It’s been a WARM couple of days, but Colorado
backcountry skiers are still getting it done by starting early in
the morning, and going for high altitude on anything but northerly
slopes (which have not been well compacted). NOAA weather is predicting
significantly cooler temps by Tuesday night, so Wednesday morning
might be one of the best yet, and the days after that should be fine
for a while. Independence Pass above Aspen will be officially open
Thursday morning. If you want to chance it, try the gate Wednesday
morning — you never know! (And don’t forget that ATVs are always
legal on the Indy road when it’s closed to regular automobiles.)
As for other Colorado access, the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain
National Park is open ahead of schedule, and Red Mountain Pass out
of Ouray is also a good bet.
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| On the road today with my mom, pulled over for a pit stop on Black Mesa and the door handle comes off in her hand! Sometimes life is just too hard…and funny. |
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.
