Steep Skiing in Colorado
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Getting to the goods sometimes takes an effort: Elke Dratch, left, on a tough approach. And Starr Jamison, right, enjoying perfectly cooked corn.
And Colorado skiing can take many different forms. Here on left Janet Jacks and Dave Blakeslee (and I) enjoy perfect crust cruising on skate skis near Uneva Peak (May 7, 2014). And on right are two photos from one of the many long ski tours one can do: at left is Jonathan Kriegel on the last section of a difficult ski tour (Dec. 27, 2014) from Dumont Lake at East Rabbit Ears Pass to Mt. Werner and down the Steamboat Ski Area. Right photo from same tour on Dec. 29, 2016 (by Kim Clark).
2021 Spring Blog (brief info on routes and roads from the current spring ski season) (17 alpine ski days from March 24 to June 12)
(Photos and more details are in the route descriptions found by the links above.)
March 24. Deming Summit with Matt Wentz. 3900 feet climb. Powder conditions on the S Face.
March 31. Buffalo Circumnavigation counterclockwise with Matt Wentz. Side trips to slope near N Eccles Peak and then to top of Eccles Peak. 3400 ft climb, 4000 ft descent.
April 5. Butterknife on North Star with Elke Dratch and Matt Wentz, with car shuttle. Excellent corn snow. 2800 feet climb; 3400 feet descent. The main ski line is 2100 ft. descent.
April 9. South side of Vail Pass. 1000 feet. Excellent conditions.
April 11. Short recon of Buffalo Cabin TH area. 500 feet.
April 12. Buffalo Circumnavigation counterclockwise with Joel Paula. Side trips to slope near N Eccles Peak and then to top of Eccles Peak. 3900 ft climb, 4500 ft descent.
April 14. Uneva Peak SE slope. 1500 feet climb.
May 1. Hassell Peak broad gully E of summit, and then Herminator #4 (N side of Machebeuf) on return. Both were fine. 3600 ft climb. With Matt Wentz.
May 4. Uneva with Matt and Elke. Two runs on the back side in cold new powder and then the front side. 2700 ft climb. Superb wintry conditions.
May 12. Humbug Creek, Pacific Creek, Mayflower Creek. With Matt and Elke. Powder atop sun crust was superb. 2000 ft climb.
May 15. S. Summit Mt. Arkansas. With Matt and Randy. 2600 ft climb. Fine conditions on boot ascent of gully. But descent was very difficult on the SE Couloir.
May 21. No Name from Loveland Pass. With Matt. Skied Cabbage Patch in perfect corn conditions. Nice steep line. 2400 feet total.
May 24. Grizzly near Loveland Pass, NW Face and then also western knoll. Fine conditions. With Matt and Elke. 2300 feet climb.
May 26. No Name from Loveland Pass. With Elke. Skied Cabbage Patch in perfect corn conditions. Nice steep line. 2400 feet total.
June 2. No Name from Loveland Ski Area. With Matt. Skied N face, center. Icy. 1900 feet total.
June 5. Independence Mountain at Independence Pass, N Face, with Matt and Randy. 2100 ft climb. Started early. A bit soft, but fine skiing. Interesting creek crossing (sneakers.
June 12. Repeater Peak and Mosquito Peak with Matt. 2600 ft climb. Conditions were soft. The NE Face of Repeater was fine, but the NE Couloir on Mosquito was too mushy.
2020 Spring Blog (22 ski days from April 3 to June 10)
2019 Spring Blog (33 ski days from April 12 to June 12)
2018 Spring Blog (4 ski days from April 29 to May 21)
2017 Spring Blog (15 ski days from May 6 to June 18)
2016 Spring Blog (18 ski days since May 3 to June 18)
2015 Spring Blog (13 ski days from May 2 to June 28)
2014 Spring Blog (20 ski days from May 7 to June 14; last day: June 14)
2013 Spring Blog (18 ski days in May-June; last day: June 6)
2012 Blog (worst spring season; 0 ski days in May, couple in April; last day: April 7)
2011 Blog (28 ski days in May/June/July; last day: July 4)
2010 Spring Blog (8 ski days in May/June/July; last day: June 6)
2009 Spring Blog (23 ski days in May/June/July; last day: July 2)
2008 Spring Blog (24 ski days in May/June; last day: June 29)
2007 Spring Blog (21 ski days in May/June; last day: June 22)