On the hunt for good conditions on windless days. Those still exist, right?
It’s no secret that this year’s spring season has been a temperamental one in terms of weather, snowpack, and ski conditions for just about every skier in the state who doesn’t enjoy absolute freedom of schedule. The high country has been continuously raked by winds and dust storms throughout most of April and into May. Our snowpack ended up being nothing to write home about (slightly below average and with some aspects and ski lines never really coming into condition). And speaking personally it’s been tough to align plans with partners even when those rare good days have come along.
But patience and perseverance have always been a part of this silly sport, and they are required in some seasons more than others. And some years you just don’t get many of your primary goals done. It’s just part of the game. But that said the consolation prizes can also be sweet, and patience has a tendency to be rewarded one way or another. Here are a few good days from the past month that were had along those lines…
Skier’s Point – West Couloirs
Partners: Anthony Haupt, Rick Thompson, Brian Miller
April 15th
On the up, after the long ascent through Pitkin Creek.
The first of such days entailed another trip up Pitkin to check out some west-facing couloirs dropping off Skier’s Point. I had skied these before and recalled them being a reasonable option during times of questionable stability, which mid-April certainly was. Ultimately we didn’t end up finding the greatest snow, but it was at least stable and lent a few thousand feet of turns in a setting that will never get old.
Brian making the snow look better than it was.
One more for the road.
East East Red – Big Eyes
Partners: Aaron Carlson, Dave Bourassa
April 23rd
The powder filled “What Big Eyes You Have” Couloir off of Red Peak’s eastern sub-summit.
Next up was another day in the Gores revisiting a line everyone in the group had already skied in years past. It’s a classic, but one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. On the heels of a big April dump we found deep snow in the chute, and ultimately enjoyed a fun descent down into Willow Creek as the snow continued to fall. It may have taken me 6 hours to get back over Vail Pass and home but, that’s part of the risk you take to ski snow conditions like this in neighboring counties I suppose.
Not too shabby. Photo by Dave.
The steepness and height of the walls on either side of this chute were just as amazing as I remembered.
It’s still very much winter around here.
Peaks 1 and 2 – Southeast and Northeast Faces
Partners: Dylan Friday
April 28th
Nearing the top of Peak 2 above Frisco. Photo by Dylan.
Next up Dylan and I got out together to knock off a duo that had long been on the wish list in Peaks 1 and 2. It was one of the only days of the entire month of April I was able to get out on that actually felt like a true spring ski day. Up Peak 2 and down its southeast face we went, before contouring around and climbing the east ridge up Peak 1. From there we skied a steep northeast chute from near the summit back to town and bee lined it straight to Outer Range. Corn on one descent and powder on the other, can’t ask for much more than that.
Peak 2 summit looking south at the rest of the Tenmile Traverse. Photo by Dylan.
Supportive spring corn on Peak 2’s southeast face.
Fun in the sun. Photo by Dylan.
Heading up Peak 1 with a controlled burn throwing up a smoke cloud down below.
Recycled pow on Peak 1’s northeast aspect. If only every spring day could be like this one.
Fremont Pass – East Lines
Partners: Brandon Chalk, Dylan Friday, Jake Blevens
April 30th
Out with a fun crew and Jake absent from the group pic for some reason.
Near the end of April a group of us headed up to the Fremont Pass area and skied some east-facing lines off a pair of high ridgelines. No summits on this day but the snow once again exceeded expectations with a dose of powder on one aspect and corn on the other. It was a short and sweet day that reminded us that this sport should ultimately be about good company and quality of turns above all else.
…there’s Jake, making turns down into the valley below.
Crystal Peak – East Face
Partners: Alex Henes, Jon Bloomfield, Matt, Matt and Eric
May 7th
On the up. Photo by Alex.
Last but not least (and not technically in April) Alex Henes and I decided to head up Crystal Peak from Spruce Creek to see if its elusive north face might be a go. We met some more friends of ours in the parking lot and tagged along with them on up to the summit. Upon finding the north face to be completely discontinuous (when is Crystal’s north face ever actually continuous?) we headed back down the east face which had warmed up nicely for some decent turns. A little apres in the parking lot with sandals and fold out chairs and it was apparent that despite spring’s ongoing temper tantrums, summer is most certainly just around the corner.
This one never gets old.
Looking back at Crystal and Father Dyer Peak. Photo by Alex. What does the rest of the season have in store for the Colorado skier?
We’ll see how many more times it makes sense to get out on skis this season. With a fresh dust layer now blanketing much of the northern mountains, things seem to be winding down fast…