I climbed Colonial Peak along with 4 other peaks (Snowfield, Paul Bunyan's Stump, Pinnacle Peak and Pyramid) on a three-day Memorial Day weekend in 1987. (Wish I still had that kind of 'get-up-and-go') A group of us were camped at the Colonial Creek Campground and a couple of buddies dropped me off at the Pyramid Lake TH early on Saturday morning after which they were going fishing. I got up to a good spot to camp on the Colonial Glacier, dropped my big pack and figured I had time to do Colonial before dark. I recall going up to cross the snow slope on the northwest face of Colonial (footing was good) but when I saw the steep snow slope bending down out of sight I got pretty nervous. If I
got loose on that steep slope it would have been impossible to self arrest and I would have ended up 2500 feet below in Colonial Creek. Not a pleasant prospect but my feet told me that my steps were solid so I swallowed my fear and did a rising traverse across that steep snow to the summit ridge and on out to the summit itself. One peak down with three to go. But first I had to retrace my steps back across that steep snow face... and it is always harder to make such a crossing when on a descending traverse. But my steps were all good and I made it back to camp to set up my tent, cook a batch of Ramen noodles and hit the sleeping bag for a big day in the morning.
Pictures later.
