Approaching Devil's Peak from the Wagonwheel trail. The north gully is far too steep to climb, and there is a large cornice threatening that route up to the summit as well. We follow the trail to the west to scout that aspect for a better approach. The north east snow fields are best accessed from the Klondike Lil's trail - This is not groomed, but the snow is consolidated and there is evidence of snowmobilers on that side of the peak.
I leave Diane at the warming hut and make the 30 minute climb up the west aspect to the ridge where the snow meets the rock. The panorama looks out over all of Royal Gorge to the east and north with Broad Peak, Castle Peak, Lincoln, Anderson, and Tinker's Knob on the skyline. From here I followed the rock band looking for access to the summit. Before I reached the best chute up to the top, I felt the need to go down, as the snow was warming, and the surface was turning to perfect corn. Getting skins off while perched on a steep slope with no platform was a real trick. Within 15 minutes I was back down at the warming hut.
Together again, and well fed from lunch we ski downhill and away from the peak. This tour definitely deserves to be repeated with a few laps up to the steep snow fields during mid day to harvest the copious corn.
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