Torreys

6/25/2009:

Access from Fort Collins, CO:

CO 14 East

I-25 South

I-76 West

I-70 West to Exit 221

Stevens Gulch Road South to Grays Peak Trailhead (requires high clearance)

Drive Time: 1:47

David Holmberg, Evan Blumberg and I hiked up the Grays Peak Trail, then hiked cross-country a short distance to the base of Dead Dog Couloir.  We climbed the couloir and found a ski belonging to the infamous Mrwaffles989 just below the summit of Torreys Peak. We were able to ski from the summit into Dead Dog Couloir. The slope angle of this variation of the route is 47 degrees. As we got lower in the couloir, the quality of the snow decreased including a large runnel and many rocks near the apron of the couloir.

Skied Elevation: ~1800’

We then hiked up Kelso Mountain where staying true to the south ridge requires 3rd class scrambling. Kelso provided us good views of Grays and Torreys and we could also see the poor condition of Kelso’s north couloir. We drove back to Fort Collins, where I met up with a group to do a night hike of Joe Mills Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park where poor weather did not prevent us from having a good time.

Dead Dog Couloir with the Summit Variation