[Shred]

This is my first attempt at a trip report, so bare with me... With cold clear conditions and a stable snowpack, Trevor and I threw around many ideas. Some over ambitious, some downright dumb, but came to the consensus that logistically Monte Cristo and the Glacier Basin area would suscitate our urges for adventure. And with that we headed up the old mountain loop highway at the crack o' 1:30 p.m.. After a nice leisurely road skin into the town site of Monte Cristo, we set up camp and settled in for a star filled evening. In the morning, after laying about camp and waiting for the sun to warm our blood, we struck off to find something suitable to ski. Our first ambitions were not to be, due to low coverage and tortuous conditions. So we skinned up Mystery Hill and past the old mine sites. Gazing into the Glacier Basin, we looked around like children in a candy store, so many flavors, so indecisive. Of course We had to pick the biggest bang for our buck. And Cadet Peak it was. With our spirits high, we skied down into the Basin and headed up the lower prominent gully. Avy debris pepper was abundant, but the boot packing easy. Once above, we traversed below a cliff system to gain entry into the upper west facing gully.

Boot packing

The snow here was much more softer and unconsolidated, boot packing was laborious with thigh high wading. But, with a strong partner to share trailbreaking, we made short work of it and were soon sitting at the short little summit block.With a fun ice uncrusted scramble, we were on top and very stoked!

Trevor scrambling remaining 20'

Sloan

After hanging around for a bit, enjoying the amazing place that we had found ourselves, it came time to enjoy the free ride back down to camp.

Trevor ready

Sliding down the upper slopes into the upper gully was quit delicious, with the snow bathed in Alpenglow. The gully skied great, with a little sluff management.

Trevor drops in

After the apron, we retraced our foot steps back into the lower gully entrance.

And skied out to the likes of a setting sun.

Ride into the sunset

[Jim Dockery]

I'm glad to be the first to congratulate you on your first TR man! Great work on the climbing, skiing, and esp. photos! Thanks for the stoke, wish I coulda been there

[Magellan]

That is a nice first report. Great stuff!

[b00]

:>)

[Pikawhisperer]

[peltoms]

Quite a trip, I would love to see some lower elevation pics too

[silence]

this is sweet .. your writing and pix are awesome ... plez don't be shy anymore

[ragman and rodman]

[Jason Hummel]

Awesome. Reminds me of some friends and my trip to ski that. We had alpenglow as well. Thanks for the images and the trip down memory lane. I loved that gully too.

[n16ht5]

nasty

[Shred]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Ragman and Rodman, if memory serves me correctly, you guys turned me on to this site. Thanks a bunch!

[Schroder]

awesome trip, Jeff

[dicey]

Way to take advantage of the weather window! Nice first report, btw.

[cartman]

Nice pics, Shred. Trevor, you keep getting out like this and I won't be able to keep up with you even on good days.

[Dayhike Mike]

Sweet pics. Looks like you guys had a really good time. Great work on the first trip report. Looking forward to more in the future...