| South East Face/Gully Route |
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| South East Face/Gully   | 
| Page Type: Route Route Type: Skiing Season: Spring Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: 50 degree snow
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| Page By: Primomo Created/Edited: Mar 27, 2008 / Mar 27, 2008 Object ID: 391717 Hits: 767 Loading... Page Score: 0% - 0 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewThe South East Face of Spread Eagle Peak looms above the town of Westcliff, CO. On a good year the face will fill with snow directly from the summit. There are two main lines on the face, the lookers right branch looked about 45 degrees and leads to within 200 vertical ft. of the summit. The lookers left branch is the directissima, at 50 degrees, and leads directly to the summit. This is a big day with about 5000 vertical ft. of rise, and about 4000 vertical ft. of continuous descent. In my view, this is the perfect ski descent: Direct line off a summit, big vertical with a sustained steep face, a long and sinuous natural halfpipe down low, sick views, and a remote setting.
Getting ThereDrive W out of the town of Westcliff toward Hermit Pass. Your starting elevation and location will depend upon the snowline. If it is low, park at the Hermit Pass rd. and skin on that until an elevation of 9400 ft., then contour your way to North Taylor Creek, and the road on its N side.
Route DescriptionFollow the North Taylor Creek Road, that turns into a trail, until coming to the obvious clearing that is the Spread Eagles SE facing avalanche path runout. Skin directly up it if conditions allow, and climb directly up the face. Evaluate the snow pack conditions as you go, and be aware that what lies 2500 ft. above you will probably be different than what you are seeing down low. Wait for a good Melt Freeze cycle, and keep track of the snow and wind events.
Essential GearBeacon Probe Shovel, Crampons, Ice Axe, Helmet
External Linkshttp://avalanche.state.co.us/
www.fireweather.info
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Colorado/colorado.html Images
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Sangre de Cristo Mountains
