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Loveland Ski Area

 

Colorado

 

February 18, 2007

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Right:  Colorado 14er Mt. of the Holy Cross (high peak left of center)

     We went back to our hotel in Georgetown and watched the weather.  It wasn't looking good.  60 mph winds and snow predicted.  Could we have climbed the mountain on Monday?  Yes, but would it be worth it with the high winds and no view?  NO.  We decided to pack up and head home.  Jackie and Alan left about an hour before us at 5:30 a.m. and Raman and I left at about 6:30 a.m.  Cruising straight through Colorado with only 2 short stops and a shortcut through Boys Ranch,  we caught up with Jackie and Alan just in time for a late lunch in Amarillo at Henk's Barbeque.  Good stuff.  Maybe we'll have better luck next time with the weather. 

Mt. of the Holy Cross (left) and Buffalo Mountain (right) from Loveland Ski Area

 

Left:  Me with the Colorado 14ers of Grays and Torreys in the background.  Grizzly Peak is the lower summit just below Grays (the high peak on the right behind me, the one we were supposed to climb).  Grays and Torreys are the only 14ers directly on the Continental Divide. 

Barry and Raman on the Continental Divide at Loveland Ski Area Colorado

 

Above:  Raman, Jackie, and Alan at the top of the highest lift in America.

Right:  Raman and I on the Continental Divide at Loveland with the Gore Range behind us to the left. 

 

     We arrived at Loveland around 8:30 a.m. from our motel room in Georgetown, CO and lo and behold Loveland Pass was now open.  O well, maybe we'll just ski today and then climb the mountain tomorrow.  The snow was great and we had a good time skiing.  Views from the highest lift (12,700 ft.) in North America were awesome.  Right on the Continental Divide.  We could see the 14ers Grays, Torreys, and Mt. of the Holy Cross.  Good views of the awesome Gore Range were also in view.  It was quite windy up high but down on the lower slopes it wasn't that bad. 

 

Raman, Jackie, and Alan at Loveland Ski Area Colorado

  

  

    

     As night fell on Colorado, Loveland Pass was still closed and Alan and Jackie, members of our climbing group for the last 4 winter trips, had 2 Loveland Ski Area lift tickets worth $90 that they weren't able to use on Saturday because of the road closures.  Since Loveland Pass was closed and we couldn't climb the peak anyway, Raman and I decided to ski Loveland with Jackie and Alan on Sunday. 

    

Barry at Loveland Ski Area Colorado with Grays and Torreys peaks in the background

Loveland Ski Area

Failed attempt at Grizzly Peak    

     This years winter climbing trip was supposed to be a climb of Grizzly Peak (13,427ft.) on the Continental Divide near the more famous 14ers, Grays and Torreys peaks.  The trailhead unfortunately for us was Loveland Pass.  3 straight days of heavy snow in the Colorado mountains closed off the high passes near Denver on Saturday, the day before our climb.  All of the passes were open by Saturday afternoon with the EXCEPTION OF LOVELAND PASS!!