Good skiing off Outpost down into Booth Creek. Click photos to enlarge.
A few weekends back Rick, Brian and I decided to finally check out “Outpost Peak” (12,362′) on the west side of the Gores. After a not-so-alpine start we climbed the peak from the Pitkin Creek side, then enjoyed a couple thousand feet of pow turns down into Booth Creek. It was a fun day out.
“Outpost Peak” is a bit of a local’s favorite, with access straight out of town and several ski routes including a generally winter-friendly option in the south ridge. The peak itself is the high point of a north-south ridge line that separates Pitkin and Booth Creek drainages. Because of this, Outpost’s summit can be accessed from either drainage, or both for those looking to make a multi-drainage tour out of it.
Following the well-defined skin track up through the trees above Pitkin Creek.
And so up Pitkin we went, following a recent skin track before peeling off and switchbacking up the south ridge proper, where there was also a recent skin track. Eventually the views to the east opened up…
A nice one of Grand Traverse Peak across the way.
…followed by those to the west…
Looking northwest towards Bald Mountain and its northern sub-summits. Lots to explore in there.
…and the Vail ski area and Holy Cross to the southwest.
A few hours of climbing got us to the summit, and after poking around a bit, we decided on skiing the conservative route down the south slope into Booth Creek. This first climb of Outpost really only wet our appetites for future outings, as there are great looking routes off the east, north, and west sides of the peak in addition to the one we skied. We’ll definitely be back.
East Partner and it’s south couloir seen from Outposts summit. Brought back fond memories from 2014 for Brian and I.
With weather rolling in and visibility dropping, we didn’t stay for too long. A few thousand feet of powder turns off the top, mostly in the form of perfectly pitched tree and meadow skiing, got us down into lower-Booth. Then some nice turns in the sun down a west-facing aspen grove led us to the Booth trailhead.
Great snow through here. Yeehaw.
Then it was on back down the road to grab one of the cars and complete the shuttle back to the Pitkin trailhead, where the apres ski was promptly served.
Nice and cold.
Thanks for a good day out gents. Let’s hope our snow season keeps on keepin’ on…