Sunlight Peak (14,059),
Windom Peak (14,082),
Mt. Eolus (14,083),
N. Mt. Eolus (14,045)
Weminuche Wilderness
Route: Train from Silverton to Needleton, hike/ski to Chicago Basin,
then
East Ramp/South Face of Sunlight,
Northwest Face of Windom,
West Face/East Couloir of Eolus,
East Face of N. Eolus
Distance: 28 miles total
Vertical: 11,000 feet total
Date: May 12-15, 2016
East ramp/south face route on Sunlight. Descent track is in red, ascent
is in blue where different from ascent.
Northwest face descent route on Windom. Ascent is via the west ridge.
Routes on Mt. Eolus and North Eolus. The southeast ridge ascent route from the top of the couloir as well as the west face descent route are not visibile in this view.
Day 1 - Silverton to Chicago Basin
Train ride along the Animas River.
The Train stop at Needleton.
We started hiking at 4:00 PM and thus did not spend much time taking photos during the hike up Needle Creek. Here are just a couple scenery shots.
Day 2 - Chicago Basin to Sunlight and Windom Peaks and return to Chicago Basin
Working toward upper Chicago Basin at first light.
Eolus and N Eolus as seen from Twin Lakes.
Sunhit on the peaks across the valley.
Starting up Sunlight.
The Keyhole provides access to the east ramp.
Brad works his way across the ramp.
The entirety of the short distance from the keyhole to the summit is a no-fall zone.
I work up the ramp as the Sunlight Spire, the connecting ridge, and the Northwest face of Windom look on.
Brad on Sunlight Summit.
Looking across Upper Chicago Basin at Eolus and N Eolus.
Northwest face of Windom again.
The next several pictures form a panorama from the summit.
Brad preparing to ski.
Me "skiing" the East Ramp.
Back at the keyhole. It was possible to pass through with the skis on.
The south face.
Looking back at the south face.
Starting up Windom.
Approaching the west ridge.
Looking back at Sunlight.
Zoom of Sunlight's south face. Our ski tracks are faintly visible.
Working up Windom's west ridge.
Summit photos.
Looking back into Lower Chicago Basin (the dark forested area).
Eolus and N. Eolus.
Views.
Zoom of Sunlight showing the East Ramp and the South Face.
Me starting down Windom's Northwest Face.
And finishing on the apron.
Heading back toward Twin Lakes.
Another view of Sunlight.
Relaxing back at camp.
Day 3 - Chicago Basin to Mt. Eolus and N. Mt. Eolus, return to Chicago Basin, and then move camp lower into Needle Creek Canyon.
Mt. Eolus at sunrise.
Entering the amphitheatre.
The track leads to the East Couloir.
Avalanche debris.
Looking back down.
Me climbing the couloir.
Me Traversing toward the summit.
Brad leading the way.
Views from the summit.
Windom and Sunlight across the valley.
Looking down into the amphitheatre.
Zoom of Windom and Sunlight.
Brad starting down the west face.
Looking back at the west face route.
Booting back up to the col.
Skiing the east couloir.
Traversing towards N. Eolus.
Looking back at the couloir.
N. Eolus coming into view.
Snow shedding from Eolus.
Climbing N. Eolus.
Brad finishes the climb with Eolus behind.
Skiing.
Returning to camp.
Departing for a lower camp.
Snowline was about 10,000 feet.
Day 4 - Needle Creek to Silverton.
Needle Creek.
Train approaching the stop at Needleton.
