"Atlantic Peak" Skiing 5/12/2013

We got a later start than intended from the winter trailhead and began by slogging up the unplowed McCullough Gulch Road. This adds about 4 miles and 350' to the round trip up Atlantic, for a total of around 10.5 miles and 3000-3100' of climbing. Shortly after leaving the summer TH, we began skinning below Quandary's impressive north face. This face usually does not hold much snow, but this year it's FAT. Some couloirs on the lower north face.

More couloirs higher on Quandary's north face.

Vela skinning out of lower McCullough Gulch.

We begin to approach Atlantic's SE face. We ascended the wide slope between rocks on the far looker's right end of the face, then skied a hidden couloir called Atlantis that's just to the right of the obvious Y shaped line in the center of the face. Despite our late start, a cooling breeze and high clouds cooperated with us to keep the snow on the face relatively cool.

Fletcher Mountain's impressive and steep NE face.

About halfway up our climb, we found this cool rock pinnacle.

The SW face of Pacific Peak. The amount of snow on every high elevation aspect right now is incredible.

Vela peeling skins on Atlantic's flat summit.

We skied the mellow upper slopes right off Atlantic's summit, then dropped in to the Atlantis Couloir. I skied first and found smooth, soft snow. The first turn was fairly steep in the lower 40 degree range, then quickly mellowed to a fun 38-40 degrees. The snow had perhaps softened a bit past prime, but not yet too soft to the point where it was dangerous. Here's Vela exiting the couloir.

Me at the bottom of the couloir.

Me in the apron below the couloir. The bottom part of our line can be seen angling up and right, but the top 2/3 is hidden.

Bonus turns in lower McCullough Gulch. By this time, the snow at the lower elevations was very wet and sticky.

A look back at our line while slogging out the McCullough Gulch. The sticky snow made it feel like we were skinning downhill.

A look back at the beautiful McCullough Gulch. Great ski.