Little Italy on Pikes Peak
29 April
2007
Pictures * Video *
Route Map *
Trip Report
Click a picture to see a larger view.
Dave glissading with Scooby, Shep, and Sierra in hot pursuit! (7 MB .AVI)
29 Apr 2007 - Little Italy (aka The Funnel) on Pikes Peak
Climbers: Dave Hale, Sue Personett, Jeff Valliere, and Dave Gibson
Doggers: Scoopy, Shep, and Sierra
Little Italy, also know as "The Funnel", is a moderately steep couloir conveniently located just off the Pikes Peak Highway in the Glen Cove area. It's called "Little Italy" because its shape is similar to that of Italy, like a boot. Dave Hale and I climbed Little Italy in 2005 as part of Bruce Hamilton's alpine climbing class and in 2006 as prep for the climbing Pikes Peak's Y Couloir. Dave climbed it just a couple of weeks ago with Scooby and Shep. The 1000 foot ascent was a new adventure of Jeff Valliere and Sue Personett.
After six weekends with
my right arm in a cast, I was more than ready to get out and have some fun in
the mountains. Dave, Jeff, Sue and I,
along with Scooby, Shep, and Sierra, linked up in the Springs and headed up the
Pikes Peak Highway shortly after its 9:00 am opening. After a pit stop and
gearing up at the Glen Cove Visitor Center, we parked at the pull-off at the turn just above the
visitor center. The road beyond this point was closed but the weather was
incredible - very warm and sunny. It was T-shirt weather on the snow at
12,000 feet! Sue and I started out with our snowshoes while Dave and Jeff
managed fine without them. I had forgotten my poles and found the
snowshoeing a bit awkward without them, especially as the terrain steepened in
the "foot" of Little Italy. Near the "heel", Dave and Jeff put on
their crampons. As the snow was still very soft, Sue and I stashed our
snowshoes and continued up in boots. About halfway up the "calf", the snow got
hard and Sue and I stopped to put on our crampons. By the time we
got started again, Jeff was near the top with Dave close behind. The dogs were
having way too much fun dashing all around. As we continued up in our crampons,
two skiers and a boarder cruised down the couloir. What fun that must have been
– for a minute or two. On the steepest section near the top, I made good use of
my crampons and ice axe on the firm snow.
The four of us took a break at the top
and enjoyed the magnificent views. With crampons off and slick pants on, we were
ready for some fun. Although I don't think Little Italy exceeds 40 degrees in
steepness, the upper section appears quite steep when looking down from a seated position.
Dave and Sue quickly took off out of sight over the initial drop off. Jeff and I cautiously
scooted forward to see how they had fared. Once I determined that I could
effectively brake with my left hand, I eased up on the ice axe and enjoyed the
fun slide down to Dave and Sue.
When I got below the rest of the gang I set up and took pictures of the three of
them glissading past me. With my little Cannon PowerShot, I managed to take a
short video of Dave glissading by me with Scooby, Shep, and Sierra in hot
pursuit. The soft snow in the lower portion of the couloir slowed us down
considerably, but I managed to keep sliding as long as I stayed in someone
else's track (thanks Sue!). Sue and I didn't bother putting on our snowshoes
for the short hike out.
Once back at our vehicles we had a great view of our "butt tracks" running all
the way down the couloir. Another impressive view was of the huge cornice
hanging above the slope just north of Little Italy. Dave and I estimated the
cornice's overhang to
be about 20 feet. As best as I could tell, we were parked in the likely
avalanche run out path should this cornice break off.
It was great to finally get out again and enjoy the mountains and snow with good friends!