Summer Snow

I was too optimistic. I thought a low 13er might be mostly clear of snow, but I guessed wrong. We attempted Whale Peak on Sunday with our friend Andi and her two canines, Ezra and Bella. But it was not to be...threatening clouds along with huge cornices on our approach ridge waylaid us. It's been so stormy this spring, that clouds formed by 10am.  All the snow is great for the water supply, I hear it's at 200% snowpack!  What a wet year, soooo nice for Colorado. 

On another note, I think a winter mountaineering class is in our future for next year. It's long been on my short list - playing with crampons and ice axes and learning how to be safe on mountains in the winter sounds actually very fun to me.  I'm sure it'll cost us $1000, it seems every new outdoor activity in Colorado has an entry fee of a grand. But it's always well worth it. 

Pictures from our hike:

Bella exploring, Whale Peak peeking out behind.

Andi and Tom with Ezra. Lots of snow up high. 

Gibson Lake with very cool icicles, our approach ridge to Whale Peak is the very snowy one on the right.