Mount Sneffels
Mount Sneffels - Summit Ski Descent
Distance: 12.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,100'
Date: 4/22/2006
Partners: Chelsea Morgan & John Minier
Access from Ouray, Colorado:
US-550 south
Camp Bird Mine Road (Ouray County #361) to snow closure (9,300')
Chelsea Morgan, John Minier and I hiked/skinned up Camp Bird Mine Road into Yankee Boy Basin to the base of Mount Sneffels. We took off our skis and put on our crampons and ascended Sneffels‘ South Face "Birthday Chutes" to the summit.
"Birthday Chutes". Photo: Chelsea Morgan. Annotation: Brian Kalet
Climbing the "Birthday Chutes". Climber: Chelsea Morgan. Photo: John Minier.
We hung out on the summit waiting for ideal snow conditions, but got impatient due to high winds. We descended the firm, steep "Birthday Chutes" into Yankee Boy Basin. This is rated as a II D13 R4 on the D Scale. In Yankee Boy Basin, the snow was much softer.
Skiing the "Birthday Chutes". Skier: Brian Kalet. Photo: Chelsea Morgan.
Annotated Map