Julie drinking the fine white bubbly somewhere in the Elk Mountains of Colorado.
Colorado snowpack tends to be the most dangerous in the nation, yet a drink of legendary champagne pow lures many into her lair. Mistakes have been made, but we’ve survived by carefully approaching our backcountry travels. Small groups, in-depth communication and constant observation of snowpack, terrain, weather and route are key. Also the elephant in the room: how risk averse are you, and are your companions in the same place as you are with that? With the expansion of sidecountry, freeriding and backcountry travel, we heartily encourage everyone to consider these things as important as snow science.
Lou, more of the same.
At WildSnow Field HQ, Colorado snowpack at about 60% of normal. Several persistent weak layers make terrain choice and route finding some of our more important priorities. For example, you can sneak around and do stuff like skiing slopes that have already slid, or are sun cooked under just the most recent layer of powder. But overall, tricky. We remotely triggered an avalanche a few days ago. Totally safe and expected as we were picking our way down a safe line nearby, but an indicator of just how dangerous things still are around here.
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.
