Our goal was Hayden Peak, a 13,400 ft mountain that looms over Aspen via Castle Creek Road and has long been regarded as one of the more beautiful off-piste descents our town has to offer.
Once again, the weather indicated a quick warming event on Saturday morning; a clear morning with temps quickly reaching the 60s, even at 12,000+ feet. As a result, an early start was imperative, as the snow would quickly grow unstable once the snow began to warm the north/east aspect we intended to ski.
By early start, I mean EARLY. We were planning on 4-5 hours for the ascent (the climb was roughly 4,400 ft. Generally, mountaineering rules say to plan for 1 hour per 1,000 feet.) and 1-2 hours for the descent. Working backwards, and knowing we wanted to be off the mountain before 11AM, that meant a 4 AM start. So with alarms set for 2:45 AM, Todd Hartman, Jeff White and I reached the Ski Hayden trailhead at our goal time, 4 AM.
There's Todd and Jeff getting ready. The worst part of the Hayden climb, is to access the beginning of the ascent you have to climb Castle Creek. In ski boots. In the dark. With 30 pound packs on our backs. And of course, one slip by either of us would have ended the day for the entire group before it even got started. I would have taken a picture of the 4AM crossing, but I was too busy being terrified. Needless to say, we all made it across safely, even if it wasn't particularly aesthetically pleasing.
Once we negotiated the creek, we found the trailhead and started the ascent. The warm weather had melted the snow at 9,000 feet, so we had to keep the skis on our packs for a while and try to pick up the trail by the light of our headlamps.
Jeff White taking a well-deserved break. We knew the first half of the climb would be below tree line, and it would be tricky route-finding. That said, it was only about 500 vertical feet before we were able to put on our skis and start skinning. It certainly was nice to get that extra weight off of our backs and onto our feet.
No real reason for this pic other than to show just how dark it is at 5 AM in the mountains. I don't have many pics of the cool things we say along the way, mainly because it was entirely too dark. I did snap them on the way down, however, so they'll be making an appearance later.
During a break at the 1,500 foot mark of our climb (10,500 elevation), we enjoy some food. Or I should say, we enjoyed some of Jeff's food, since both Todd and I somehow forgot to pack food for a 7-hour workout.
Finally, at 11,000 feet, just as the sun was rising, we broke out of the trees with this awaiting us. Directly in from is the Stammberger Face, a steep pitch that frequently avalances in mid-winter. Hayden Peak, our goal for the day, is actually behind and above this face, and is invisible in this picture. But don't worry, you'll be seeing plenty of the peak soon.
To access the peak, we had to traverse AROUND the Stammberger face by climbing a rib between the famed "twin gullies," then cutting left again to get underneath the peak. I have tried to draw a line indicating our general route on this picture. The peak is still out of view, just to the left of this picture.
Another picture of the face. Just thought it was beautiful.
Dr. Hartman working hard on the climb up the rib between the twin gullies. It was rather steep and unforgiving, and at an elevation of roughly 11,800 feet, there wasn't much oxygen to be had.
FINALLY! A view of the peak above the Stammberger face. From this point, it was STILL over 1.5 hours to the top. It sure looks a lot quicker than it really is.
Getting closer.
Some random views from the climb. We were the only people for miles and miles, and it was a perfect bluebird morning, so I took the opportunity to snap as many pictures as possible.
A close up of the east facing wall of Hayden ridge. 
Dr. Hartman again on the climb. You don't get this "away from it all" very often in life. 
The final push up to the peak. At over 13,000 feet, my out of shape ass struggled to go more than 20 steps without a break. I swear, the peak just seemed to get further and further away.
After four grueling hours, we reached the summit. Here's Todd making the final steps up to 13,416 feet. As you will see below, the views made the long, hot climb completely worthwhile. 
There's not much to say about these views, so I'll just let you enjoy them.
The obligatory victory shot atop the narrow summit ridge.
Now for the rewards. We picked the safest line giving the conditions, and enjoyed some great powder turns on the way down. Turns I will likely remember for the rest of my life. 
Pics of our turns. 
As we get farther away, the turns look cooler and cooler.
Below the summit, the snow was still soft and beautiful as we made our way down to treeline.
Another glory shot.
As we neared the top of the Stammberger face, the turns became even more silky smooth than they were up high.
Turns through the gully on our way out. These are the gullies we split when we were ascending. 
A close up of the face. Pretty cool, huh? Might be skiable soon with some colder temps.
On the way down, we stopped by an avalanche paths that had slid big earlier in the spring. We stopped just long enough to admire the debris, and then got out of there. They don't call this path "kid killer" for nothing. 
A view looking up at the slide rubble.
On the way out, here's the creek crossing I told you about. Much less pressure on the way out than on the way in. If you go for a swim after you're done, who cares?
Back at the car by 11 AM, I zoomed in on the peak from the road. You can almost see our turns coming down the left face.
My favorite picture of all. Back at the car, the peak looms in the distance appearing unreachable, but we could sit there, admire it, and know we had just skied from its summit.
