Awesome winter day!

[Scott P]

Kim needed a break from the kids (and me) yesterday (Feb 25), so Kessler, Shaylee and I decided to climb Walton Peak. The kids said they wanted to try something hard, but we didn't know if we could make it or not since in winter it's a 12 mile round trip on snowshoes.

We got a late start, but the kids perservered to the summit. The weather started out clear, but it was windy so in open areas there was a ground blizzard. The kids still had a great time though by the end Shaylee was tired. 12 miles on snowshoes is pretty good for a 7 year old girl, even if she is tough.

After climbing the peak we stopped at Wendy's in Steamboat and then headed home to Kimberly's open arms. It was a great day!

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Sliding down Walton Peak on February 25 during a ground blizzard. The kids had a good time:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/424474_305370619526734_100001613961660_806971_1730 460237_n.jpg

Chillin' on the summit of Walton Peak with the kids. High winds and -15F windchill. Good practice for the trip to the Himalayas later this year:

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429710_305369769526819_100001613961660_806969_5072 32434_n.jpg

[powderglut]

Way to persevere!! I think wind gusts got close to 70 mph that day. All the top of the mountain lifts and gondy were shut down after noon that day. Gnarly day!!! Your kids are amazing troopers!:hail2thechief:

I have skied about every pitch from both Waltons. A classic tour is to ski from the Walton parking lot to 1st Walton (Telegraph Hill) and ski a couple lines. Then head to the backside and up thru the woods until you gain the power lines up to real Walton. I'll usually drop one in the main bowl, climb back to the top, and then start a yo yo ski and traverse down the Harrison Creek drainage. Here is the opportunity to get about 5 or 6 nice ski pitches, by skiing down then traversing back to the ridge. A new line down canyon, each time. Pretty burly day doing it mid winter. Nice to have at least 4 people sharing the break. Has to be done on a snowy day because of the south facing aspects that get sun hammered. A lot easier to do in the spring in corn snow.
Oh yeah! Leave a shuttle car below Smokey Bear curve for return.