May 8, 2015, Black Peak, south face

We left the car a little after 0400, mostly following the summer trail to Lake Ann. The lake is still frozen over and made for easy crossing in the morning but the margins are melting fast and required a short pond skim on our return in the afternoon.

Clear skies and mild temps overnight made ski crampons useful for the ascent to Heather Pass and again approaching the south col from Wing Lake. Cornices are still looming large on the route above Wing Lake and were looking very ripe.

Above the col coverage is getting thin in places, but we had no problem finding a continuous line as we booted up the firm gullies. I waited at the ledge below the summit and soaked in the view while my partner scrambled the vertiginous summit block (been there, done that, wasn't keen on repeating it in AT boots).

By 1100 the sun had softened the face into perfect, creamy goodness and we enjoyed an amazing 2500' descent towards Woody Creek. Forty minutes of skinning and we were back at the col, and after waiting for a group of 5 to ascend, began our return to the car, getting some fun turns all the way to Lewis Lake before skinning back to Heather Pass. A mushy ride to Lake Ann and a bumpy ride through the forest had us back at Rainy Pass for beers by 1500.

P1 - Skinning above Lake Ann
P2 - Black Peak from Wing Lake
P3 - Descending the south face