December brings us early season conditions this year, but we found some good snow and a few rocks in this area south of Berthoud Pass.
Up on the ridge looking north towards Mines Peak and Berthoud Pass.
We met at Woolly Mammoth HH at 7:30. Sandy, Cheryl, and Dave loaded up, and we rolled up the hill to the Evergreen park and ride where we met up with Stuart. We all squeezed into the Xterra, stopped at Downieville, then proceeded to the Pumphouse parking area at the curve before the pass. We had the place to ourselves as we unloaded and skinned up.
Scenic roadside parking.
Sandy and Cheryl head up with snow-camo Xterra at the parking area.
With the storms concentrating on the front range this past week, we decided to check out the secret stash for some close-in snow play.
Cheryl gets ready to work on her gear after a climb to the ridge.
Cathy, Sue, Cheryl, Mark, Norm, and I crawled through the snow-packed streets of Denver to gather at the late hour of 8 am at the CMC parking lot for our latest foray into the wilds. We split the riders between the two Xterras and headed up Clear Creek canyon towards Black Hawk. A silver Xterra passed us in Golden we followed him until we turned off a the Bullwackers gas station. The roads actually improved as we got further into the mountains due to the snow concentrating lower down in town, but after passing through Black Hawk and climbing up the Apex road, the road surface again became snow-packed.
At the trailhead we again ran into the silver Xterra and the congenial driver, Chris, who was doing some solo snowshoeing. He was ready to leave while we were getting our gear together, and we invited him to break trail for us, which he cheerfully agreed to do. It was my first ski outing of the season, and it seemed to take a lot longer to get it together after snowshoeing the last few weeks. Cheryl, Cathy, and Norm were on skis, and Sue and Mark snowshoed. Finally we were all ready and headed up the well-packed trail. We followed Chris' trail along a slightly different route at the first switchback, and soon rejoined the trail and ascended to the saddle. There was a good coverage of snow for the south-facing ascent, but no base to protect us from the rocks. At the saddle, we decided to take the western route that climbed another 400' or so. Powder depths increased in the north-facing trees to about a foot.
Sue and Mark made good time on their snowshoes.
Norm and Cathy take the lead.
Cheryl is happy to be out on her skis.
A bit of new snow adds to the abundant powder from earlier in the week.
We emerge at the bowls.
All that fresh powder was great, but a bit deceiving. The lack of a firm base tripped us up more than once, starting with the first turn for some. In other spots, the powder was deep enough to cover the rocks. So deep that it was tough to keep the tips up. Despite adversity, we managed to get in some wonderful turns.
Meanwhile, the snowshoers broke their own trail over hill and dale, ranging up the ridge towards the peak then down the ridge and over into the adjacent drainage before rejoining the skiers.
With temperatures hovering near 10 degrees, both groups appreciated the lack of wind.
Cathy stays bundled up against the cold.
The skies are clearing, but the sun didn't add much warmth.
Cheryl fought with her gear to the point that we decided to head back from the top. Sue and Mark had stayed with us while we had a late lunch, but they had to keep moving to stay warm, so we played catch up. Our descent was tentative due to the obstacles lurking below the snow, so we didn't see them until the cars. Cathy and Norm managed to squeeze in another run, then climb back to the top of the bowl, so it took them a while to rejoin us. Sue felt the need for a bit more of a workout, and headed off on foot down the road. We loaded up the gear and headed back to town, stopping to pick Sue up.
In Golden we headed over to Capitol Grill for refreshment and warmth.
