You know those machines that spurt out perfectly whirled ice cream? That’s what Independence Pass, Colorado looks like this spring. They’re saying 300% of normal and of that I have no doubt. We of course had to go do a taste test. Weather a bit funky, windy chilly, but man oh man, things are filled in and ready to rock. More, the snowpack is so thick and solid that you could do all sorts of lengthy tours, even perhaps staying out all day so long as you were off the steeps by the time the snow gets heated. Check it out.
View west from near pass summit, Friday evening. Just caked.
We got in a couple of laps today, dodging the wind by stripping skins a bit lower than normal. Used our pickup camper as a portahut. Sweet. At the trailhead we backed into the snowpack so we had ski-in access to our digs. Doesn’t get any better.
The famous Geisslers, one of the most popular touring areas up there. But with about 100 square miles of alpine to play with (and more, with different access), a year like this can be one you'll remember for the rest of your life.
This morning on Blue (Twining) Peak, the classic view of Grizzly that's caused many a couloir to be skied.
CDOT RULES! They got the Pass open on time with tools like this, a Volvo model L150F monster loader. Every guy that looked at this thing wanted to drive it. CDOT needs to have an appreciation day at the county fair, and give rides.
The famous sign at the Pass summit. On days like today you wait in line for a photo.
For info on skiing Inde, check out the Independence Pass guidebook website we’re working on. It’s really really hard work, especially the field research.
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.
