We were reminded that every Sunday should be spent the way we spent this past Sunday. Our small Vail crew (me, Kristine, J, and Mikey) met up with a Denver team with whom we have been in touch for years but have actually never gotten out in the mountains together. Kristine & I had met Brian Miller before years ago as well as Dillon Sarnelli last fall in the Gores on Mt. Valhalla, but we all met Ben Conners, David Yarian, & Rick Thompson for the first time. It was a stellar crew and everyone got along very well. These guys have an awesome website/blog going of their adventures in the Rockies, of which I am a subscriber, so check them out at Explore The Rockies. Ben suggested the 13er Homestake Peak near Tennessee Pass, which none of us had been up, so we were definitely on board and given the bluebird forecast it was to be a great day up high. The roundtrip length was around 11 miles and 3,200′ of vertical gain, so not all too long especially on skis. Poor Dillon was the lonesome fellow on snowshoes but he sure can move.

Skinning into the 10th Mountain Hut with Homestake Peak looming above. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

J, Kristine, & Mikey skinning in open meadows to gain Homestake’s gentle east ridge. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

On the east ridge looking west at the Tenmile Range and Ski Cooper

Left to right: Me, Kristine, David, & Ben. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

Ben skinning the steepest portion of the east ridge

Mikey skinning high on the east ridge

To the summit – J is visible on top. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

I’ve never seen this perspective of Mt. Massive & Mt. Elbert to the south before

Once we got up on the east ridge, the wind came in bursts and was fairly stiff, but fortunately it wasn’t sustained. The summit was pretty chilly with the wind but the views were gorgeous of the Gores & Holy Cross Wilderness to the north, the Tenmile Range to the east, the Sawatch Range 14ers to the south, and the Elks to the southwest.

Summit views to the southwest and Elk Range near Aspen. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

Homestake Peak summit marker

Our awesome crew on the summit of Homestake Peak (13,209′)

Kristine, J, & Mikey on the summit of Homestake Peak (13,209′)

The ski down the east ridge was pretty wind-scoured sastrugi, but there were pockets of softer recycled powder to be harvested. One thing about this Denver crew is that they can rip on skis. Brian charged down a northeast facing slope to the basin below and so we all followed. It was actually pretty darn good powder. Much better than expected. The slope was only around 25 degrees so avalanche concerns were minimal. It was a fun ski for sure and am glad we just didn’t keep meandering down the gentle east ridge to treeline.

Our crew on the descent of the east ridge. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

Rick making variable conditions look like butter. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

Kristine on the descent. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

J entering the fun northeast slope down to the basin below

Kristine & I and the really fun slope we skied down from the east ridge behind

A perk of skinning in and climbing Homestake from the east near Tennessee Pass was that we got to visit the 10th Mountain Hut on the way out, one of the few huts we had yet to visit. We all met up back on the deck of the hut and enjoyed the sun and the views and some snacks and sandwiches. We then were able to stay fairly high on the small ridge and ski most of the way out back to the cars down one of the packed down winter approaches to the hut. We all actually expected the trip would take us longer than the 6 hours or so it did roundtrip, but no complaints here. It was a great way to spend a Sunday and we all look forward to getting out together again soon.

Relaxing back on the deck of the 10th Mountain Hut. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

The 10th Mountain Hut and Homestake Peak. Photo by Dillon Sarnelli

Homestake Peak from the 10th Mtn Hut

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