DRIZZLEPUSS SE FACE

Mt Moran looms large on the approach

This is a huge line that I’ve looked at for years. It is a solid, consistent 4700 vert. Its big. We approached with bikes from the Taggart Lake trail head at 5 am.

Biking season has begun

Leigh Lake was still in fine shape as we cruised across, and we soon found ourselves at the base of the huge south east side of Moran.

Jon and Phil make there way across Leigh Lake.

Left to right. Drizzlepuss, West Horn, Falling Ice Glacier, East Horn.

The gully at the bottom of the Falling Ice Glacier was filled in great as we skinned straight up it. We trended left up a treed slope that led to a small basin near the CMC camp.

Phil skins up the lower Falling Ice Glacier splitting the West Horn and East Horn

Here’s when it became a little slow going. Difficult skinning and booting with 40mph winds slowed us down a bit. It felt like winter.

Mike and Phil work through the wind

Jon climbs near the West Horn

We kept plodding along and arrived at the Drizzlepuss summit (11,600) in clouds and wind. Views to the south were amazing with the Grand in the distance and the north side of Woodring front and center.

Views were okay I guess

Disappointed that the CMC face was in the clouds we started our descent. The snow varied along the way with the higher elevations being pretty good windblown powder with some breakable to keep you honest.

Jon drops off the summit of the Drizzlepuss

Mike finds some powder on the Upper Drizzlepuss

Phil skis the gut of the Drizzlepuss

Mike with Mt Woodring as the backdrop

Jon carves up the Drizzlepuss

Phil on the Drizzle

Mike on the Drizzlepuss

The mid elevation trees skied well, but the foot of new snow was not consolidated and was affected by the warmth of the sun.

Some north facing fluff

The lower elevation was also affected by the sun, but was smooth and consolidated corny cream cheese. I am really attracted to these huge lines. They feel so big and commiting on the up, as well as the down.