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Bikes piled up against the wall of the Tiki Bar at the Dillon Marina. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer season, didn’t disappoint this year, as sunny skies and warm temperatures lured residents and visitors outside to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Up high, mountaineer Stan Wagon reported on some good clean fun in the dirty spring snow that’s been discolored by desert dust. And in the valleys, local campground were full and boaters took to the waters of Dillon Reservoir, which is completely full. Enjoy the Summit Voice Memorial Day photoblog, beginning with Wagon’s ski adventures near the Eisenhower Tunnel at the Continental Divide. If you have some pictures of the holiday weekend you’d like to share, send them to bberwyn@comcast.net and we’ll add them to the post.
Chet Roe skiing on Coon Hill, northwest of the west portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel. PHOTO BY STAN WAGON.
More photos, and Stan’s report from the backcountry, after the break ...
A few years ago, from the summit of Buffalo, I spotted a nice west-facing line heading west from Pettingell, the large peak at the head of Herman Gulch, just east of the tunnel. On Friday, Kim McGranahan and I tried to find it, but ended up skiing a more north-facing line on the back side of the continental divide separating Pettingell from the Citadel (known locally as Snoopy, because of how it looks from A-Basin). Despite the hot weather, the route was frozen quite solid, but we skied down and then began the long trek back, around the west side of Hagar. All these peaks are easily attainable from either Dry Creek or Herman Gulch.
Sunday: On Friday we spotted a nice line on Coon Hill, a peak just northwest of the west portal of the tunnel, so on Sunday Chet Roe and I made the easy climb and had a fine descent of this northeast-facing couloir. This one caught the early sun, and so was nicely soft for a smooth descent.
More photos and trip report at Stan’s website: www.stanwagon.com.
Chet Roe works the steeps in the Summit County backcountry. PHOTO BY STAN WAGON.
A classic line, with tracks visible in the gully right of center. PHOTO BY STAN WAGON.
Plenty of snow for fine backcountry skiing on this big peak near the Eisenhower Tunnel. PHOTO BY STAN WAGON.
Kim Mcgranahan works her way over a small cornice between Pettingell Peak and the Citadel (known locally as Snoopy, because of how it looks from A-Basin). PHOTO BY STAN WAGON.
And while Stan was enjoying the high country, boaters, cyclists and campers thronged the shores of Dillon Reservoir for some holiday R&R.
Steady winds Sunday were perfect for for sailing on Dillon Reservoir.
Fishin'
Dogs, sticks and water. What could be better?
A fine picnic spot along the shore of Dillon Reservoir.
Filed under: Dillon Reservoir, photography, seasons, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | backcountry skiing, Dillon Reservoir, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, Summit County skiing
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