Sundance 053015

Buddies Sandy and Bob met Cheryl and Tom at the CMC at 7:30, then it was off to Rocky Mountain National Park to meet up with Chris at the Beaver Meadows visitor center. Even then, we wondered what our destination would be as Trail Ridge Road was still in overnight closure at 9:15. Finally we heard that they had just opened the gate, so we combined into one car and headed to Sundance after a stop at the toll gate to get my $10 lifetime pass.

The snow coverage above treeline along Trail Ridge Road was simply amazing. There were towering snow cuts through the drifts, and practically no bare spots. The Rock Cut parking area by the outhouses was almost empty, and snow covered the fence and trail into the bowl. Temperatures were in the 40s with light winds which increased to 10-20 mph at higher elevations.

Start skiing at the car!

The fence is mostly buried.

We skinned from the car through about half an inch of fresh powder over a firm but forgiving crust. We skied to the first rock formation, only to see that the usual de-skinning area at the 12,310' point was off in the distance. We continued on to the 12,310' point, and were amazed to see that Sundance Mountain was totally covered in snow. Fresh tracks prompted us to ski down into the gully and up the slope to one of the peaks along the Sundance ridge to top out at 12,400'. 

From there we de-skinned and headed down the long slope to about 11,500'. 

As usual, we were down before we knew it, and it was time to skin up the long, long slope to get back to the top. 

We did 1-2 more runs, then climbed up the usual route to return to the 12.301' point. With some kick and glide, we were able to make a couple turns and ski down to the car.

After dropping Chris off at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, we headed back to Golden with a stop at Tibet Kitchen for momo dumplings and noodle soup. 

2-3 runs / 2000' - 2900' / 6 hrs

​Route in red shows Saturday's trip.

Blue route is an old trip.

Pictures:

Google Story

Google+

Google Photos

Picasa

Current Middle 110s 051615

Buddies Judi, Bob, Cheryl, and Tom gathered at HH at 8:00 to ski the Middle 110s of Current Creek on Saturday May 16, 2015. Departure from HH was only slightly delayed by the detour on Heritage Rd, and the drive up to the Current Creek trail head went smoothly. 

Detour options for Heritage Rd (Jeffco 93).
​

Weather was sunny and very warm at the start, with temperatures in the 50's in the sun and a recorded high of 42°. 

A warm and sunny sky over Mines Peak.

The predicted high temperature on the NOAA weather site was for 29° and snow, so the buddies had to shed some layers to keep temperatures regulated. There was about an inch of wet powder on a semi-solid base at the trailhead, and the buddies made the climb to the north to peak 11721' on the eastern part of the ridge between Current and Second Creeks. 

Heading up to 11721'.

Snow conditions were great at the top, with the same inch of wet powder on solid crust. At the slope break, conditions changed to what Cheryl called breakable mush, with the surface snow and soft crust giving way to a lower layer of sugar corn saturated with water.

Water-saturated corn in the pole holes.

Cheryl and Tom stopped at the aqueduct, while Judi and Bob ventured 100' lower.

Judi and Bob skin up from below the aqueduct.

We trudged our way up to the top and during a stop for a snack and de-skinning, we heard our first thunder as the storm pushed its way in from the south and east. 

Enjoying a break at the top. (Photo credit - Judi)

With dark clouds looming, we skied off the peak to the south. After coming out above a large bare spot on the south facing hill, we angled west into the trees by the Upper 110s, and made our way down to the aqueduct.

There we found another stretch of bare ground, with no way around it but to take off our skis and walk down to the next patch of snow. From that point on, we found continuous snow cover, albeit heavy, saturated corn. Despite the description, we were able to make some turns if we were willing to make the needed commitment to carve the stuff. Bob and Judi lead the way through some tight trees and past an unexpected rail feature until we emerged in a familiar bowl just above the main Current Creek. The weather brought us some fresh snow and graupel.

What's this doing here?

Cheryl and Judi enjoy the fresh graupel.

After an uneventful crossing on a sturdy snow bridge over the creek, we followed the creek down to the old road, then back to the car. 

More fresh snow at the car.

We headed straight home after the trip.

2 runs / 5 hours / 1400'.

Ski track in Google Earth. Uptrack is to the left of Teacup Bowl and the downtrack is at the edge of the Upper 110s.

​Topo map of today's track in red.

More pictures are available on Google+ and Picasa.

I'm copying Norm's newsletter to the blog as a test.

Tom

Telebuddy Newsletter 2014-12-13

Inbox

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Norm Arlt
to Sandy, me, dave, Susan, Lana, Judi, Dave, Phil, Stuart, Scott, Diane, Wendy, Mark, Sue, McBirney, Ralph, Vaune, Ted, Bob, Cheryl, Quink, Diane, Naoki

Telebuddy Newsletter 2014-12-13

Brought to you by the official Telebuddies beers as brewed by Tommyknockers

Standard Disclaimer - Any or all parts of this document may not be original or factual; certain facts may have been improved.
As always, Buddies are encouraged to include or elaborate on details apparently judged irrelevant by the editor.

Haiku (5,7,5) or Deep Thoughts:
I see no powder.
My new skis and lift ticket,
useless, await snow.

Location - Jones Pass

Attendees - Buddies Norm, Cheryl, Tom, Dave, Cathy, Mark, and Sue met at Wooly Mammoth at 8am and headed to Jones Pass, after a brief DPC (Destination Planning Committee) meeting.  Due to no new snow for two weeks and warm weather, the buddies strapped on their snowshoes (except for Dave) to head up toward Jones Pass, using the road and nearby trails.  A surprising number of AT skiers were heading up toward Butler Gulch.

After a pleasant lunch stop, the buddies wandered a bit higher up the road, where their eagle eyes spotted a 2002 Subaru Outback stuck on the road above them at 12,100', with the driver busily digging to free it from a snowbank up to the windows. Curious as to how it got there, since the road up had been passable and passed only by a snowcat and snowmobiles in most sections, the buddies climbed up to chat.  Robert and Chelsea had gotten stuck a month ago just before the first heavy snow, and had to leave the vehicle when they were rescued by SAR.  They had come back up (probably getting a ride from the lone snowmobiler we observed) to get the car unstuck (unlikely) and drive it down (not gonna happen).  That explained the wheeled dufflebag containing a car battery and jumpers cables that we had noted by our lunch spot.  The Buddies feverishly worked with our shovels until our 2pm turnaround time, but were unsuccessful in moving the vehicle (but did get the wheels to spin).  As we left, the couple was planning to get it unstuck in another hour or so and drive it down.  Failing that, they were going to spend the night in the car (it was running at the time with a 1/2 tank of gas) and head down the next day.  Since this situation had all the makings of a survival case study (non-hikers in blue jeans, no cell phone, impending snowstorm, history of needing rescue, smoking at 12,000', no snowshoes, limited clothing layers, no GPS, etc), the buddies urged them to head down, cautioned them about the incoming snow, gave them extra water and food, informed the local snowcat operator of their status, and reported the situation and GPS coordinates to the Clear Creek County Sheriff.  It would seem that the best outcome would be for them to survive the night, and catch a ride down to the TH with a gungho snowmobile driver out to frolic in the new snow during the storm.  Track topo attached.

Conditions -
Snow - 12" of stale sugar snow to dirt, with thin to thick crust everywhere.  This will hopefully serve as an adequate base for this week's fresh powder.
Temps 20's and 30's, partly sunny, good visibility, calm to light wind.
Stats - 6 hours, 5 miles, 1700' gain, start elev 10400, highest elev 12100, no runs
Wildlife Sightings - sheep at Downieville waiting for Norm to buy coffee, buffalo on I70
Apre Ski - Tommyknockers (no drink specials)
Of Note - Found G3 skin on trail, lost by someone on the way down, hung up in tree, did not see on way down.
Of Note - The Twin Tunnels will be both open after next Tuesday.

Future trips:  Who's up for skiing next Saturday?  Let us know where you'd like to go (there may be some diehard snowshoers that we will be glad to accommodate).

Telebuddies Official Roster: 2014-2015 (established 1/14/04):
Bob Weatherman Ahl, 303-794-6103 (vehicle and lic?)
Cathy CrispiGirl McBirney, 303-233-7986, w303-236-4979 (white Grand Cherokee, lic 505 JGC)
Cheryl MonkeyPants Yamaguchi c303-981-2095
Dave PowderKing Callais, h303 237-3726 c303-917-9636 (dark green Ford Explorer, lic 348 CTM)
Dave ReverendTrapper Foster, c303-818-8380, w303 2724041 (green Subaru, lic 798 ELX)
Diane TheSilencer Short, h303-763-9874; cell720-891-1649-seldom (silver blue Civic Hybrid GTX ?)
Judi MittenDigger Dressler h720-890-7568, c303-818-2414 (orange Subaru Crosstrek 484 ZVB)
Lana ArmchairBuddy Dolly c303-818-9596 (sunlit copper Nissan Murano, lic 687 LKA)
Mark MisterFixit Porter h303-470-0444, c303-877-7669 (dark gray Xterra, lic PBW 8445)
Norm GuGuy Arlt, h303-766-7344, c303-437-3968 (gray Forester, lic 260 VBV)
Phil SkisWithBorg Gee, 720-319-8087
Ralph  FlyingWhaler Sassenhausen, h720-351-9026
Sandy IcicleButt Borgman h303-683-8460 c303-916-8100 (silver Honda CRV, lic 665 ZAH)
Scott SmoothMove McDonald, h303-423-1611, w303-322-3500
Stuart PowderScouter Miner 303-670-1095 c303.810.3756
Sue TeleGoddess Porter h303-470-0444 c303-717-5716
Susan HappyFeet Cox, h303-471-4392, c720-255-9344
Ted BlisterMister Toyokura, h303-581-1437, c303-903-6441
Tom PowderJoker Bresnahan, h303-988-5077, c303-981-1599 (white Xterra, lic 624 XLT)
Vaune SlalomGirl Shelbourn, 303 229-4099 (green CRV, lic 198 PKY)
Wendy TeleDreamin' Phillips, 303-887-7801 (light gold Outback, 740 LCT)
CC:
Quink MasterCrafter Arlt, 303-766-7344
Naoki NibiruNative Morita 303-664-0507, cell 011-81-90-8847-1642 (Outback Gold 500 ABO)
Diane SkisOnWetSnow Weil 240-274-1078 (light green 2009 subaru outback, lic 025 RHI)

Attachments area

Preview attachment jones pass track topo 2014-12-13.jpg

jones pass track topo 2014-12-13.jpg

Current Creek Halfpipe 041214

We encountered challenging snow conditions near treeline, but the warm weather held to soften the snow below treeline.

Tom and Nick enjoy the warm weather at the Halfpipe ridge.

Nick and Mike met with Cheryl and Tom at the HH section of the Woolly Mammoth parking lot at 7:30, and we quickly loaded up and headed up to Current Creek. The warm weather during the past week and the forecast for powder later in the weekend ensured low traffic, even around the Idaho Springs Twin Tunnel detour for the eastbound widening construction. The snow stake showed a snow depth below 6 feet, and at the trailhead, the parking lot was down to dirt with temps in the mid-30's.

Down to dirt at the trailhead parking lot.

We skinned up and headed up the trail. It was tough to decide on a destination. Would the sun come out and soften the south-facing slopes? Was there a chance of preserving the powder in the trees on the north-facing slopes despite temperatures of 45° during the week? The clouds looked pretty thick, so we headed up the trail past the Peter Rabbit cabin.

Still some snow at the cabin.

Lured by the appearance of powder in the trees, we ascended the gully to the aqueduct, then up the steep slope to the Halfpipe valley. 

Leveling out at the top of the steep above the aqueduct.

Heading up the Halfpipe valley.

Once we got into the Halfpipe valley, the snow was mostly crusty, with a little bit of softening with the sun and warm temperatures. The predicted snow was pushed back to the afternoon, so we enjoyed the weather while it lasted.

After coming up to the top of the Halfpipe ridge, Cheryl and Nick went down the valley, while Mike and I skied down the ridge to find the "hidden" gulch that we saw on the climber's left on the way up. We were hoping to find some old powder lurking in the shade, but we had to break through some crust to find it.

Cheryl climbs out of the valley to Halfpipe Ridge. 

On the second run, we all skied the valley, though Mike and I went higher up the ridge. I shouldn't have watched "Your Inner Fish" on PBS last week, because I turned into a flounder on the valley floor crust. I totally forgot how to ski on breakable crust. Everyone else adjusted to the conditions. Mike put on a great crust clinic below.

Mike gets ready to ski off the ridge. 

Mike shows us how its done.

After 3 runs, we were done and headed down towards the aqueduct. At the lower elevation, the temperatures were warmer and the snow had softened. Mike took this rare picture of me actually skiing.

I finally remember how to ski.

We made it down from the aqueduct, past the cabin, through the trees, and down to the trailhead and on to Tommyknockers. At least I got good parking.

Where to park at Tommyknockers?

Stats: