There is a couloir you can see from almost any point in Colorado Springs that is simply massive and long that I have wanted to climb since I moved here in 2004. Well, yesterday was the day it happened. I am still sans a serious camera, so all the following images were taken with my little point and shoot. More can be seen on my flickr account. Any comments/critiques/criticisms welcome. Thanks and Happy Easter.
Posted by John Mumaw on April 11, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Real nice record of your ascent.
You've got a good eye for composition (esp. #'s 2 & 4) that lifts these far above typical record snapshots. B&W was a good choice, too.
Did you need any special equipment to complete this ascent?
I really appreciate your comments...thanks for taking the time to look and comment. As far as equipment, we brought the standard mountaineering stuff. Since we had never been in this area on Pikes Peak before, we were prepared to run into some nasty stuff. We had crampons, rope, harnesses, ice axes, etc. It was a rewarding day. Thanks again.
Congrats on your BIG endeavor and achievement. The climbing shots are outstanding, especially considering you had your "hands full" with other tasks. The first really shows the vertical and "boot path" is just too cool. Oh, and crazy snow is awesome.
Thanks for looking and commenting...I appreciate it. There were definitely times when I compromised my safety to get a shot...probably not the smartest thing to do, but I survived! Thanks again.
Posted by Todd Caudle on April 11, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Really nice stuff! Can you post a typical view of Pikes and point out this couloir? That way we'll think of your adventure everytime we look at it.
Posted by Scott Borger on April 11, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Nice pictures. Did you wear crampons? (from the pictures, it looks like you didn't, or didn't have anti-bots on them). What would you estimate the ascent angle range to be? Also, when looking at that first picture that you posted, which couloir is it? I'm seeing 4 of them. Do you know the name of it?
Thanks for looking and commenting. No, we never wore crampons but we had them with us. The snow was soft enough to where we never felt like we really needed to put them on. Even in the steeper sections of the couloir, which were never steeper than 40 degrees, we were able to kick step and feel safe nearly the entire time. The couloir we climbed isn't actually pictured in the first image, which I forgot to mention...I posted that shot because it was one of my favorite landscape shots from the trip. Thanks again for commenting.
Discussion
14 repliesYou've got a good eye for composition (esp. #'s 2 & 4) that lifts these far above typical record snapshots. B&W was a good choice, too.
Did you need any special equipment to complete this ascent?
I really appreciate your comments...thanks for taking the time to look and comment. As far as equipment, we brought the standard mountaineering stuff. Since we had never been in this area on Pikes Peak before, we were prepared to run into some nasty stuff. We had crampons, rope, harnesses, ice axes, etc. It was a rewarding day. Thanks again.
Thanks for looking and commenting...I appreciate it. There were definitely times when I compromised my safety to get a shot...probably not the smartest thing to do, but I survived! Thanks again.
Thanks for looking and commenting. No, we never wore crampons but we had them with us. The snow was soft enough to where we never felt like we really needed to put them on. Even in the steeper sections of the couloir, which were never steeper than 40 degrees, we were able to kick step and feel safe nearly the entire time. The couloir we climbed isn't actually pictured in the first image, which I forgot to mention...I posted that shot because it was one of my favorite landscape shots from the trip. Thanks again for commenting.
Thanks for looking and commenting!