View of the Diamond from Mt. Lady Washington.

I didn’t make any new-year-resolutions but I have been trying to live my life with more awareness, consideration, and empathy for the wider world around me. I’m reading the Times more frequently, zoning out to interviews on NPR, and actually clicking on links regarding depressing coverage of natural disaster, cyber warfare, and environmental destruction. Maybe I’ve been spending too much time outdoors, or maybe too much time indoors thinking about being outdoors… But honestly, though this awareness (that in my youthfulness I’ve tended to be indifferent towards) of world suffering and environmental catastrophe has made me more conscious of how fortunate I am, how lucky I am to live where I do and have the ability to enjoy the things I enjoy doing, hiking along Chasm Lake the other day (admiring the incredible colors and chaotic designs of the ice beneath my feet, staring up at the radiant face of the Diamond, the imposing Flying Buttress and Iron Gates of Mt. Meeker) I realized there was no place in the world I’d rather be, with nothing else on my mind except for the natural beauty and wonder of a day spent in the mountains.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. – John Muir

Jim soloing up good styrofoam-like neve on the second pitch.

I met up with a new climbing partner on Saturday to climb Martha, a moderate snow/mixed gully that splits the S. face of Mt. Lady Washington. I have been wanting to climb this route for quite a while and though it was in thin shape, it didn’t disappoint. We simul-soloed the lower portion of the route, which started off with some fun thin mixed moves to gain access to a lower-angled snow ramp that leads up to a thin couloir, interspersed with a few interesting rock/ice steps, which we belayed in three long pitches. Good styrofoam mixed in with snice, ice, rotten rock, and deep unconsolidated snow made for a fun all-around outing… we even got to place a couple of stubby screws! I posted some more pics on mountainproject. Feel free to check it out.

Weather wise, it’s been an interesting week up in the mountains. A prominent high-pressure system has moved east, bringing with it much warmer temps and wind free days. Good for ice up high, but it isn’t doing much for the skiing. I’m hearing reports of breakable sun-crust in exposed areas, though good snow can be found in the trees – if they’re not already tracked out! It might be time to venture a little further into the backcountry in search of those secret stashes and mystery glades (the ones in the distance that you’re always eyeing up from the high-points of your usual tours). I’m heading up to Cameron Pass in a couple of days, so stay tuned for another CP-Conditions report.

I’ll leave you with this poem by Zen monk Jakushitsu Genko:

Old now, I feel it more than ever – so good

to be here in the mountains!

Die at the foot of the cliff and even your bones are clean.

– Goethe

Welcome to Alpine Ambition blog, my name is Kevin Landolt; I’m twenty-one years old and live in Fort Collins, CO. I’m an avid climber and backcountry skier pursuing a career in mountain-guiding and climbing/ski instruction. The purpose of this blog is to document that process as well as to share thoughts on training, climbing, skiing, and life in general. It is also a top priority of mine to share weekly conditions updates for Cameron Pass. I have been blogging since early last summer. Feel free to check out my old blog at alpineambitionblog.blogspot.com.

Skiing along the ridge towards Mt. Mahler

My lone tracks off the ridge E. of Seven Utes

The past couple of weeks have afforded me some incredible ski-tours in the Never Summers. I’ve been touring here since I was old enough to drive and I’m always psyched on the place. Lately I’ve gotten really excited about pushing longer trips into some of the more remote drainages along the Divide. While the usual Diamond Peaks, Montgomery Pass, Seven Utes, Lake Agnes area, etc… are all great destinations that offer good skiing, studying the RMNP border area on the map has me amped on longer, more committing tours. Snow-caves and heavy packs anyone?

Here in town I’ve been training pretty hard at the gym. You can expect from me a fair bit of splatter about “training”. I dig it. More in an armchair athlete sort of way, but I still try to remain disciplined and stay fit even when I can’t find a climbing partner (usually) and end up punting around on skis or going for a trail-run. I think reading and re-reading Kiss or Kill is what did it. Anyway, happy new year everyone. Talk to you soon.

Campusing with the tools