We started out our trip driving from Colorado Springs to the town of San Luis, Colorado. The goal was to get something to eat and get to sleep early so that we could be at the gate for our 6 AM start. Unfortunately, there was not a single restaurant and or a gas station available in San Luis. Luckily we were able to drive 20 miles to the town of Garcia and get some really good Mexican food at Crazy Beaver Bar & Grill (thank god cause I don’t think hot pockets would have spelled a summit the following day). The following day we were greeted by Carlos at the ranch entrance right at 6 AM and follow the road in to headquarters to meet the rest of the crew. After a quick briefing we were on our way to skin up the long road to tree line. I was on a split board and my hiking partner was on skis, it was our goal from the onset to ski/snowboard from 13,000 feet. We were really grateful first for the snowmobile trench all the way to the four-way sign. But after that, it was deep snow and breaking trail all the way to the ridge. Once I was able to get up on the ridge, the winds were blowing 20-40mph, so dropped my snowboard and headed up to the fall summit. From 13,200 feet to the top it was a mix of post holing quite bit & solid rock which was a breath of fresh air. Once I was able to get up to the false summit, winds were sustained it nearly 40 mph but the summit was in site. I was able to reach the summit at 2 PM, which was right about when We wanted to turnaround (sun was headed down quickly). Now the goal was to get back to my snowboard and Jason and I were going to ski/snowboard down. When we set out on this journey we didn’t take into account how our bodies would feel after 6000 feet of gain, snowboarding/skiing sounded great, but was much more difficult then we intended. And this just in, they forgot to run the snow cat above the tree line, so the snow was quite bumpy and unforgiving! we made it back to tree line and worked out way back down the mountain. I will say, that both my climbing partner and myself clocks nearly 16 miles and every bit of 6000 feet of gain. So, Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you sit out on this hike because it is not an easy day. We were able to make it back to headquarters just after 5 PM, where we were greeted once again. All in all it was an amazing day on this glorious Peak, so grateful have climbed it in the winter with my great find and climbing partner Jason! Btw, If you can somehow get up there this week there will be a great long trench all the way to 13,000 feet. Get out there and get it my people, enjoy!