Castle, Conundrum

Started at 6:48 am. Mostly solo, but spent some time with Kevin B, Ken N, Jean A, and Terri H on and between the summits.

From the gate at the Ashcroft ski area, skied (NNN) up the Castle Creek road to around 12,800'. Felt pretty slow/tired for most of the approach. Pretty sure I would have been faster on foot carrying the skis.

Stashed the skis, then up the headwall to the NE Ridge of Castle. Only stopped for a few photos on the summit before continuing on to Conundrum, where I caught up to the gang. Hung out on Conundrum for a bit with Kevin, then headed back over Castle.

Hung out there for a bit with the gang, then boogied to try to get home before the girls were asleep (traffic was super-light, so I made it). Made good time back down to the skis. Used the skis for just a couple minutes, then stowed them on the pack from 12,800' down to about 11,400'. Much faster and less tiring for me that way (the track was narrow, very firm, off-camber, occasionally rocky, etc). Once below the Pearl Pass junction, lots of snowplowing, occasionally letting the skis run, until back to the "flats".

0:00 - gate at Ashcroft ski area
37:18 - Cooper Creek junction
2:15:39 - Pearl Pass road junction
3:36:32 - stashing skis around 12,800'
4:47:25 - Castle summit
5:10:51 - Conundrum summit
5:32:05 - started back over to Castle
6:03:49 - Castle summit
6:25:18 - started down
6:52:46 - back at the skis
8:23:20 - Cooper Creek junction
8:47:52 - gate at Ashcroft