Current Creek 043011

The last day of April brought us more powder than we had seen in months at Current Creek.

We stoically endured the gushing mid-week snow reports from Loveland while we toiled at our desks, but we secretly hoped there would be some of that newly fallen goodness for us when the weekend arrived.  We weren't disappointed.

I gathered the troops at Woolly Mammoth HH, including Cheryl, Judi, Helayn, Diane S, Phil, Dave F, and Bob.  As usual, at lower elevations, the pavement was dry and the ground was bare, but as we ascended the pass, the road conditions deteriorated as the snow conditions improved.  At the trailhead, we were thrilled to find 8 - 12" of powder.  We clambered over the towering snow banks, strapped on the skis and broke trail to the Upper 110s.  In the haste to reach the top, Phil set new records for nearly vertical uptracks.  

Phil and Bob wasted no time summiting the ridge between Current and Second Creeks while the rest of the group de-skinned just below the ridge out of the wind.  

On top of the ridge, the snow was compacted into soft wind slabs, but conditions improved almost immediately as we descended.  There were about 6" of silky powder on top of the usual icy crust in the trees, but the depths were better in the open.  After an all-too-quick series of turns, we reached the bottom.  Some opted for a quick snack, while others headed straight back up for the next run.  

At the top we peeled off the skins and prepared for the run.  

On the second run I followed the group through the lower trees on skier's left. Here we found the powder was OK, but the crusty base was more evident the thicker the trees.  We concluded that the snow was all stuck up in the branches, and vowed to make our third run in the open.  After another climb, we repeated the well-worn ritual of switching from uphill to downhill mode.

At the bottom, we reluctantly left all the untracked runs untouched, and headed out on the traverse route to the east.  Most headed down the slot to the west of Teacup Bowl.

3 miles / 3 - 4 runs / 1700 - 2100'

View the track and stats at EveryTrail.  Zoom out to see the terrain map.

Next week is the last weekend to redeem those Loveland 4-packs, so we may end up there.  'Til then, happy turns!

Current Creek 042311

After a week of snow and temperatures near freezing, the south-facing slopes were ready for some serious powder harvesting.

I gathered the CMC crew at Woolly Mammoth HH at 7:30.  Cheryl, Phil, Vaune, Dave, Norm, Ginger, and Fred divided up the car pools and we drove off towards the slopes.  On the way out we saw Joel, but couldn't catch up to him until Downieville.  It was strange but encouraging to see fresh snow down low, and it only got better as we climbed.  The roads went from dry to wet to slush to snow-packed as we approached Berthoud Pass.  The snow was still coming down as we pulled into the trailhead parking lot.  


We delayed our start so Good Samaritan Fred could drive a skier with a dislocated shoulder to his car on top of the pass.  Soon we were all skinned up and ready to climb.  There was 4 - 8" of powder on top of the sun crust on the south-facing slopes, so we broke trail towards the Upper 110's saddle between Current and Second Creeks.  After a snack at the bottom of the slope, we ascended to the ridge and de-skinned.

As we headed down the crust made the descent pretty fast, but the ample powder on top made the turns come easier.  We had a quick bite at the bottom while half the group extended the down track a couple hundred feet, then we made another climb to the ridge.  A couple of other groups made use of the up-track, but graciously turned off to find their own powder.  

On the third run, some of us veered further west to take in some new terrain that ended up steepening at the bottom.  While we played on that slope, the faster members of the group found time for a fourth run at the ridge for a tree run on the west side of the ridge.

We regrouped at the lunch spot and began our traverse to the east.  A few of the group succumbed to the temptation of the untracked slopes, while the rest of us headed over towards the edges of Teacup Bowl.  We cruised down the gentle treed slopes to the bottom, despite a few encounters with unexpected dips in the flat light.  


3 - 4 runs, 3 miles / 1700 - 1900'

View the map and GPX on Every Trail. Zoom out to see the terrain map.

Upper 110s track with topo contours, slopes, and air photo.
Blue: 25-30°
Orange: 30-35°
Red: 35-40°
Dark red: 40-45°
Gray: 45-50°

Mayflower Gulch 040911

Despite no new snow and 3 days of 40° plus highs, we managed to get a good workout on the snow at Mayflower.

Cathy had us meet at Woolly Mammoth at 7 and we were on our way to Summit County with Norm, Sandy, Phil, Judi, Kashia, Susan, Ginger, Fred, Bob, and John.  With no traffic to worry about and a refreshing stop at Frisco Safeway, we continued on to Mayflower.  It was all crust and ice at the TH, but patches of powder in the shade of the trees kept us optimistic.  The sun was toasty, if the 40 mph winds weren't raging.


At the Y before the cabins we headed right, up towards the well-developed cornice.  A few attempted to ascend to the ridge, but the blasts of unpredictable wind changed their minds.  Some of us headed through the trees on skier's left, where we found a mix of boilerplate crust and powder.  After surviving that run, we opted for a more open run through the glades, where powder spotting skills ensured survival.  The sun faded to gray as the storm clouds made a noon-time arrival.  New snow fell, but most seemed to whirl away in the wind.  Still, a third run beckoned us most of the way to the top, and we took a shot at the wide open slopes on skier's right.  Once again, the scalloped powder deposited by the wind was the best skiing.


We regrouped at the bottom at 1:30 and flew down the ice-glazed trail to the flats, where some of us limped the rest of the way to the cars.  


Half the group headed home, while the other half made a stop at ever-popular Tommyknockers.  


Back at Woolly Mammoth, the howling winds caught back up with us as we gathered up gear and headed home.


3 runs / 1600' / 5 mi

Current Creek 040311

A crust day turns to powder thanks to heavy snow squalls at good old Current.

I gathered the crew at the Woolly Mammoth lot by the Conoco, and took off up the mountain with Cheryl, Kashia, Bob, Diane, and Renu.  After a stop at Downieville, we continued through Empire where it was raining.  Hope remained that the higher elevations of Berthoud Pass would turn the rain to snow, and we were not disappointed.  Before long we arrived at the TH where we were the only ones in the parking lot.  We skinned up and headed up the trail.  

Our hopes for powder in the trees were quickly shattered as the 40° plus temperatures during the week had baked everything to a lovely crust.  We passed the cabin on the way to the aqueduct, then followed the aqueduct to the climber's right to the glades.  The wind helped to drop some recycled powder, but the first run through the glades was breakable crust that was grabbing out downhill edges with less than desirable results.  After regrouping at the aqueduct, the sun faded and the clouds opened up to dump an inch or two per hour.  

Not bad for a day that started with wall-to-wall crust.

The second run in the bowl on climber's left was actually decent, and the smiles returned to the group.  At the meadow we dropped skier's left through the trees and back to the aqueduct to grab another installment of lunch.  

On the third climb up, it actually got colder as the air temperature dropped noticeably.  The third run was again though the left hand bowl, and this time it was really good.  Back at the aqueduct, we had enough powder to ski down the south-facing slopes for the first time in many a week.  Back at the trailhead we could not believe our good fortune.  Funny how fresh powder can really change the day. B-)

At the trailhead we bid farewell to a great powder day.