Black Diamond for everything climbing and skiing.    Dynafit -- Speed Up!    Tracker beacons, Stash packs, shovels, more more more.    Terrific deals on randonnee AT rando backcountry skiing gear.    K2 has the skis that stay true to earning your turns.    Garmont boots -- excellent choice for backcountry skiing.

Colorado Backcountry Skiing Conditions Report – Independence Pass

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

This week the heat came down on us here in Carbondale. Shoot, I even broke out a pair of shorts. I was wondering what that did to the snowpack (the heat, not the shorts) so Lisa and I headed up Sunday (yesterday) to find out. I expected the suncups, some of which are now the size of paint cans, but didn’t expect the coverage to still be more like late May.

You guys up in the PNW might yawn since you’ve got plenty of summer snow during most years, but we usually get pretty dry here in Colorado around this time. Not this season. Frankly, I don’t know what’s causing the situation. I guess a combination of factors such as a cold stormy spring along with above average snowpack. Whatever the case, after a week off the skis to cure physical burnout and get some overdue yardwork done, I’m figuring to keep on going till you can stick a fork in it. Then do a few days up at our summer snowfields just to get the “turns all year.”

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Looking southwest from Blarney Peak. That’s amazing coverage for this area on June 22. Quite a few people were up there skiing. Die hards.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Looking south. From a distance the snow surface appears better than it really is, though a few smooth areas exist.

Dynafit backcountry skiing.
Lisa topping Blarney where you can look south to the Elks and Sawatch. If you want to dirt hike the approaches just about any summit is still available as a ski descent. I’m kinda over the dirt hiking for skiing at the moment (having done a bunch for the last 8 months), but perhaps I’ll rally. Meanwhile, I heard about these new sports called bicycle riding and rock climbing. They sound really interesting. So does my Jeep.

Posted by Lou on June 23, 2008 | Filed Under Trip Reports 

previous post: Even Backcountry Skiers Have To Eat – Compact Barbecue Review
next post: Happy Feet

Comments

4 Responses to “Colorado Backcountry Skiing Conditions Report – Independence Pass”

  1. Carver June 23rd, 2008 2:36 pm

    Looks like you enjoyed the first day of the 2008-2009 ski season! The sun’s finally headed back to winter.

    We skied too – Mt. Jasper in the 4th of July area of the Front Range. We managed to ski all the way from the summit to Boulder Creek. Even the trees were good!

    Happy New Year!

  2. Scott B June 23rd, 2008 2:47 pm

    There must be lots of die hards out there. I saw ~20 people on Grizzly Peak on Sunday.

    The goods were still there, but melting rapidly. Who knows how long this will last?

  3. Lou June 23rd, 2008 3:00 pm

    Wow, this sport has finally gotten the popularity it’s always deserved! Twenty on Griz, that’s amazing! That many people will smooth off the suncups, like a human grooming machine.

  4. jackson June 25th, 2008 12:34 am

    hey guys hows it going i dont know if u rememba me but i stayed with u a few years bak and skiied hothem with phill just thought id chek out ur website after i saw it at the rockclimbing gym
    ok c ya

Got something to say?





Anti-Spam Quiz:

:alien: :angel: :angry: :blink: :blush: :cheerful: :cool: :cwy: :devil: :dizzy: :ermm: :face: :getlost: :biggrin: :happy: :heart: :kissing: :lol: :ninja: :pinch: :pouty: :sad: :shocked: :sick: :sideways: :silly: :sleeping: :smile: :tongue: :unsure: :w00t: :wassat: :whistle: :wink: :wub:

Due to comment spam we moderate most comments. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly after we approve it. Once you've had one comment published, your comments will be pre-approved and appear immediately if you're using the same computer and not blocking browser cookies. NOTE however that ALL comments with one or more links in the text will be held for moderation no matter what, again for spam prevention.
Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

All material on this website is copyrighted. Permission required for reproduction, electronic or otherwise. That includes publication and display on other websites by whatever means. PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION.

Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of randone, randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions or templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items for backcountry skiing or any other use.