– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

White Paint Covers The Snirt — At Least For a Few Hours…

by Lou Dawson May 29, 2009
written by Lou Dawson May 29, 2009
Geissler Mountain, Independence Pass.

Geissler Mountain

Aieeeeee, the brown snow! Where does it lurk? How do we escape it?

With some help from the weather, our alpine got a good painting of white over the last seven days. Above timberline the corn snow skiing was perfect yesterday, should be good this morning, and a few lines will still be high quality over the weekend. So we hit Geissler Mountain, a short distance NW of Independence Pass on the Continental Divide here in Colorado. Two runs of perfect corn snow. Who would have figured?

Backcountry Skiing

Kate Howe steps happily to the top of Geissler Mountain Number One (easternmost of the three summits), Independence Pass area, Colorado.

Kate blogs here.

Backcountry Skiing

Dave Downing cranks out some curves.

Backcountry Skiing

Kurt Fehrenbach tasting.

Backcountry Skiing

Kate showing extra confidence due to her nice Poc helmet.

Backcountry Skiing

The legendary Perl on the first uphill, BCA Squall backpack still providing trim haulage.

Back tomorrow, and the next day, till it’s gone. I might even test the Onyx binders again, imagine that!


View Larger Map
9 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Alpinist Magazine — First Issue With New Publisher
next post
Fifteenth Annual Barbecue on the Pass

9 comments

Gary Hollenbaugh May 29, 2009 - 1:17 pm

Grizzly chute full of chunks from Spring avy action but no snirt thanks to the recent snowfall up there; bicycle trip in to reservoir is sweet with no infernal combustion allowed! Telemarking is worth the trip but snow is scanty for this time of year. Cheers, Gary

Christian May 29, 2009 - 1:57 pm

Lou:

How did indy peak look?

Lou May 29, 2009 - 2:06 pm

I was up there again today, brown is starting to show through in quite a few places, still nice and white above about 11,800 feet. Should still be some white tomorrow and Sunday.

Kate Howe May 29, 2009 - 6:32 pm

Hey, Lou! Thanks for the post, it was awesome to ski with you, what a DAY! Thanks for your patience while I had my ass handed to me in a basket (gasp, wheeze). What a treat. My post will be up tomorrow, I hope… meanwhile, here’s my pics! http://www.flickr.com/photos/katehowe/sets/72157618980904422/
It was a blast, thanks again!
Kate

Lou May 29, 2009 - 6:40 pm

Nice job Gary!

Mark W May 29, 2009 - 10:23 pm

Fantastic as always. I intend to ski in the spring in a similar fashion for many, many years to come.

scotthsu May 30, 2009 - 7:54 am

Lou, thanks for blogging on the the improved conditions of Indy Pass! If you have a moment, would you mind letting me know whether the NW couloirs on Blue Pk are skiable from the summit or from somewhat near the summit?

Also, what’s your most recommended line or two right now in the overall basin above the Upper Hairpin? I hope to get up there from NM for a few turns on Sunday!

Thanks!

Lou May 30, 2009 - 2:30 pm

Hi Scott, the Blue Peak couloirs were being skied today, just climb them from the bottom, they don’t connect at the top. In terms of lines in the Geissler basin, just ski what’s still white. Try to leave the trailhead around 7:00 at the latest and hit the southerly face first. Should be good for a day or two more, then that’s it unless we get another whitewash.

scotthsu May 31, 2009 - 5:29 pm

Thanks Lou. We skied one of the NW couloirs below Blue Pk this morning (the one that gets you closest to the summit at the moment, a little to the south of the summit). I was afraid it’d be punchy and breakable, but it turned out to be a nice smooth white layer on a firm base that was pretty fun (even early ~9:20AM)! Definitely worth the trip from NM! (Fun snowclimb too.) Grizzly chute to the south is looking amazing!

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • VTskier on Voluntary PIEPS Beacon Recall Issued in Europe, Plans for US
  • Tuck on The Bunion Solution — Extreme Mod For Wide Feet
  • mario renzi on Light(ish) & Robust — 2021/22 Fischer Transalp First Look
  • Tom on The Bunion Solution — Extreme Mod For Wide Feet
  • Travis on Ski Touring Boots 2021-22 — Upgrades to Past Favs

Gear Reviews

  • Light(ish) & Robust — 2021/22 Fischer Transalp First Look

    February 18, 2021
  • Skis From the Future — 2021/22 Is All About the Freeride

    February 11, 2021
  • An Education on the Ephemeral Glide — Bases, Wax and DPS Phantom

    February 4, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird Backcountry

    February 24, 2021
  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

    February 16, 2021
  • Cooke City in Photos — Montana Trip Report

    January 29, 2021

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Drinking Beer with the Bench Girls — Totally Deep Podcast 84

    February 12, 2021
  • Griffin Post Stays Home — Totally Deep Podcast 83

    January 10, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

    February 16, 2021
  • Warm Toes for Cold Smoke — Tips To Keep Your Feet Toasty

    February 8, 2021
  • The Five Pillars of Skintrack Wisdom

    December 17, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A

    January 18, 2021
  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just...

March 3, 2021

Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird...

February 24, 2021

Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle...

February 16, 2021