Category Archives: Backcountry Skiing

Sunday on Silverheels

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Mount Silverheels, elevation 13,822 feet, is the 96th highest peak in the state of Colorado. It sits just east of Mount Bross and Mount Lincoln between Fairplay and Breckenridge. The mountain itself is massive, covering approximately 3 square miles, with its closest 13,000 ft. neighbor being Hoosier Ridge over 3 miles away to the north. With its gradual slopes, the peak is an excellent choice for a winter trek and is most often accessed from the north and west from Hoosier Pass/Route 9 and from the south via Fairplay. Keep reading…

Coin Slot

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Despite its small stature, Mt. Royal (10,502′) near the town of Frisco is home to several excellent climbing, hiking, and skiing routes. The “Royal Flush”, a local rock favorite overlooking I70, rises in 8 pitches from the floor of Ten Mile Canyon to the peak’s summit, providing an adventuresome sports climb for anyone looking to get some multi-pitch experience. There are also several hiking and snowshoe trails on the peak’s north side that can be accessed straight from town. Keep reading…

Perfect Trees

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The Monarch Pass corridor is a zone we’ve been meaning to explore for many years now, but for whatever reason we just haven’t made it down there much prior to this season. Well this year, with I-70 being what it’s been seemingly every weekend (I’ll say no more), it’s seemed reasonable to head down 285 and avoid the mess altogether. As it happens Monarch has gotten great snow in the past month and a half, and so we figured why not try out the area again this past weekend? Read more…

A Spring Preview on Homestake Peak

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The weekend before last I had the pleasure of joining a great group on Homestake Peak in the northern-Sawatch Range. After a few trip reports were thrown up on 14ers.com indicating good coverage and ski conditions high on the peak, it became an obvious option for a late-January tour. Rick, David, Brian, Dillon and I met Brandon Chalk, his wife Kristine, and two friends of theirs, Jay and Mike at the Crane Park Trailhead the morning of the 26th at 8am. Read more…