With an unusually long period of relative stability persisting in the backcountry around Vail, Dave Bourassa and I decided to head out for a late-January tour in the upper-Piney Creek area. With no particular plan in mind we skinned up to the base of the Piney Bristle summit block, skied down into upper-Piney, climbed and skied a neat line off “Peak D” and then ascended back up to Dave’s sled at sunset. Read more…
The month of April has come and gone and it feels like things are rapidly heading towards summer below 12,000 ft around here. Statistically, despite Denver and the Front Range being above 100% SWE on the season, we’re at 71% of the median for the state as a whole. Though truncated spring seasons can be frustrating, they can also make for a good excuse to return to reliable lines on peaks close to home and just enjoy the skiing for what it is, while it lasts. Read more…
This past weekend Dylan and I headed up for a morning tour on Gore Ridge, in part to continue training for the Grand Traverse but also because he had skied up there a few days prior and reported back soft and stable conditions up high. Finally. Truth be told I haven’t skied much backcountry this season thus far. Apart from a few huts and sled skiing days up on the pass with Rick and company, it’s been pretty much all resort skiing and skinning for me and I’ve been fine with that. Patience is almost never a bad thing when it comes to this sport, and this has felt like a good season to sit tight and be patient. Read more…
With no shortage of warm, dry weather still hanging around Colorado late into October, it was time to head out for another local trail run. Brian and I decided on a point-to-point run from Frisco to East Vail, connecting the Meadow Creek and Gore Creek Trailheads. It was a fun day out and nice to check off another route that’s long been on the wish list. Keep reading…