The Grand Traverse



The Grand Traverse



It feels like the summer lasted a long time, but really it is almost behind us. Maybe it was the broken finger that slowed it down. Well the finger is healed now and it is time to start thinking about riding. Only a few weeks ago in August I got about a thousand feet of vertical down the Ptarmigan Glacier in the Park.

Jacob shredding the ice

While I was at the Glacier was able to get a good photo of my tatoos

I am always thinking about backcountry snowboarding and even the summer can not detour me. Even the golf tournament I was in this summer had a ski for a putter on a hole, thanks Icelantic Boards for a great event.

Dan Fiore at the golf tourney!!

But this is all in the past, this last weekend is was one of the coolest things of the summer. So I have fell in love with this one mountain range in colorado, it is a awesome place. I have not seen an easy trail in this area and it is some rugged country. So because it is rugged and seems to get a lot of snow, I went to check out its ski potential. What better way to see a mountain range than to hike the whole thing. I convinced a friend of my initial plan, then a week down the road . . . I added more to the plan, a summit! Then about a week before the trip I decided to add the major ridge line in the range with many summits. This ambitious plan required us to hike at night for about 5-6-7 miles. With route finding in this range being difficult we were lucky not to get lost. We came to a trail divergence and needed to halt the night travel. Lucky for us it was with the most amazing view on a canyon overlook.

1st Camp



Water Purification



The View Saturday

The View on Saturday

Camp Second Night

  The next day we realized we did not make our goal distance and needed to make up ground. This was the most arduous day, with what I think to be about 16-18 miles. This day was started in the trees but ended at a beautiful alpine lake, below our route up to the ridge.  We passed three guys drinking Coors lights with classical music on one of the lower lakes, what a random scene. But these great gentlemen gave us two of those curs lights to share. It was rewarding after the long push to catch up.

The Climb to the Ridge

 Sunday was our push to the ridgeline. This involved a 2000 foot push up 45-50 degree scree. The exit had a few moves that were hairy and made the ridgeline very refreshing to obtain.

The Grand Traverse to Grand Taverse Peak

From here it was to the summit of our first 13000 foot peak, North Traverse Peak. After this summit was the Grand Traverse, a saw shaped ridge line visible from I-70. This requires some 3^rd class and if you get off route 4^th class climbing to complete.

Hiking/Climbing The Traverse

Looking Back along the Grand Traverse towards North Traverse Peak

Looking Back at the Grand Traverse from the lower saddle

 This was a very fun traverse with a few cool puzzles to solve. And it ends with a steep rocky summit on Grand Traverse Peak, another thirteener. My original plan was to take us a little further on the ridgeline, but with time we headed down to another alpine lake to camp our third and final night.

Last Camp on Sunday Night

 It was buses and rides to get back to our car, but a great trip and sick climb/traverse.  I also was able to see alot of awesome ski lines that have made me more excited about the up coming season.  I was putting together a winter tick list and it looks awesome, some a little scary.  Soon that will be around the corner with many adventures to come.