It’s getting to be about time to hang up the planks.
With the spring snowpack winding down and summer on the doorstep, it was time to make the annual pilgrimage to the north side of Torreys Peak. For about a decade now a group of us have ended our ski season here with a 3,000 ft corn run down either “The Emperor” or the Tuning Fork (or even both of them some years) capped off by a BBQ in the sun. It’s become somewhat of a tradition of sorts, and one that doesn’t seem to be in danger of falling by the wayside anytime soon.
And as such we once again found ourselves on the familiar approach up the Grizzly Gulch Road, hopeful to ski The Emperor as with a smooth snow surface and good coverage, it’s hands down the better of the two lines.
On the up.
One nice thing about skiing The Emperor this time of year is that there’s almost always a booter up the entirety of the line. It’s a long climb, but a direct and expedient one. We hit the summit around 10am and hung out for awhile as the day was nearly windless and the upper part of the route still had some softening to do.
Brian topping out with Bakerville and Grizzly Gulch behind. Gotta love springtime in the Rockies.
Torreys summit (14,267 ft) looking west towards Grizzly Peak and the southern-Gore.
Soon enough it was time to turn em around and drop in. Snow conditions and quality were perfect, one of the better runs I’ve ever had down The Emperor and I think the other guys would agree.
Alex Henes enjoying good corn up high.
Brian pretty much only thinking about beer and burgers at this point, I suspect.
Wrapping things up on day 75 for me. Not too shabby. Photo by Alex.
Other Ben lower down.
A look back at the line, the toe of which extended all the way down to the creek.
And last but not least, the Grizzly Gulch apres.
Another year, another fine sendoff to ski season in the style we’ve come to love. Never gets old.
And with that it’s onto June race season with the Dirty 30 first up on the docket. Should be a hot and tough kick in the nuts, as always.
Cheers 🙂
“Never gets old”.
It sure doesn’t.
And I don’t know that it ever will.