The base of the long, low angle summit ridge, extending left out of sight, from my high point at about 14,000′. It’s after 3:30 which is when the gully I want to ski starts going into shade, which is more important to me than tagging some summit, if it means I have to ski hideous crust or a less appealing, more moderate ski line. I suppose I could have started earlier, but hiking the rough and beautiful approach in the dark holds no appeal. I’m not here to force myself on the mountain, for some abstract summit claim, I’m just here to dance around in the granite hallways in this astounding cathedral, and take in what all it has to offer.
