasting on Jersey boys large pizza, we reassessed our objectives, and one of contingency plans was to do some base assessing of the Mayflower Gulch area. Mike had wanted to check out this area for future potential short trips as well, and this would allow us to doubly complete recon and get a few more of those powder turns without being too reckless on my body and since this was really just more training for Mike's trip to Alaska later in the month.
Views of Atlantic Peak (13,841') and Fletcher Mountain (13,958') (left to right respectively)
After crashing pretty hard, we got up with as much sleep as you can get with just over 24 hours at 9000' can yield, and made it to the trailhead by a prompt 9am.
Skin track, such a contrast from the day before
Quick stop for ibuprofen, we all need it sometimes
With the sky being sunny, we were worried about solar loading, and the ideal aspect to ski was north where hopefully the sun's effects could be minimized and the shade of the trees aided in keeping the snow relatively fluffy.
The snow base was so high compared to anything we find out East!
Patches of sun and shade on the way up
Atlantic Peak (13,957') from the track
Mike regaling his summit success from a few years back
Upon reaching the old mine cabins, the wind really picked up. Other skier skin tracks were quickly being blown away, and we scurried up the last 300 feet.
Making first tracks in knee-high powder, even on a more tracked area
We decided to not ascend the North ridge due to higher avalanche danger, but still managed to nearly reach 12,000' before starting our descent. After dodging tree-wells and buttering through powder, we reached the skin track shortly. We made a lollipop track, and I had had enough for my weekend. Sufficiently satisfied and sore from the lack of recovery, I was done. We quickly cruised down and out the skin track, whence we had time to rest, shower, pack, and head back to the airport with ease, stopping for buffalo burgers in Idaho Spring.
Although I may have been able to crush another lap or 2 in Mayflower Gulch, I am overly content with the adventure as a whole. From my perspective, the trip's "success" is largely attributed to our ability to adapt to realistic results. I still believe being ambitious is important, and failure is an integral part of being in the mountains. For Mike, this trip is evidence of the capability of a weekend warrior like event, and for me, well let's just say I'll be heading outside again soon enough!
Check out part 1 if you haven't read it!
