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TR — Independence Pass, Colorado, Yesterday

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Local beta for those who asked: We did four laps in Mountain Boy basin, skied from about 7:00 am to around noon. We were amazed at how the snow surface and density held up. Not sure that’ll happen once things warm up more, but that’s the way it was May 15, 2012.

Bob Perlmutter in Mountain Boy today, Independence Pass, Colorado.

Bob Perlmutter in Mountain Boy, Independence Pass, Colorado. Illustrating news of our local snow conditions. Click to enlarge.

Posted by Lou Dawson on May 15, 2012 | Filed Under Trip Reports Backcountry 

previous post: First Time On The Haute Route, Part 1
next post: First Time On The Haute Route, Part 2

Comments

8 Responses to “TR — Independence Pass, Colorado, Yesterday”

  1. Dostie May 15th, 2012 9:25 pm

    As ever, it sure seems like even though the season was low in a lot of places, the quality of the snow was purty darn good. Your photo indicates that Lou.

    Furthermore, spring always delivers good skiing. When hasn’t it?

    Too bad more people don’t experience spring skiing. But maybe we should be thankful they don’t. :wink:

  2. Lou May 16th, 2012 5:03 am

    Indeed, the skiing we’ve been doing is fine, as good as ever. Overall it’s obvious the snowpack is thinner and probably won’t last as long as normal, and the lines are not as long in terms of vertical because melt zone in higher. Around here, I’m also concerned about facet layers causing instability on steeper slopes once the snowpack warms. It’s definitely not the big thick dense pack that we sometimes get, and you nearly always get in Sierra. Lou

  3. matt May 16th, 2012 7:26 am

    Thanks for the Beta Lou!

    I can’t wait to get out there this weekend!

    The facets are a big concern, I fear once the snow pack does warm – there are going to be a lot of wet slides in a short amount of time.

    Thanks again and looking forward to the quiver review.

    Matt

  4. Lou May 16th, 2012 7:30 am

    Hi Matt, yeah, be careful, slope angle will be key. Also good to use fairly fat skis as the exit routes once warm include lots of hoar ponds. Early starts a good idea as well. I think we’ll bump it back an hour next time we go, unless we get another cold snap. Lou

  5. jeffrey May 16th, 2012 10:33 am

    great report, keep them coming!

    lou, great meeting you on sunday and thanks again for the hospitality. Truly a highlight of my season!

    Here’s to hoping she’s still holding in a week, i have too much work and travel to ski…I should know better than to schedule trips during corn season!

    -jeff from vail

  6. monchO Tanaka May 16th, 2012 2:24 pm

    These mountains are awesome, I hope visit them sometime in my life

  7. monchO Tanaka May 16th, 2012 2:25 pm

    These mountains are awesome, I hope visit them sometime in my lifeeee

  8. Scott S. Allen May 19th, 2012 10:12 am

    who can I call to find local conditions for skiing off trail ridge road in RMNP?

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