Trooper Traverse 2006 – Part Two

Post by WildSnow.com blogger Lou Dawson | May 16, 2006      

Camp in North Fork Lake Creek. Scott carried a small BD tent that worked well. Route crosses Continental Divide, via John Jay Pass on the ridge in the background. This was the evening that Mike’s Silvretta Pure binding broke, so we had some excitement doing field repairs. The weather had been unstable since day one, but we got a report via sat-phone that said it would stabilize tomorrow so we went to bed optimistic.

I’m cozy in a zero rated Marmot down sleeping bag, with BD Winter Bivy cover. The sky cleared that night and we had a low of 16 degrees F.

Louie heading up to the Continental Divide and John Jay Pass, Darling Pass in background.

David just below the pass, following his father’s footsteps 73 years later.

John Jay Pass is actually two passes. You go over the higher one, drop to the north, then follow a sort of “shelf” west to a ridge overlooking the Lost Man drainage. Thankfully this northerly snow was incredibly solid and safe, as Colorado snow around 13,000 feet can stay “winter-like” well into spring.

Group shot above Lost Man drainage, looking at Williams Mountains (which we’ll cross in a few hours). Incredible terrain everywhere, and you’re in the middle of it! The day was bluebird, as were the remainder to the end of our trip. If you’re going to get any crumby weather, it’s best to get it at the start of the journey and end the trip on a high note of blue sky. Excellent it worked out that way, though I was a bit undergunned as to sunscreen and got somewhat cooked. Turned out the 30-block I brought behaved more like 15 block (it was one of those sunscreens that’s more like moisturizer lotion than anything else, which I thought might be a good idea while planning for the trip. Woops.) Note, I’ve tried all sort of sun blocks and in my opinion the best for extreme spring skiing conditions is still Banana Boat Maximum SPF50. Wish I’d had it with me. SPF 50 might sound like a joke if you’re spending a few hours outside on a chairlift, but during a ski traverse you can spend 12 or more hours a day in bright reflected sunlight and need more than the normal protection.

Heading down Lost Man to the Williams, gliding on skis and making a few turns gets you a couple of miles along the route in just a few minutes. Beats hiking.

From the crest of the Williams Mountains you take a descent we call the Trooper Couloir. It’s a fantastic ski run that Louie appears to be enjoying.

Steve smiles in the Trooper Couloir.

Rest stop in Hunter Creek below Trooper Couloir. We’ll ski a few more miles down the valley and do a snow camp for our second to last night. Check back tomorrow for Part Three, slogging Hunter Creek and luxury at the McNamara Hut.

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Comments

  Your Comments

• Lisa: Christopher, Excellent point. I’ve been thing about getting some PT, and ...
• Christopher: Lisa: This seems to work well for you. Makes me think that maybe the right...
• Kristian: The picture of the fire extinguisher reminds me of the Ohio Players. And...
• Collin: Hi all...had to take a break from all the binding nonsense and actually ski...
• Jim Milstein: Since you survived your fall, Lou, I'm just wondering whether your cuffs we...
• Jim Milstein: Just curious, Lou, since you survived your fall, I'm wondering whether your...
• Lou Dawson 2: I think it could cause some wear after quite a few days, I don't prefer it....
• Lou Dawson 2: I fell today. Skiing downhill with my heels unlatched. I guess I'll never m...
• Kyle: I just purchased some ZED bindings but haven't mounted them yet as I have b...
• Jim Milstein: To Lou's question, Who falls, anyway? If it is you, stop right now! You cou...
• Lisa: Chase, total weight for my set is 3lbs 11oz. I didn’t notice the weight, p...
• Mitch: Thanks for the thorough review as usual. I've had a tlt7 for two seasons bu...
• XXX_er: hey Alberto, I figured Dynafit would probably stiff ya but thats that's gr...
• Rickardo H: Well that's all rum. Via my ski shop at home the UK rep also confirmed that...
• HBS: Why not adjust the canting of the boot instead of shimming the binding and ...
• Chase Harrison: Hey Lou, How do they perform skining up hill? Do they add weight at all...
• Lou Dawson 2: Hi Pavol, first, try using our site search function, at top of page, to lef...
• Alberto: After a couple of mails with Dynafit support they sent me 2 new Radical ST ...
• Pavol: Hi Lou, can you expand on your comment about use of ramps and shims with te...
• Kyle: That's fantastic that the device is letting you ski pain free, a great gift...
• Lou Dawson 2: Seemed ok in that regard David, though of course the rod and spring cartrid...
• DavidB: Hi Lisa / Lou, if you were skiing the mojo inbounds on firm snow and crashe...
• Jim Milstein: Ditto Kristian. The other day I popped in the cramps for the first time. T...
• Kristian: I use the ATK Trofeo elevators as opposed to rotating the binding also. Th...
• Jim Milstein: This season I am using the ATK Trofeo, which really has but one heel height...
• VT skier: John B, I regularly ski inbounds, at the resort, on a similar AT binding t...
• eric: https://www.folksam.se/media/S40056-folksam-ski-helmet-test-report-2019_tcm...
• Kristian: Chemical battery technologies like lithium can hold more energy, but they h...
• Joe John: Ha ha! Way to go Lou. My knees probably will need a pair soon!...
• Lou Dawson 2: After I right-click translated, it seemed to default to English, or else Go...

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