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Topic: May 7, 2011, Dragontail Couloir, RMNP Colorado (Read 751 times)
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MW88888888
Member
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Posts: 421
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Day 39
5.7.2011
Dragontail Couloir, Flattop Mtn, RMNP
7:30 am. 40 degree couloir. Bluebird. Alone.
Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall blasts from my earpieces.
So I sing...
"Not me, but the people they say
Man has always led women astray
But I say, please listen when I say
she is smarter than man in every way
That's right - the women is - SMARTER!"
I belted out this last line...smiling to myself...
"That's right!"
Looking down the couloir...
"The women is SMARTER!"
A missile ZINGS past my position and I move a little faster, head down.
[What did I ever do solo before my iPod??]
***
Underneath the rock face I felt a little bit better. The sun was cooking the snowfaces above me, and almost constantly a spindrift missile zips past my position.
It was go or no-go time. Above, the couloir narrowed as it approached the fork and all missiles bouncing down the left or right fork passed the spot above me. If I continued, I would have to cross this magic spot. If I could get above it, at least 50% of the drama would be lessened. Maybe more. It was the hanging, detached cornice above the right fork that gave me the greatest pause. IF I could get to the left fork, I would be in like Flin.
I looked down my boot pack and saw a group of 4 making their way up, maybe a half hour behind. At least I wasn't below anyone.
"cu cu ru cu cu --- PALOMA!!!" I shout and enter the dragon.
***
It was the very last step. The snow was a firm styrofoam that had melted into a choice corn consistency, but came away from the firm snow below unexpectedly. My axe was deep and my breathing shallow.
"AH!" I drove my hand into the snow, kicked my crampon back into the snow and re-balanced. PHEW. Below my heels, 1,500 feet below, the white of Emerald Lake shone unmoved. My heart started beating again and I rolled onto the top.
Fabulous!
After a short time, a group of about 4 other skiers arrived who climbed up from the hikers trail. We waited for the 4 climbers to top out, enjoying the sun and reveling in the super fat coverage.
***
As it turns out, my brand new bindings are too big for my boots without drilling a new hole [ratfarts!], and therefore the toe hook doesn't bite down, and I get a wishy-washy feeling in my boots as I stand on top. Oh well, who needs control?
"Snowboarder from Loveland, you want to go first??"
HELL YEAH!
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TonyM
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Posts: 185
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Way to get after it Michael! Nicest weekend in CO this spring to be sure. Is that Hallett Peak off to the left? What a nice/beautiful area... too bad we couldn't see anything a couple weeks ago! Nice pics too.
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