Matt Duffy
New member
"The unique craggy summit towers set Citadel apart from its more-rounded neighbors, which were covered over and smoothed by Pleistocene glaciers. Citadel’s summit remained a tiny island above the ice and escaped this grinding fate." - Front Range Descents <BR> <BR>All season long, from many vantages on many days we've looked at this and wondered; wanting: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_wanting.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_wanting.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>There it is towering far in front of me; "Citadel", aka "Snoopy". If you take a good look from just the right angle, it looks like "that stupid beagle" laying on his back and snoozing on top of his house. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_s2.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_s2.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>Thanks to some fine research by Eric, this one is now ours. Snoopy's Collar. <BR> <BR>We hiked Dry Gulch for about an hour to get to the snow, taking our time surrounded by scenery out of a Tolkien story. <BR> <BR>In a green valley between the snowy mountains, we saw blooming wildflowers, evergreen trees and old avalanche debris. Gurgling streams one after another. Mud. Lush meadows of green. The contsant white noise soothing from a roaring brook nearby. Bright blue sky. Brilliant sun. Glistening snow sprawling from sharp peaks and ridgelines. Red rock colored white with ribbons and fields of backcountry dreams. For every run I've worked for this year I've seen fifty jewels surrounding it. <BR> <BR>We drove 15 minutes to the start of this hike. In the middle of June. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_aa.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_aa.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>The skinning lasted for who knows how long, I forget because it was a matter of essence, not time. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_up-4.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_up-4.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ac.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ac.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>All three of us had cameras and we exploited it with over 150 pictures. The best of those were considered and many that don't make it have high quality, show amazing alternative backcountry lines and are stored forever only for us to study. Maybe someday you'll see them when we ski some more of this stuff. <BR> <BR>After some change in the length of our shadows, we came upon a point from which skins were no longer useful. The snow ran out for awhile and so began the easy scramble over rocks, dirt, and grass. We saw evdidence of high country beasts all around as the only signs of life in what we perceived to be a utopian world. Our rock Garden of Eden. <BR> <BR>For ever often we stopped and smelled the roses - the million dollar views of nothing but pristine beauty off in every direction: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ad.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ad.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>Not far from there, we encountered a group of glissaders who'd bootpacked up our line and came down another side. They reported that the snow was quite good and our 40 degree chute was in prime condition to ski. We came upon the snow again, and were running hot with anticipation on the final aproach. Skirting along the Citadel, nearing the pre-fabricated boot ladder up Snoopy's Collar. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ae.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ae.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_af.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_af.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_up-9.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_up-9.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ag.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ag.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>We'd anticipated a challenging climb up the Collar, but having a pre-made set of steps to take made it a steep walk in the park. We sat up there beneath Snoopy's chin for a while, blown away by all that surrounded us near and far. When on the top of Snoopy's Collar for instance, you're at the top of two teasing couloirs on opposite sides of the mountain. Choices, choices... <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_top.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_top.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>We used to stare at this thing from afar with intense curiousity. Now we're on top of it basking in the sunshine on a gorgeous afternoon. A great day for skiing. We stayed there for a bit but before long the urge to ski was too much to resist. It was Eric who embarked first: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ba.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_ba.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_bb.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_bb.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_bc.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_bc.jpg</A> <BR> <BR> <BR>Next was Miriam: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_sa.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_sa.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_sb.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_sb.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_mc-1.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_mc-1.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_mc-3.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_mc-3.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>Then it was my turn: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_B-low_-_ma-1.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_B-low_-_ma-1.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_db.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_db.jpg</A> <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_ma-3.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_ma-3.jpg</A> <BR> <BR> <BR>Afterwards on the flats, having absolutely screamed down a slope of the smoothest creamiest snow possible; we sat and celebrated. Smoke 'em if you got 'em! Mir's altimeter registered the run at 980 vertical feet. Every inch of it was sheer perfection. Conquering a run like this after you've stared at it for months on end is a satisfying reward. Very, _very_ satisfying! <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_after.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/duphphy_-_after.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>For giggles and to return to Dry Gulch, we ascended to another ridge and skied down the other side. The snow wasn't bad here either 
<BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_trx.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_trx.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>From there we skied out on a very mellow pitch; the kind you just coast straight down with an ear to ear smile, a sense of accomplishment and a cool breeze in your face. The pitch became steep again after a while and the snow became a shrinking sliver of white that we skied to the max - about 500' vertical above our cars. Total vert skied was a little more than 2000 feet of corn. Not a bad tour for something so close to home. <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=""> <BR> <BR>At the bottom we indulged in some PBR's kept cool by the running mountain stream next to the parking area. <BR> <BR>Here's to whatever comes next... <BR> <BR>Cheers!
<BR> <BR><A HREF="http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_trx.jpg" TARGET="_top">http://back-pack.org/ninja/PM/uploads/images/b-low_-_trx.jpg</A> <BR> <BR>From there we skied out on a very mellow pitch; the kind you just coast straight down with an ear to ear smile, a sense of accomplishment and a cool breeze in your face. The pitch became steep again after a while and the snow became a shrinking sliver of white that we skied to the max - about 500' vertical above our cars. Total vert skied was a little more than 2000 feet of corn. Not a bad tour for something so close to home. <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=""> <BR> <BR>At the bottom we indulged in some PBR's kept cool by the running mountain stream next to the parking area. <BR> <BR>Here's to whatever comes next... <BR> <BR>Cheers!