Snow & Hail Ski
Start: Gore Creek TH
Summits:
* Snow Peak
* Hail Peak (Killer Smile Couloir)
End: Rock Creek Winter (Lower) TH
Distance: 14.11m
Elevation Gain: 6020ft
Duration: 11hrs w/ 45minute siesta
GPX
Point to point shuttle trips in the Gore are the best! Wrapping up a tour in a completely different zone than you started always adds to the adventure. Gore Creek to Rock Creek over Snow and Hail did not disappoint.
This day was the fifth anniversary of my Big Eyes accident with Aaron. It was emotional to say the least. We called Aaron's name from the top of Hail Peak and named Hail's north couloir 'Killer Smile Couloir' in Aaron's honor.
Super grateful for the opportunity to connect with Mac on this epic tour and feel all of the feels of doing what we love, in special places with special people. You were definitely with us on this one Aaron!
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14.11m - 6020ft - 11hrs w/ 45minute siesta
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Arriving at Deluge Lake
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Southwestern views to Holy Cross
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Mac takes in the views below Valhalla's south face
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We skinned and booted to the saddle below Snow Peak's north ridge
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Transitioning to boots below Snow Peak's west face
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To the saddle!
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Snow Peak's north ridge comes into view
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Checking out the views into Snow Lake Basin
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Snow Lake Basin with Mount Silverthorne to the east
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Snow Peak's north ridge
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Over the shoulder views of Valhalla to the north
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Grand Traverse and North Traverse to the west
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Last push to the summit
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Stoked for our first summit of the day! Hail Peak's southwest couloir (that we would soon climb) is just above Mac's thumb
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The steeper lines on Snow Peak had slid so we skied north and east into Snow Lake Basin
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Glory corn!
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We climbed Hail Peak's southwest couloir to the summit
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Bootin coolies brah!
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Up up up... Snow Peak Behind
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The last pitch to the Summit with Valhalla behind
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Yeah buddy!
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It was the 5th anniversary of the Big Eyes accident with Aaron. We called his name from the summit and took in the moment
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One last look at Snow Peak. Would love to come back and ski it's south face when conditions are better
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Vallhalla to the north - Grand Traverse off to the left
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In honor of Aaron, we named Hail Peak's north couloir 'Killer Smile Couloir'
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All smiles on Killer Smile
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So good!
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Some great corn skiing down to Rock Creek
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Looking back to Killer Smile Couloir
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Soft turns
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Hail Peak and Killer Smile Couloir looking impressive
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One last look around before heading into the trees and the navigational and undulating tour to the lower Rock Creek TH
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Valhalla and Palomino... dayum! We skied that just five days earlier
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Spring conditions on the exit to Rock Creek
