Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring 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 ski touring news and information here.
All material on this website is copyrighted, the name WildSnow is trademarked, permission required for reproduction (electronic or otherwise) and display on other websites. PLEASE SEE OUR COPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK INFORMATION.
We include "affiliate sales" links with most of our blog posts. This means we receive a percentage of a sale if you click over from our site (at no cost to you). None of our affiliate commission links are direct relationships with specific gear companies or shopping carts, instead we remain removed by using a third party who manages all our affiliate sales and relationships. We also sell display "banner" advertising, in this case our relationships are closer to the companies who advertise, but our display advertising income is carefully separated financially and editorially from our blog content, over which we always maintain 100% editorial control -- we make this clear during every advertising deal we work out. Please also notice we do the occasional "sponsored" post, these are under similar financial arrangements as our banner advertising, only the banner or other type of reference to a company are included in the blog post, simply to show they provided financial support to WildSnow.com and provide them with advertising in return. Unlike most other "sponsored content" you find on the internet, our sponsored posts are entirely under our editorial control and created by WildSnow specific writers.See our full disclosures here.
Backcountry skiing is dangerous. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of ski mountaineering, skimo randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information and news on this website is intended only as general information. Due to human error and passing time, the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow owners and contributors of liability for use of said items for ski touring or any other use.
lou,
skiied the Sopris yesterday. We could see your skin track from the lake. I wondered were you guys came down. How is the coverage on the back side? I have for years now have wanted to ski the entire south face to Avalanche creek. Its probable too late this year. We skiied in the main Bowl below the East summit. The conditions were great to about 12,000. The upper elevations are still harboring quite a bit of winter condition. We turned around Just below the steep headwall. A thin breakable crust on the N aspect above 11,500 will be a lingering problem. Conversely all S aspects were slush, and easily touched off. We found some great corn right down the middle of the bowl. Dodging the scree as we went. Also had a guest in town for the ski, so walking the road from the crown was our right of passage that day. Next time (next week) the Yamaha shuttle will be in action!
ao
Hi Adam, the coverage on the back was better than I expected. The way to do it is just ski the good upper part then skin back up to Bull Saddle. I’ve done the descent to Avalanche Creek once. It was epic, and not in a good way. The terrain back there is weird. All the drains slant the wrong way and there are cliffs, waterfalls, etc.
We’re ready for the Yamaha shuttle (grin).
Good one, Lou. I always feel better above timberline, too.
Nice Work! I have been gazing up at Sopris from my Apt window on 2nd st. since I arrived in Carbondale this August. I have been chomping at the bit to ski it this year, and from the photos it looks primed. Where is the best place to access the trailhead for a spring descent? And, how long was that slog?
I’m also looking for people to get some spring descents in with this year. I don’t know to many people in town, so my BC trips have dwindled(insert frown here). If anyone is willing to take a chance on an unknown, I would love to tag along on some trips.
Cheers,
Chad
Lou, do I remember correctly that epic decent off the back side down into the valley?. I believe we were young and spry and (with Mr. Barlow in the lead) thought it would take us directly down to the hot springs in the valley below, we could even see a light at one of the houses on the road and used it as a beacon.
But behold, instead it took us until past dark to get down out of those reverse gullys and around the waterfalls. Not a recomended decent unless one is ready to slog, slog, slog.
Hi Craig, yeah, I recall we got trapped up there above an ice waterfall and had to bivvy, then finish the descent the next morning. It was epic, and amazing we didn’t just walk off a cliff. Not a recommended route!