Current Creek 052911

Though we received reports of corn before this weekend, this was our first taste of the maizey goodness of spring.  

Cheryl and Sandy gaze at the cornices sluffing.

Cathy herded the entire group into her car at Woolly Mammoth HH, including Cheryl, Sandy, and Norm.  There's nothing like the middle day of a three-day weekend to thin the traffic to a trickle.  At the Downieville stop, we saw mostly shorts-clad travelers, and not a mountain goat or sheep to be found.  It was totally dry in Empire, and we marveled at the avalanche debris found on the sides of US 40 on the way to Berthoud Pass.  At the top, those in the good seats were able see the sluffing off the cliffs on the west side of the pass, then further down the road we saw it on the east side as well.  We arrived at the trailhead at a leisurely 9:30, unloaded the gear and hiked across the mostly dry parking lot over the greatly diminished snow banks to strap on the skis for the climb under perfect bluebird skies and extremely warm temperatures in the 50's.

We took a circuitous route up through Perfect Trees to stay off the already softened aspects where the slope angle was over 30°, and made our way to the top of 11,721'.  Up higher the wind was whipping our skins and other assorted gear, but none of the gear managed to escape.  Is it just a coincidence that corn and cornices go together?  We saw plenty of both from our vantage point at the top.

Second Creek cornices.

Current Creek cornices.

The corn was a couple inches deep on top, a perfect balance between hot sun and cool winds.  As we reached the steeper slopes by the aqueduct, the corn got lots deeper, protected from the winds or angled more directly into the sun. We plowed our furrows ever deeper as we descended about 500' from the top.  Norm and I descended an extra 50' above the 120's, then we skinned up and met the rest of the group for the climb.  The temperature made the slog grueling at times, especially covered up against the broiling UV rays, then a blast of wind would bring welcome relief.  Towards the top, the wind reigned supreme, and it was time for a shell and a bite to eat in the trees.  On the second run we stuck a bit closer to the trees.  

At the bottom, it was time to skin up and climb up again.  At the top, we got a good look at the additional cornice sluffing that had occurred, as well as the building clouds that gratefully never developed into thunderstorms or rain.

We made our way back down through the Perfect Trees, giving the steeper slopes a wide berth.  However, our route took us down a slope where I discovered at least one rock lurking below the surface, causing an especially picturesque fall.  Despite this mishap, we all made it down to the trailhead in one piece.  After clambering out of our bindings, we made our way over the snowbank to the car, then onward to Tommyknockers.

Except for that one rock, we found plenty of snow for skiing.  The depths are amazing for this time of year.

3 runs / 4 miles / 2100'

Track superimposed on slope and avalanche map.

Butler Gulch 052111

A foot and a half of powder made for a fine day of Mayuary skiing.

Cathy gathered the troops at 8 at Woolly Mammoth HH, including Cheryl, Sandy, Judi, Fred, and Bob A.  After a brief stop at Downieville we made our way towards Henderson mine.  It was raining at Empire, but the rain turned to snow as we gained altitude.  At the trailhead we were thrilled to find 6 - 8" of powder with light snow or flurries all day.  As we skinned up, we ran into some dawn patrollers who had already finished their runs.  They relayed the news about the good conditions to come to those who climb.


As we split off from the Jones Pass Rd to take the Butler Gulch trail, the familiar gate blocking motorized vehicles was replaced with a sign post.  The massive amount of snow had buried the gate, leaving only a bit exposed at the edge of the gully.

Steph points out the sign post replacing the buried gate.

The edge of the gate pokes out of the accumulated snowpack.

At the "Y" above the switchbacks (also known as the "V"), we split into two groups, with Cathy taking some of the group towards the ridge and I took some of the group into the runs on climber's right of the uptrack.  The powder was heavy and a bit of a challenge, but we managed to find a good line through the untracked powder.  

Cheryl and Sandy are all smiles getting ready for the first run.

For the second run we went way to the climber's left at the "Y", following a snowshoe track into one of the gullies in the trees.  There we briefly ran into the rest of the group.  They continued down as we climbed a bit higher, then dropped into the popular run.  The tracks made for some nice grooming, but the slow going through the untracked powder made us wary of our turns.  

At the bottom of the gully we hit the uptrack, where we ran into Steph P and Rob.  My group was ready to head back to the cars, so Steph and Rob graciously adopted me for the next climb.  We headed up towards the ridge, stopping at a knoll that we hoped would carry us to the skiers left above an untracked run above the "Y".  Rob stayed high and cleared the hollow, but Steph and I ran into a vertical wall of a cross-loaded cornice.  After breaking through to the other side, we traversed to the run and enjoyed some excellent conditions above the "Y".  With each turn, we sunk into the powder, only to pop back up at the completion of the turn.  

At the "Y" we ran into Bob and Fred, supposedly looking for me, or was it to make a third run?  Perhaps a little of both.  They continued on up, while we made our way down the trail.  

Tom descends the gully below the ""Y".
Photo by Steph.

After a suitable period of quad burning, we glided into the parking lot, where we met up with many of the same people that we had started with.  Judi proudly showed the marks from her battle with some unruly branches.

Mere branches cannot deter this woman.

Jenny's was closed in the morning and afternoon, which clinched our apres ski decision to stop at Tommyknockers.

3 runs / 5 miles / 2000' elevation.

Topo and air photo with track detail.

Apex / Jenny Lind Gulch 051411 or Gorillaz in the Mist

A misty foggy day at lower elevation salvaged the day with surprising spring skiing.

Wendy materializes out of the fog.

Cathy rounded up the usual suspects, including Wendy, Cheryl, Sandy, Diane W, Bob, Phil, and Fred.  We departed from the lot across from the CMC and headed up US 6 towards Blackhawk.  After a brief stop at Bullwhackers gas station where skiers and non-skiers eyed each other with equal amounts of curiosity, we headed on past Blackhawk to the turn off for Apex.  The cloud base was low, and we moved ever closer as we gained altitude.  At the trailhead, we gingerly avoided the mud puddles as best we could as we unloaded the gear and skinned up.  The temperatures hovered near freezing, and the snow was soft and wet.  We ascended to the saddle, and took the contour road towards the middle of the bowl.   Finding this route from the saddle is easy if you know to look for it, but finding it from the bowl can be maddeningly difficult if you don't have tracks or GPS waypoints, as I found out the hard way on a previous trip. 

We emerged from the trees and climbed to about 10,550' where the ridge flattened out.  We de-skinned in the fog as the drizzle turned to tiny icy pellets that wafted in th breeze.  

Any concerns about our skis sticking in the wet snow quickly vanished as we discovered that the temperatures had provided the snow surface with a thin icy topping that provided more than enough glide to compensate for the heavy wet snow beneath.  Combined with the intermittent near total gray-out, it was a challenge to tell the difference between up and downhill.  

Phil descends into the mist.

Phil, Bob, and Wendy appear out of the fog.

Using periodic calls into the void and echo-location, we somehow managed to regroup at the bottom of the slope.  After a quick snack, we made the ascent for another run.

After a couple more runs, we met at the bottom and decided to take the switchback route out.  Following the existing tracks, we made the easy climb to the saddle, then down to the car.  The descent proved tricky, as the icy topping was thicker and more difficult to cut through to make turns in the trees.  We packed up the gear and headed back go Golden.

3 runs / 3.7 mi / 1700'

Interactive track, GPX, and pictures also at EveryTrail.

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.