Peak(s):	Peak 10 - 13,633 feet Peak 9 - 13,195 feet
Date Posted:	04/15/2013
Modified:	09/22/2013
Date Climbed:	04/13/2013
Author:	SnowAlien
Additional Members:	BKS

Skiing Peaks 10 and 9 in the Tenmile range
Powered by Bacon Crew: nkan02, Michael and BKS (Brian) Stats: elev. gain 2,800+, mileage: 6.4, time: 4 hr 50 min, max speed: 28 mph (yay!) TH: Backcountry access gate near the top of Mercury Chair Lift (~11,500 ft) The weekend of April 13-14 was the Breck's closing weekend for the 12/13 season. So I thought it would be neat to use the chairlifts to get as close to Peaks 10 and 9 as possible. Three of us met at the bottom of Beaver Run chairlift at 8.30am and rode to the "top" of Peak 9. The uphill access from there was not available, so we skied down to catch the Mercury chairlift. Once again at the top of Peak 9, we discovered to our chagrin, that the backcountry access gate was still closed. So we did another run under Chair E. By the time we rode the chairlift back up, the patrol had finally dropped the rope. Woo-hoo. We regrouped and started skinning the road by 9.30am. Skinning the road. Peak 10 is seen in the background About 15 minutes later we reached the resort area boundary. From there, we were on our own Approaching Peak 10 We made a good progress to the bottom of Peak 10. Michael shared his stash of bacon with us, and it greatly boosted our morale on a very windy day. Peaks 9 and 8 as seen from the switchbacks on Peak 10 The road is pretty obvious, so we skinned up the road to the top of the ridge, to the radio towers. It was fun to see the backcountry stickers slapped on the side of the shack. Here we tried to decide if we should 1) leave the skis by the radio towers and if not, should we 2) boot up of 3) skin up. All three of us chose a different scenario - Michael was comfortable skinning, me booting up and Brian decided to leave his skis on the saddle. Michael is getting ready to skin up Going up the last 300 feet was a struggle as on the ridge the wind really picked up. Fighting through the remaining 300 feet to the summit Brian and I near the summit We got to the summit around noon and would have enjoyed the views so much more if it were not for the wind. Brian and Michael me & Kikus Crystal from the summit of Peak 10 Still, we were all very excited about the ski descent. Brian and Michael headed back to the saddle, while I spied a nice line almost from the summit on the skier's left. I downclimbed some rocks, which was a challenge in strong winds and while carrying skis and poles in my hands. Downclimbing some rocks just off the summit to the start of the ski descent line I was able to make a turn or two before I had to navigate through the final rock band, and I was pleased to find snow in good condition and the slope not exceeding 35 degrees. The upper small snowfield with the final band of rocks below. I could see traces of prior boot/ski tracks Early turns just below the rock band More fun turns I dropped in and enjoyed about 800 feet of great skiing in the 4th of July bowl, all while keeping an eye on Michael and Brian who started their respective ski descents from the radio towers. Brian was able to traverse closer to my tracks and soon we were joined at the bottom of the bowl. Michael and Brian skiing The weather was rapidly turning south at this point, so it was a decision time - do we go for Peak 9 in deteriorating conditions or shall we call it a day? The vote was unanimous - let's give it a try. So we started heading up Peak 9 as fast as we could, but winds were slowing down our progress. Brian putting skis on his pack en route to Peak 9 Michael is braving the wind Michael booting up near the top of the ridge More free bacon on the summit ensued Getting ready to ski We didn't waste any time (except for a few photos and another bite of bacon) and quickly made the transition to the ski mode. Summit ski was in. Brian and I skiing off the summit Natalie skiing. Peak 8 and Lake Chutes are in the background The low angle northeast-facing gully proved to hold the best powder of the day. In addition, it was protected by the ridge, which stopped the wind. Michael enjoying the powder By the time we got down to the bottom of the gully, we were greedy for more snow like that. We noticed that Imperial Chair on Peak 8 was no longer running (likely shut down due to high winds), so we became enthusiastic about Michael's idea to head over to Peak 8 via the saddle with Peak 9. Unfortunately, as soon as we exited the protected gully and got to the saddle, we were met with the full wrath of the weather. After little hesitation, we abandoned our attempt and started skiing towards the bottom of Chair 6. Heading down from the saddle with Peak 8 in rapidly deteriorating conditions The snow in that particular area was not that great - a combination of wind blown crust, sastrugi, patches of ice and many other variations of almost unskiable snow. Michael Brian Back at the resort boundary. Smiles all around Enjoying the view of our tracks from the comfort of Chair 6 Soon though, we reached the resort boundary and skied directly down to the chairlift. It was just after 2pm. We made a quick stop at Vista House for a well deserved meal and sneaked in a few more runs before the resort closed for the day. My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map...

Skiing Peaks 10 and 9 in the Tenmile range Google Map Included

Powered by Bacon

Crew: nkan02, Michael and BKS (Brian)
Stats: elev. gain 2,800+, mileage: 6.4, time: 4 hr 50 min, max speed: 28 mph (yay!)
TH: Backcountry access gate near the top of Mercury Chair Lift (~11,500 ft)

The weekend of April 13-14 was the Breck's closing weekend for the 12/13 season. So I thought it would be neat to use the chairlifts to get as close to Peaks 10 and 9 as possible. Three of us met at the bottom of Beaver Run chairlift at 8.30am and rode to the "top" of Peak 9. The uphill access from there was not available, so we skied down to catch the Mercury chairlift. Once again at the top of Peak 9, we discovered to our chagrin, that the backcountry access gate was still closed. So we did another run under Chair E. By the time we rode the chairlift back up, the patrol had finally dropped the rope. Woo-hoo. We regrouped and started skinning the road by 9.30am.

Skinning the road. Peak 10 is seen in the background

About 15 minutes later we reached the resort area boundary. From there, we were on our own

Approaching Peak 10

We made a good progress to the bottom of Peak 10. Michael shared his stash of bacon with us, and it greatly boosted our morale on a very windy day.

Peaks 9 and 8 as seen from the switchbacks on Peak 10

The road is pretty obvious, so we skinned up the road to the top of the ridge, to the radio towers.

It was fun to see the backcountry stickers slapped on the side of the shack.

Here we tried to decide if we should 1) leave the skis by the radio towers and if not, should we 2) boot up of 3) skin up. All three of us chose a different scenario - Michael was comfortable skinning, me booting up and Brian decided to leave his skis on the saddle.

Michael is getting ready to skin up

Going up the last 300 feet was a struggle as on the ridge the wind really picked up.

Fighting through the remaining 300 feet to the summit

Brian and I near the summit

We got to the summit around noon and would have enjoyed the views so much more if it were not for the wind.

Brian and Michael

me & Kikus

Crystal from the summit of Peak 10

Still, we were all very excited about the ski descent. Brian and Michael headed back to the saddle, while I spied a nice line almost from the summit on the skier's left. I downclimbed some rocks, which was a challenge in strong winds and while carrying skis and poles in my hands.

Downclimbing some rocks just off the summit to the start of the ski descent line

I was able to make a turn or two before I had to navigate through the final rock band, and I was pleased to find snow in good condition and the slope not exceeding 35 degrees.

The upper small snowfield with the final band of rocks below. I could see traces of prior boot/ski tracks

Early turns just below the rock band

More fun turns

I dropped in and enjoyed about 800 feet of great skiing in the 4th of July bowl, all while keeping an eye on Michael and Brian who started their respective ski descents from the radio towers. Brian was able to traverse closer to my tracks and soon we were joined at the bottom of the bowl.

Michael and Brian skiing

The weather was rapidly turning south at this point, so it was a decision time - do we go for Peak 9 in deteriorating conditions or shall we call it a day? The vote was unanimous - let's give it a try. So we started heading up Peak 9 as fast as we could, but winds were slowing down our progress.

Brian putting skis on his pack en route to Peak 9

Michael is braving the wind

Michael booting up near the top of the ridge

More free bacon on the summit ensued

Getting ready to ski

We didn't waste any time (except for a few photos and another bite of bacon) and quickly made the transition to the ski mode. Summit ski was in.

Brian and I skiing off the summit

Natalie skiing. Peak 8 and Lake Chutes are in the background

The low angle northeast-facing gully proved to hold the best powder of the day. In addition, it was protected by the ridge, which stopped the wind.

Michael enjoying the powder

By the time we got down to the bottom of the gully, we were greedy for more snow like that. We noticed that Imperial Chair on Peak 8 was no longer running (likely shut down due to high winds), so we became enthusiastic about Michael's idea to head over to Peak 8 via the saddle with Peak 9.

Unfortunately, as soon as we exited the protected gully and got to the saddle, we were met with the full wrath of the weather. After little hesitation, we abandoned our attempt and started skiing towards the bottom of Chair 6.

Heading down from the saddle with Peak 8 in rapidly deteriorating conditions

The snow in that particular area was not that great - a combination of wind blown crust, sastrugi, patches of ice and many other variations of almost unskiable snow.

Michael

Brian

Back at the resort boundary. Smiles all around

Enjoying the view of our tracks from the comfort of Chair 6

Soon though, we reached the resort boundary and skied directly down to the chairlift. It was just after 2pm. We made a quick stop at Vista House for a well deserved meal and sneaked in a few more runs before the resort closed for the day.

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Comments or Questions

BKS	Great day and write up 04/15/2013 21:49 thanks Natalie for putting the trip together and providing an excellent write up. Thanks Micheal for the bacon. I thought ”Powered by Bacon” would be good title on the TR.
BillMiddlebrook	Nice 04/16/2013 13:32 Congrats on 9 and 10! That's always a fun loop when you can get it from the top of the Mercury lift and still have some legs for the ski. Looks like I'll have to get back to Crystal soon!
lordhelmut	this comment 04/17/2013 14:23 ”I downclimbed some rocks, which was a challenge in strong winds and while carrying skis and poles in my hands. ” Couldn't be more true. There is always the conundrum of tying them to your pack or just stubbornly downclimbing. The latter tends to result in a lot of 4-letter words. Nice tour Natalie, looks like the coverage will stick around longer than initially thought. Next time, do it the masochist way from the bottom of peak 9, start before the lifts run and enjoy a crowd(gaper)-free Breckenridge for an hour or 2.
bergsteigen	Breck vs Spruce Creek 04/17/2013 17:43 ... or you could start from Spruce Creek TH and ski Peak 10 twice! Originally I was going to do it the way you did, but I didn't get that pass this year. Crystal is in and looking good! The drop below into the valley was quite fun 8)
Steve Climber	Big day! 05/09/2014 12:26 I wouldn't have moved all day Sunday, let alone climbed a Flatiron
SnowAlien	Comments 04/02/2015 19:45 Sam - well, we didn't, did we? In all seriousness, I was a little sluggish the next day. Brian - great idea. Title changed. Bill - thank you very much. I felt like we had a very narrow opportunity window for those peaks this past weekend, so I am very pleased we managed to tag both. We had ”some” legs for the ski afterwards - I think we were shredding the groomers at the end. Thanks a lot for the detailed route description on both peaks. It was very helpful. p.s. Crystal looks good. I am planning on it myself in a couple of weeks.
SnowAlien	more comments 04/02/2015 19:45 Helmut - alternatively, one can wait until the road melts and drive up almost to the top of Mercury chair Strangely, I don't mind gapers that much, maybe because I recognize myself not so long ago in one of them... We didn't see many people this time - just ski patrol on a snowmobile in the morning (not sure if they qualify as gapers though) and really nobody else until we got to Chair 6 @2pm. As for downclimbing rocks - my twin-tipped, chubby sticks did not offer nearly as much support as I was hoping for - in fact, they even tried to slip away from me on one or two occasions, but I still love them. The downclimb was rather short, maybe 20-30 feet at most. Otina - I heard from a trusted source that you skied those two peaks a few weeks ago. I was curious which side you came up. Nice work! Yeah, this was the year for me to try them from the Breck side - I am not anticipating to have the same pass next year.

Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.

Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.