Snirt is covered on Blue Peak, Colorado. Independence Pass will be the place to ski this weekend!
Independence Pass is scheduled to open this Thursday (May 22) at 2:00 pm. The week or so before the gate is unlocked is heaven for bike riders. With no cars on the road, you can pedal up to the top of the Rockies in peace. I called up my friend Liz and we did just that, along with a recon for ski mountaineering.
Our last few winters of drought and dirt have almost destroyed the long season of spring corn skiing we once enjoyed. With recent storms adding a layer of snow on top of the “snirt,” this spring might be different. Liz and I were psyched to hop on our bikes and check out what lay ahead for our backcountry ski plans this weekend.
We parked at the North Star Nature Preserve, just east of Aspen. Independence Pass is about 20 miles away, roughly 4000 ft elevation gain. A few miles up from where we parked, the gate to Indy appears.
Snow coverage looks better than it has in years, but I was surprised there wasn’t more. The dirt patches are already appearing and the sun makes them grow quickly. 50/50 chance of a little more snow fall predicted for next few days. Looking toward Geissler peaks.
Highway crews clearing the few remaining snow sluffs near the top.
Made it! Note the dirt layers in the snow. Mountain Boy Basin is in the background.
For more information about the backcountry skiing possibilities on Independence Pass, check out Backcountry Skiing Colorado.
WildSnow Girl, Lisa Dawson, is the luckiest girl in the world. Also known as Mrs. WildSnow.com, she tests whatever gear she wants. She gives the WildSnow family of websites the feminine voice.
