New: D System and D Scale for rating backcountry skiing and snowboard descents.

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June 15 -- 2005
Colorado Backcountry Skiing Stays Amazing

Aside from a mid-week warming trend that shut things down a bit, Colorado backcountry skiers have been nailing terrific lines that are usually out of condition by this time. On North Maroon Peak, Bob Perlmutter and Neal Beidelman skied the famous north face Stammberger Route (IV D14 R3) this past Tuesday, while Monday morning Dave Bourassa and friends had a fine adventure in the Bell Cord Couloir between South and North Maroon. Elsewhere, people have dropped many other excellent lines, such as the north face of fourteener Mount Democrat (IV D7 R2).

You probably notice the funny looking number/letter combos in the text above. Those are "D System" difficulty ratings. We've been doing a huge amount of work on this new rating system. I'm certain it'll be useful for guidebook writing -- am using it in the new edition of my Colorado fourteeners guidebook. Whether it catches on for general use is an open question -- we'll find out in a few seasons. In the meantime, the only way the D System will work correctly is if we have a big list of examples, preferably routes that are somewhat known in the backcountry skiing and riding community. If you care to contribute an example route, check the list here and email me your examples using the "contact" option in the menu to left -- or better, just use the Couloir Magazine Forums, where you'll find a rating system thread. I check that thread every day.

June 14 -- 2005
Name That Backcountry Skiing Binding

As I've been covering here, Backcountry Access (BCA) and Naxo have a new beefy version of their binding that's just about ready for prime time. They were calling it the "Stomp." Apparently, Atomic ski company has some product they are already calling "Stomp," so Naxo has to change the name of their binding. So, BCA is having a "Name That Binding" contest, following from BCA:

"If you can come up with the new name we choose we’ll give you a free pair [of Naxo bindings]! Instructions: send an e-mail to info@bcaccess.com. In the subject header write "Nx21 Name Change." In the e-mail content write your binding name suggestions followed by your name and shipping address. In the case of duplicate names submitted by several people, we'll honor the first submission. Remember, the first two words of the binding name have to be the Naxo Nx21 followed by the new name. Thanks. Contest ends Thursday morning June 16th at 8am Mountain Time."
Is there any other name but "Nx21 Extreme?" We'll know in a few days.

June 13 -- 2005
Colorado -- Endless Winter for Backcountry Skiing

While we were down in the 'Juans experiencing our own version of Colorado's "spring," Mike Marolt and friends were doing this:

"WOW! Sat & Sun were the best backcountry skiing I have had in a very long time. We skied west Pearl chutes on Sat, and they really surprised me. They are a bit steeper than the Castle Couloir, and about 2000 feet to the valley. Got it with smooth hard snow and 4 inches of powder. Then climbed up and skied Mace Peak and we have never had it any better. Top to bottom smooth with the same powder. On Sunday tried to get up that chute north of the east face of Castle...but when we got into the thing it was waist deep mush. So skied back down the valley with awesome powder and then headed back up to west Pearl and then another chute off of Mace. It was full-on winter and 6” to a foot of cold dry powder. 'best, Mike"

And above photo came in today from Ted Mahon. The picture is from THIS MORNING backcountry skiing near Independence Pass, Colorado, skiing (and prancing) Geissler Peak.

June 12 - 2005
San Juans, Colorado Backcountry Skiing

Had a nice morning of backcountry skiing this past Friday, on Cinnamon Pass in Colorado's stupendous San Juan Mountains. Snow coverage in the 'Juans is huge -- hundreds of the higher lines are still in, though the snow surface is becoming a bit "moon scaped" with moderate sun cupping and runnels. We camped near Lake City and delivered the boy to Camp Redcloud for a month of rock climbing, back packing, and service projects with their excellent "TNT" work/play program. Caveat: If you wheel the high passes out of Lake City, you'll need an SUV or 4x4 truck. More, the roads are covered with incredibly sharp rock shards. Our stock Tacoma tissue thin street tires got a flat last year, and the same thing happened this year ( this time the tire was ruined)! As always, it was fun to visit Lake City, Colorado and see the town waking up for a summer of mountain recreation. Be your taste fourteener climbing or four-wheeling, Lake City has it all. The town's positive attitudes and recreation friendly atmosphere remind us of Moab, Utah. For backcountry skiers, the best thing about the Lake City area is that Hinsdale County opens two major alpine passes to automobile traffic while the spring snowpack is still strong and sweet. Cat drivers spend days in May plowing both Cinnamon and Engineer pass, providing incredible access to some of Colorado's most stupendous terrain on 14,000 foot giants such as Wetterhorn and Handies Peaks. Highly recommended. Driving on the high passes out of Lake City is somewhat moderate, though they're still what you'd call "four wheel drive" roads. Beware what type of tire you have, however, as those with less beef may be prone to damage on the area's sharp rocks. Local auto repair shops will tell you the same thing, as they point to large piles of damaged tires waiting for repair (or the dump trailer). This summer we'll ll be upgrading our Tacoma TAV tires to something beefy but street friendly -- will blog it here. Tire shopping, oh yeah, every guy's dream!

June 8 - 2005
Chute the Griz

Louie Dawson, this morning, Grizzly Chute, Sawatch Mountains, Colorado. Backcountry skiing adventure.

Grizzly Peak as viewed from Blue Peak near Independence Pass, Colorado. Grizzly Chute is the obvious line. This Colorado classic has been skied since at least the late 1950s, when Bil Dunaway (former owner of Aspen Times, 10th Mountain Vet, first ski descent Mount Blanc) made it a tradition to chute Grizzly every spring. Rated D9 (one short 45 degree section at top, most of couloir about 40 degrees, no terrain obstacles, safe runout).

Louie and I want to thank the crew today for being such terrific mountain companions. Ted, Aron, Bob, Sean, Steve -- thanks boys! The Dawsons are off to the San Juans the next few days, probably no blogging 'till we return, but you never know for sure. I'll bring the notebook 'puter and perhaps find a wireless connection in Lake City or Silverton. If so, bingo!

June 7 - 2005 PM Update
Central Colorado Backcountry Skiing Access -- Lincoln Creek

This just in: Lincoln Creek road in Colorado's Sawatch mountains opened today. Access to routes such as the Grizzly Chute is provided by this excellent dirt track that probes deep in the Sawatch. This is another road that the Forest Service or other 'crats tend to keep closed and gated every spring even after it's clear of snow -- an extremely annoying situation which for years has engendered all manner of interesting innovation. Local skiers travel the closed roads with everything from bicycles to ATVs, and some elites who know the right people even have keys to the gates. Why they can't just open the gates a few weeks earlier is a mystery of the ages (They play the "erosion" and "enviro" card quite frequently -- yeah right). At any rate, that's moot for this year and chuting the Griz is waiting for all you corn hunters out there.

June 7 - 2005
Independence Pass Backcountry Skiing -- Quick Hit

Up to Independence Pass again this morning. Quick hike up Blue Peak, hit a couloir on the east side, then climb it again for a nice 2,000 verts backcountry skiing down to parking. First time out with Ted Mahon, an Aspen local who leads a full life of aerobic challenge such as 100 mile running races and skiing dozens of fourteeners (he's up to 40 something). That's Ted in the photo above, on Blue Peak east side. The guy can climb fast and ski well, what more do you need?

Since Ted teaches skiing, I figured we'd put him to work. South slopes of Blue. Snowmass Mountain and Mount Sopris in background. Louie getting some tips.

June 6 - 2005
The True Summit Ski Descent -- Novel Approach

This just in from Ted Mahon: "Missouri Mountain on Sunday. Count it? I'm crossing my fingers. Pole touching benchmark, Christy and I built the snow ramp about 30 linear feet. Have you ever had to resort to this?" Well Ted, after everyone in the Dawson family finally quit howling with laughter at your novel approach to skiing from the EXACT summit of a Colorado fourteener (in the photo it appears Christy is laughing along with us), I have to answer your question. Nope, never threw any snow around to connect things up, but have skied over short sections of rock, grass, and dirt for same reasons. I like your way better than the billy goat method. Less ski tuning and less road rash. And does it count? Sure. But despite my sometimes overblown writing on the subject of what makes a legit 14er ski descent, I hope I'm not going to start arbitrating it. Folks like you and Sean Crossen seem to have a pretty good idea of what a legit descent entails. (If anyone wants to read my diatribe, it's here.) That is such a cool photo, with the benchmark within reach of the snow, and the ramp leading down to nirvana. I love the way you left just enough room to touch the mark with your ski pole, instead of building snow all the way to the exact rock. Might as well leave some room for doubt (or humor). Pure art.

Ted and Christy's Missouri Mountain snow ramp. Built with pride.

God built this part of their descent -- rather nicely I might add. A good job done by all!

previous backcountry skiing blog weblog

Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 35 years has been alpinism and back country skiing -- and all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and snowboarding, and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the famous Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, as well as tons of Randonnee rando telemark backcountry skiing info.

All material on this website is copyrighted. Permission is required for reproduction, electronic or otherwise. That includes publication and display on other websites by whatever means. For more about this, PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION. Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you choose to do all forms of randonnée and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information for a variety of aspects of backcountry skiing and outdoor recreation. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of WildSnow.com of any liability for injuries or losses incured while using such information.

Always go backcountry skiing with a partner, and learn about avalanche safety before you ski outside of ski and snowboard resorts. The best season for this sport is late winter and spring, when the snowpack compacts and avalanche danger is more predictable. The Colorado wilderness backcountry skiing season reaches its prime in May and June. Maritime snow such as that of the Pacific Northwest may be less avalanche prone than continental snow of that such as Colorado and Wyoming. The California Sierra also provides a relatively reliable snowpack for backcountry skiing, snowboarders, snowmobilers, telemarkers and the like. Backcountry skiing is a wonderful sport, but it can transition in moments from wonder to tragedy. You agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instuctions or templatates at your own risk, and waive Wildsnow.com its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items.

Keywords: Ski Information, Info, Outdoors, Wilderness Skiing, Randonnée and randonnée, Ski Mountaineering, also Ski Alpinismo and Backcountry Skiing.