Mt. Machebeuf

This 12805-foot peak is easily accessed from the Herman Gulch trail. It is on a ridge southwest of Woods Mountain. As one goes up the Herman Gulch trail, there are four prominent chutes on the right, which a friend calls Herminator 1 through 4. One guidebook calls #$1 “Roadside Distraction”. On May 14, 2019, Elke Dratch and I climbed #1 to the summit. It had avalanched in March and I think this one slides every few years.  But the ascent was fine and we topped out in just over two hours. The descent was on perfect corn. Lovely day. Three hours round-trip. Five days earlier I had gone halfway up this slope with Rich Seeley, and we had a descent in cold powder.

Elke Dratch at the summit of Machebeuf. The two summits of Woods are just behind her.

 
Here is a view of Hermanator #1 (center), Mt. Machebeuf (left of center), and Hermanator #4 (far left). Parnassus is at far right. Taken from high point north of Loveland Pass, May 19, 2019.

On April 26, 2020, Randy Garrison and I climbed and skied Herminator #4, which is the last large couloir (quite broad) on the west side of Machebeuf. Conditions were fine. Ski crampons were essential on the steep climb, during which we stayed to the north side, gaining the ridge for the final gentle climb to the top of the ski line. Here is Randy as we started the climb.

Halfway up.

Just below the top on descent. Torreys and Sniktau in rear.

 
Here is a view of Hermanator 4 taken two days after we skied it in 2020. Matt Wentz and I skied this on May 1, 2021.