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http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20...ORTS/102140013
Davenport stands alone atop Maroon Peak
Ski descent 'intense'
By Jon Maletz
February 14, 2006
Print Email
Chris Davenport called his ascent and ski descent of Maroon Peak on Saturday "one of the most intense ski days of my life."
For the 35-year-old Snowmass resident, who has skied some of the world's most daunting peaks, that's saying something.
"It was painfully cold, windy and there were spindrift avalanches the entire trip," said Davenport, who set out this January to climb and ski all the state's fourteeners in one calendar year. "It took all I could to try and focus and make a good decision on where to ski."
Davenport, and local ski partners Frank Shine and Patrick Doyle, set out at 9:30 a.m. in below-zero temperatures. The group snowmobiled up Maroon Creek Road to the summer parking lot, then began skinning up to Crater Lake.
The conditions were so adverse that one member of the group, Doyle, turned back at 11,500 feet, fearing frostbite on his feet. Shine followed Davenport to the top of the Y Couloir, but decided against tackling the summit ridge, opting to stay put and film his friend skiing off the top.
Davenport had to go the last 1,000 vertical feet alone. The "painful cold" and energy he expended during a nearly 6 1/2-hour hike were weighing on him. And the most demanding part was yet to come.
It was a descent so daunting Davenport had not planned to attempt it until the spring, when conditions would seemingly be more favorable. But, because he was convinced about the quality of the snowpack after multiple trips into the Snowmass and Highlands backcountry, the peak became a possibility. As he stood on top of Highlands, a pair of binoculars in hand, Davenport found encouragement in the amount of snow covering the steep face. Two-thirds of the way up on Saturday, however, he was still not convinced a descent was possible.
"It wasn't until I got to the summit and looked down that I told myself I wouldn't have to climb back down," Davenport said. "I was really cold, suffering and tired, but I told myself this is what it's all about: Love it. Live it."
Davenport, a former world extreme skiing champion, admitted he was nervous as he huddled at the summit, shielding himself as gusts reached 30 mph. The feeling was magnified because he was alone, 14,156 feet above sea level. Davenport hung around just long enough to snap a few pictures and take a deep breath to clear his mind.
He dropped in.
"It was a committing and somewhat scary line," Davenport said. "It was the kind of descent where you didn't want to fall."
He made his way down the steep pitch slowly and deliberately, Davenport said. Nearly 1,400 feet later, he rejoined Shine. The two checked each other for frostbite, then exchanged high-fives.
The tension dissipated as the two arced wide turns down the Y Couloir. Seven miles and 4,600 vertical feet later, they made it back to their snowmobiles just in time to watch a full moon rise over Highlands Ridge, Davenport said. His first ski descent from the summit of Maroon Peak - and second on the mountain - was complete.
"It's been a long month, but I'm feeling really great," Davenport said. "Time's been flying by."
Time has been moving so rapidly that Davenport lost track of it Monday. He was sitting in the airport awaiting his flight to Canada for a film shoot when he learned his departure was scheduled for today.
The schedule will be no less hectic in the coming months. Davenport will spend the next week in Bella Coola, British Columbia, participating in a documentary about the history of big-mountain skiing. The film, which Peter Jennings Productions is producing, will capture the first-ever skiing footage using cable cams, the same technology used in Major League Baseball and the National Football League telecasts.
"I couldn't say no to the opportunity," Davenport said of his role in the film. "Conditions in Colorado are quite good. I'm gonna come back and hit it hard."
Davenport plans to have completed 20 of 54 peaks by the end of March. He has completed five to date. Track his progress at www.skithe14ers.com.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20...ORTS/102140013
Davenport stands alone atop Maroon Peak
Ski descent 'intense'
By Jon Maletz
February 14, 2006
Print Email
Chris Davenport called his ascent and ski descent of Maroon Peak on Saturday "one of the most intense ski days of my life."
For the 35-year-old Snowmass resident, who has skied some of the world's most daunting peaks, that's saying something.
"It was painfully cold, windy and there were spindrift avalanches the entire trip," said Davenport, who set out this January to climb and ski all the state's fourteeners in one calendar year. "It took all I could to try and focus and make a good decision on where to ski."
Davenport, and local ski partners Frank Shine and Patrick Doyle, set out at 9:30 a.m. in below-zero temperatures. The group snowmobiled up Maroon Creek Road to the summer parking lot, then began skinning up to Crater Lake.
The conditions were so adverse that one member of the group, Doyle, turned back at 11,500 feet, fearing frostbite on his feet. Shine followed Davenport to the top of the Y Couloir, but decided against tackling the summit ridge, opting to stay put and film his friend skiing off the top.
Davenport had to go the last 1,000 vertical feet alone. The "painful cold" and energy he expended during a nearly 6 1/2-hour hike were weighing on him. And the most demanding part was yet to come.
It was a descent so daunting Davenport had not planned to attempt it until the spring, when conditions would seemingly be more favorable. But, because he was convinced about the quality of the snowpack after multiple trips into the Snowmass and Highlands backcountry, the peak became a possibility. As he stood on top of Highlands, a pair of binoculars in hand, Davenport found encouragement in the amount of snow covering the steep face. Two-thirds of the way up on Saturday, however, he was still not convinced a descent was possible.
"It wasn't until I got to the summit and looked down that I told myself I wouldn't have to climb back down," Davenport said. "I was really cold, suffering and tired, but I told myself this is what it's all about: Love it. Live it."
Davenport, a former world extreme skiing champion, admitted he was nervous as he huddled at the summit, shielding himself as gusts reached 30 mph. The feeling was magnified because he was alone, 14,156 feet above sea level. Davenport hung around just long enough to snap a few pictures and take a deep breath to clear his mind.
He dropped in.
"It was a committing and somewhat scary line," Davenport said. "It was the kind of descent where you didn't want to fall."
He made his way down the steep pitch slowly and deliberately, Davenport said. Nearly 1,400 feet later, he rejoined Shine. The two checked each other for frostbite, then exchanged high-fives.
The tension dissipated as the two arced wide turns down the Y Couloir. Seven miles and 4,600 vertical feet later, they made it back to their snowmobiles just in time to watch a full moon rise over Highlands Ridge, Davenport said. His first ski descent from the summit of Maroon Peak - and second on the mountain - was complete.
"It's been a long month, but I'm feeling really great," Davenport said. "Time's been flying by."
Time has been moving so rapidly that Davenport lost track of it Monday. He was sitting in the airport awaiting his flight to Canada for a film shoot when he learned his departure was scheduled for today.
The schedule will be no less hectic in the coming months. Davenport will spend the next week in Bella Coola, British Columbia, participating in a documentary about the history of big-mountain skiing. The film, which Peter Jennings Productions is producing, will capture the first-ever skiing footage using cable cams, the same technology used in Major League Baseball and the National Football League telecasts.
"I couldn't say no to the opportunity," Davenport said of his role in the film. "Conditions in Colorado are quite good. I'm gonna come back and hit it hard."
Davenport plans to have completed 20 of 54 peaks by the end of March. He has completed five to date. Track his progress at www.skithe14ers.com.
