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Dawn of the Living Aspen Trees

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

We’ve got an excellent situation here in western Colorado during the midwinter months, when the lower altitude snowpack builds up and February/March powder storms renew the surface every few days. To enjoy this, I head west from Carbondale into the aspen forests of Marion Gulch and the backside of Ski Sunlight. Conditions today were perfect. We could have lapped it till our legs died, but a dawn patrol was required so we hit the top of Ski Sunlight, made pow turns down, and drove back to work. Snowmobile was used for short section of Marion sled trail, but not essential (trims about 1/2 hour of flat skinning off the trip to use a machine, but if you skin be very careful of snowmobiles on the trail’s blind curves).

Backcountry Skiing

Jordan White in our mini Wasatch, this morning.

Backcountry Skiing

Jordan again. Yes, those are oak bushes.

Backcountry Skiing

Loudawg.

Backcountry Skiing

Near the top of Ski Sunlight. If a pow storm doesn't combine with wind, it's amazing how good the skiing can be here. Good place to go if avy danger is extreme in the steeper, less timbered mountains. But it won't make it into a TGR movie, sorry about that.

Backcountry Skiing

Loudawg headed for the extreme living aspens.

Backcountry Skiing

Jordan.

Posted by Lou on February 19, 2009 | Filed Under Trip Reports 

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Comments

9 Responses to “Dawn of the Living Aspen Trees”

  1. Cory February 19th, 2009 12:31 pm

    Lou-
    What do you know of the shepherd’s carvings in trees by Marble? Is it worth a tour to try and find them?

  2. Lou February 19th, 2009 12:49 pm

    I vaguely recall something about those arborglyphs, have seen all sorts around here, though the older ones are beginning to disappear. Been known to make a few myself, even though it’s now a sin to touch a knife to a tree.

  3. Jordan February 19th, 2009 12:56 pm

    Thanks for getting out Lou. Fun morning!

  4. ScottN February 19th, 2009 5:24 pm

    Geez…. I gotta get a different job. Nice shots!

  5. powderjunky February 19th, 2009 7:10 pm

    What a beautiful day! Skiing pow through low angle aspens is so james-bond-esque! Very cool!

  6. Yvon February 19th, 2009 11:25 pm

    Sublime day for you. In France we have a good condition of snow also.
    Thank you for the dream.
    Yvon

  7. NiRad February 22nd, 2009 8:23 am

    Thanks for the Pics fellas, Kendall and I were just talking ’bout heading up there on Monday to check it out, I look that way sooo much when on top of Sunny but never been there, Now I have too!! You guys rule!

  8. NiRad February 22nd, 2009 8:25 am

    OOPS our blog is thegearexchange.blogspot.com

  9. Tom February 23rd, 2009 12:14 pm

    Great area Lou. Skied in Sunday morning and found what were probably your tracks Sunday afternoon. Went to the benefit concert for ACA in Aspen Sunday evening. I didn’t realize Louie attended ACA.

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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.

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