I have been wanting to climbing the awesome Peak C in the Gore Range as a snow climb and thought w/ the early snow this year in the high country, it may be a good climb. So, I hiked up Meadow Mtn near Vail to get a glimpse of it and neighboring Mt. Powell this past Friday and sure enough looked like its prominent southwest couloir should be a good snow climb.
Peak C and its southwest couloir on the approach up the Piney River Valley
Along with my good friends Ryan (Baba), Mikey, and my golden retriever, Rainier, I set out this past Saturday morning at 7:30am from Piney Lake and had a spectacular climb of Peak C. We followed the Piney River trail for 3 miles to the base of Mt. Powell & Peak C and beared right towards upper Piney Lake. I knew we needed to get to the upper tarn filled basin at 11,400‘ below Peak C‘s southwest couloir, and so we took a left off the trail and bushwacked and climbed spines of rock and gullies for over 1000‘ from the valley floor until we reached the snow filled tarn basin.
Piney Lake as seen from almost to the tarn filled basin below Peak C’s southwest couloir
So, we put on our plastic boots, crampons, and got our axes out and traversed across the tarn filled basin to the southwest couloir.
Peak C’s southwest couloir as seen from the crest of the tarn filled basin
Then, we climbed the 1000‘-1200‘ couloir, which was a great snow climb – better than I expected.
Baba & Rainier entering the couloir proper
The boys making their way up
A good snow climb
Looking down the southwest couloir from the very small notch at the top of the couloir between Peak C and Peak C Prime
Then, we left our axes and crampons at the small notch and took a left and climbed 30‘ of fun class 4 rock to start Peak C‘s south ridge.
The class 4 rock we climbed to gain the south ridge above the notch
Baba climbing the class 4 headwall above the notch
The gnarly Peak C Prime as seen from Peak C‘s south ridge
Then, we climbed the very exciting class 2-3 south ridge all the way to peak C‘s summit.
Mikey on the south ridge
Mikey downclimbing a section on the south ridge
Baba on Peak C’s south ridge
At about 12:30pm on a beautiful Saturday, we reached Peak C‘s summit.
Me & Rainier on Peak C’s summit w/ Mt. Powell in the background
Peak C summit (13,220′)
Rainier on Peak C’s summit w/ Vail and Holy Cross in the distance
Vail Mountain from Peak C’s summit
Me on Peak C’s summit on a stunning November day
We were getting cold and the wind was picking up, so we descended the south ridge.
Me downclimbing the class 4 section to the notch at the top of the southwest couloir w/ Mikey and Rainier below
Me plunge-stepping my way down the southwest couloir
Once at the bottom of the southwest couloir, we snacked and had a great bask in the sun and enjoyed the view for 30 minutes. Then, we packed up and headed out.
Rainier, Baba, & Mikey crossing the tarn filled basin
Then, after bushwhacking and finding our route back down to the valley floor and Piney River, we made our way leisurely back to Piney Lake and the trailhead at about 5pm. All in all about 9.5 hrs roundtrip and a fantastic day out on a great, seldom-climbed peak!
One last look at Peak C and its southwest couloir from Piney Lake. The south ridge heads up and to the left from the top of the southwest couloir all the way to Peak C‘s summit
Baba, me, & Rainier
Thanks to Rainier, Mikey, & Baba for a great day out in the Gore Range!
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