Category Archives: Backcountry Skiing

Welcome to New Mexico – Land of No Gapers

Brian Miller March 31, 2014 23 Comments

Colorado has experienced a fine winter snow season this year. Along with the snow came the gaper. The gaper has managed to cause a multi-car pile up on I-70 between Morrison to Avon from Christmas through the middle of March, like clockwork, during rush hour. Whether that gaper is CDOT, some out of towner, some jackass with a 2wd vehicle with no snow tires or just the rapid growth of Colorado – I’m not exactly sure, but it’s a reality of skiing in Colorado in 2014. Keep reading…

Coin Slot

Ben March 25, 2014 2 Comments

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

Ben March 11, 2014 8 Comments

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

Ben February 4, 2014 6 Comments

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…

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