Dream of White Turtles

Unfortunately the Turtle snowfield was more brown than white, but a fine ski was had anyway. Electing to join the mid-week escapees on this weekend-challenged month, Jim and I hiked the Comet Falls trail and had an unusually quick transition to skinning at about 5,300€™. A LONG, easy skin up the Van Trump €œglacier€ brought us to the foot of the Turtle at about 9,500€™. Jim elected to chill on the rocks and enjoy the mild overcast day, while I continued up to Camp Hazard, just shy of 11,000€™. The snow was in €œvariable€ summer condition, slurpee ice, patches of new snow, brown corn and crops of penitentes. Luckily all was soft! Surprisingly, we found one of our best descents of this spring, with soft snow over a firm base all the way down. I was able to ski a 5,600€™ run with one minor carry low down. The easy trail hike out with no other people around  was a fine ending to a long day. 7,300€™ of ascent, about 8 hours RT. Fun!