Highland Bowl: Tribute

I've always wanted to throw together a picture diary of the hike to Highland Bowl, the best in-bounds skiing Aspen has to offer -- but unfortunately, the climb has always been either 1)shrouded in storm clouds, 2) exhausting enough that I'm in no mood for picture taking, or 3) both. However, this weekend the weather cooperated, and I found myself climbing towards the bowl on a cloudless, windless day with few other people willing to make the hike, thus providing the perfect opportunity for me to take my time, enjoy the view, and snap the following pictures. Enjoy

Getting the skins on my climbing skis. One ski at a time...
With both on, I'm ready to rock. What's amazing is that even though the temperature was a brisk 24 degrees, at 11,000 feet (the start of the climb) the sun is so warm I was forced to climb in only a base layer and a thin Patagonia fleece, and I was still soaked in sweat by the finish.
The view of the bowl from the starting point. The hike takes anywhere from 35-45 minutes, depending on level of fitness and snow conditions. My goal is the "D chutes," located in the upper left corner of this picture.
The main gate. On powder days, people line up here and wait for hours for the patrol to finish their avalanche control and drop the rope. Then it's a race to the top.
Getting closer, about 15 minutes and 600 vertical feet into the climb...
After 600 feet, the climb turns into a narrow boot pack along a knife ridge...tough to hike, REALLY tough to skin up on skis.
A cool view of the knife ridge and the traverse to the bowl. As you can see, it's rather steep.
Not such a good shot. It does do justice to the pitch of the bowl, however.
Further along the climb, roughly 1,000 feet higher than the start. Now atop a more gentle ridge.
The longest, steepest climb of the hike. As you can see, most people carry their skis on their backs. I prefer to leave my skis on, attach my skins, and climb it like that. To each their own.
Not many people out today....
Bad picture. Sorry.
The last steep pitch. Snow is treacherous here, as it is common to misstep and sink through to your waist.
The last steep pitch to the top. The summit stands at 12,400 feet, and the wind is usually howling. On this day, however, it was calm as could be.
The view from the top.
And another.
I stripped of the skins, tightened my boots, and dropped into my chute. This is a view back up at the bowl after my descent. My line was left of center of the picture, right alongside the trees on the left. 'Twas a lot of fun, trust me.