Dani here-- sorry we've been MIA! Been having fun and working too hard...and still waiting for winter. Indian summers are awesome for climbing but not so great for us cold-weather-loving folks.
Headed up to Isabelle Glacier in the Indian Peaks Wilderness a few weeks ago. It had just snowed the prior Thursday, and we were surprised to find hardpacked snow on the trail all the way from the trailhead! Should have brought the skins (seriously). Found bootprints ending at the meadow below the tarn at the base of Apache, and postholed our way along. To avoid getting snow in the boots or incurring an ankle injury in the larger talus, we rock hopped most of the way up to Isabelle Glacier. Harder than it sounds with skis and boots on the back. Nobody had been up there since it snowed, and the trail was completely obscured, so it felt a little more remote than your average August day. Excellent.
There was a foot of heavy, punchy windslab on top of ice, so we didn't end up putting too much effort into the turns. Hike up a little ways, make some silly turns, get psyched, and call it good. The first week of ski training at ATC had destroyed our legs, so we were just happy to get the skis up there. Earned the turns for sure. And the beers and the first Cubs playoff game afterwards, too.
