Okay you guys, yeah, turns were made. Montezuma basin (between Crested Butte and Aspen), be there this weekend and join the crowd. Road is snowmobile-able if you truck up a mile or so from the pavement. Hard core sledders could ride up above timberline (on the road of course, which is legal, please stay out of cherry stemmed Wilderness to either side). Skiing on the permanent snowfield was knee deep recycled pow. It’ll get tracked up but still ski well. Beware of rocks when you’re off the snowfield. Wear knee pads and helmet if you tend to bring that stuff (wish I’d brought mine instead of leaving on the sled).
Yesterday, Scott N. backcountry skiing in Montezuma Basin, Colorado. We made a couple of laps on a short section of turns. Just a mellow non-epic day with high quality snow. Cover on the approach road is thin, but we were able to ski back down below timberline to the snowmobile. It might be getting kind of thin on the road by tomorrow, but the upper skiing should still be good. Storm coming on Saturday might renew it, and Sunday or Monday could be the days, though avy danger could increase if we get a real snowpack up there. Click image to enlarge.
Funny thing, more snowboarders showed up yesterday than skiers. Yikes, they're taking over! But this gal made everyone else look bad, eh Arabella!
Ran across some guy named Ted. I think he couldn't stay away because he loves 14ers and nearby Castle Peak attracts him like a magnet. Perhaps that's why he's skied them all.
Ted, heading up. Click image to enlarge.
Scott took this pic of me heading up for another lap. Wind was blowing the snow around, stinging my face. Reminded me of somewhere in Alaska.
Ted sent over this pic of me getting some, if I look like I'm telemarking it's because one ski base had a big chunk of ice on it, as I was later to find out. Got lazy, didn't wax my boards.
Oh, one other thing, a few trees have fallen over the Pearl Pass approach road. Bring a chain saw or at least a hand saw if you’re going mechanized.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
