Skiing Hagar Mountain’s southeast face on March 8th. Click all photos to enlarge.
Earlier this month Rick, J, and I headed into Dry Gulch looking to get up high and make some turns down something resembling a ski line. With either Snoopy’s Collar on The Citadel or else Hagar Mountain in mind, we chose to go for the latter after seeing the snow coverage in the area firsthand. The southeast face of Hagar was a line I skied in May a few years back that I always figured would make for a good repeat. Tough to find a line more reliable and close-to-home than this one.
We skied off the summit and down the looker’s left side of the face, although the center option and chute to the right looked good too.
The day was nearly perfect – warm and mostly windless, the sort of high pressure day we’ve seen a lot of in March the past few years. With mostly just the winter snowpack clinging to the landscape, things were looking pretty dry and bare. We need some big spring storms, badly.
The guys setting the booter to the ridge with Mt. Parnassus in back.
Nearing the summit with the ski line falling away to the right. I”ve always thought this peak had a neat finish.
After a short stay on the summit to eat some food and scope out the surrounding area, we clicked in and skied a thousand vertical of recycled powder right off the top. The turns were superb.
De-skinning on the nearly windless summit. What a great day to be up high in Colorado!
Some shots of the ski…
J just off the summit. The Citadel and lower portion of Snoopy’s Collar can be see in back.
Rick heading into the meat of the day’s best turns.
J again lower down
And one more of Rick.
The ski out went smoothly, with some bonus corn turns at treeline providing the cherry on top. Then it was down to Loveland ski area for a beer.
Happy spring everyone. Here’s hoping for a big April…