More really cool pics from Snowmass and Conundrum

I had to add more pics! Our friend Kim also took some pics, and they are included here. This was just so pretty with all the different colors. This was on the Snowmass trip. This is me on the ridge of snowmass just after we were coming down from the top. It was some fun climbing.

Almost at the bottom of this section!

I'm not sure if this is me or Shawn, but either way, it's a great side view of us sliding down the mountain!

We are almost done. One last break before getting back to the car. Here we are at the end. All three of us.

Now, we jump to Conundrum. This is a picture of where we camped out the night before. Shawn was happy he was able to build a fire.

Here I am taking the lead up the snow slope!

Here is Shawn almost at the top.

Kim and I on top of the ridge!

Just a little bit more up this ridge. This is Shawn and I.

Kim is an awesome yoga instructor! How cool is this? This is on the top of Conundrum with Castle in the background!

I'm a yoga wannabe, and she convinced me to do the tree pose!

Heading down.

The end! What a fun and challenging time!!

Conundrum Peak 14,060'

We just finished Snowmass mountain one day ago, and now, we are off to Condundrum peak! This is looking above from where we started. Since the bridge below (just below center). That is where we started. There is a 4WD road that goes all the way to 12,800'. But that would be cheating - plus, you really risk damaging your car. There are some good areas, and really not so good areas.

Pretty waterfalls!

Apparently another 4wd road starts here.

Road hiking is not very excited.

Now the good stuff. See the trail in the snow. That is where we are going. There is sink hole/lake below. So, we need to stay clear of that.

This is Castle Peak. We did this one a few years ago.

So, here we go. Kim and I are on our way. See us on the snow trail....

This is looking down what we just came up from the top.

Here is the rocky ridge we still have to go up to get to Conundrum.

Castle Peak again.

Views from the top!

Here we are!!

Castle Peak in the background.

Heading back. This is the one river crossing we had to make.

Until next time!

Snowmass Mountain 14,092'

Well, it has been a few weeks since our last hike. We had some rainy weather, and that means no hiking... No worries, we had a great 3 day excursion and were able to get 2 more peaks. The first Snowmass! Here it is in the distance.This is about 4 miles in. Total trip is about 16-20 miles.

Another angle with the trail on the left.

A porcupine!! How cool! I have never seen one before. He seemed to be pacing and wondering how he got there. He was on a log in the middle of this creek just going back and forth.

This is the infamous log jam that you have to cross to stay on the trail. I did it in 5 minutes! I was very happy about that because I heard it took some folks 20 minutes. I thought it was fun!

Here I am on the other side waiting for Shawn and our friend Kim.

You can't read this sign very well from the picture. There is a junction here. We are heading towards Snowmass lake.

A pretty waterfall just before we get to Snowmass lake.

There is snowmass lake just ahead after 8 miles in. We are at 11,000 feet. We started at ~8,000 feet.

Gorgeous!!

Another view. We have to go around this lake on the left, and head straight up those rocks (center of pic) and into the snow field. Snowmass mountain is actually the middle peak of the 3 peaks on the right They don't look as high as the one on the left, but that's just because it is farther away. We still have like 8 miles to go.

Here we are at the lake!

And another one.

Here is a pic of Hagerman peak. The one in the other pictures too. Anyway, here we are as we start our hike around the lake. It was not fun. Lots of willows in the way. See the willows they look like dead branches.

This is right after the boulder field. It was a little muddy here before we got to the snow field.

Here I am at the top before the snow field. You can see Snowmass Lake below us. It is so pretty. Lots of people actually ride horses to the lake.

A view of the snow that we are hiking up. We used our ice axes and crampons. This is a permanent snow field.

Here is a picture of the famous Maroon Bells near Aspen. We have to climb these too eventually.

Snowmass mountain just right of center.

Looking around while hiking.

Another view of snowmass lake from higher up, and Kim making her way.

Almost there. We are going up the snow on the left. Then, we'll have to climb the rest of the way on the ridge.

Views from the top!! Snowmass lake again.

Here we are at the top! You can see it's kind of rocky. I think that rock at top is cool!

Here is a picture of Capitol Peak. We were going to try and do this one too on this trip, but the snow conditions were not what we needed in order to go over the pass.

Now, we get to make some time and slide down!!! Woo hoo!!!

See the person sliding down... I think this is me.

We couldn't slide entirely down, but I'll take what I can get!

The End! Snowmass Mountain complete. Kim did a trip report if you want to check out.

http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=8234&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include

We did stay the night at Snowmass lake, slept in, and hiked back out the next day. Since we couldn't do Capitol, we plan to do Conundrum the following day. Be sure to check out those pics too!