– 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
   

Colorado Backcountry Skiing Corn Report

by Lou Dawson April 27, 2007
written by Lou Dawson April 27, 2007

Got out yesterday and the snow was not as baked down as we expected, but by today it should be getting firm with a true corn snow surface developing on all but higher northerly aspects. Warm temps this weekend will make early starts mandatory.

Backcountry skiing in Colorado.
Lisa harvesting up in Marble yesterday. Only a few good days left up there below timberline unless we get more snow. This weekend might be good unless it gets so warm we don’t get a firm overnight freeze of the snow surface. If you go, you’ll find plenty of parking up past the turnout most people use. Unless the snow is firm enough to boot a pair of ski crampons can be handy.
5 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Black Diamond Tracer Helmet – Lightweight Versatile Protection
next post
Steep the Movie — Has Been Seen

5 comments

sherryb April 27, 2007 - 5:00 pm

Spent some time on Vail Pass today. Not spring corn here either.
Skied W through WSW lines only and even then it was over by noon! A little tricky getting down through the trees to the car at 10,600! We’ve got a strong crust (about 1″ thick) on top of transitioning snow and 3″ new on top of that this morning. Just thick enough and dense enough to make early turns on W fun. The transition to spring snowpack is at a snail’s pace; a lot of winter structure here yet. Bummer.

I hope the snow up on Independence Pass will hold up till the road opens. The snow at my pass is too low and too warm!

Dana April 27, 2007 - 6:49 pm

Thanks for the info. We are thinking about getting up SUPER early and skiing the east face of Garrett (Snowmass). What are your thoughts about east faces this late in the season?

Lou April 27, 2007 - 6:49 pm

Yeah Sherry, April might be sort of the new May, but acts an awful lot like April with a non-compacted snowpack in many places. We’re skiing Uneva off Vail Pass next weekend and I hope there is some snow! If it’s totally out of condition we’ll probably try Berthoud.

What do you think?

sherryb April 27, 2007 - 7:26 pm

Uneva Bowl was the part of Vail Pass that I skied today. I felt that the coverage was excellent (for Colorado this time of year). I have not been on the backside of Uneva (north face) lately so I can only vouch for W-S-E aspects.
Snotel data shows a snow depth is quite a bit better at Berthoud (63 in to our 42 and Indy Pass at about 43). Just depends on how far you want to drive. Also, I guess if some long term unseasonably warm conditions come along, Berthoud might be a better call as it is higher.
The only real problem with Vail at this time is the rotten snow in the trees. That problem can be solved by parking at the westbound side CDOT sand shed about a mile west of the Vail Pass exit. Just get off I-70 at the pass and go back to it. Lots of locals park there is the spring for bc skiing. CDOT doesn’t usually give anyone a hard time if you go to the end of the entrance ramp and get off the pavement. By parking there you can get back to your vehicle by skiing open areas.
I will probably get up there again a couple days this coming week. I can let you know if conditions take a turn for the worse.

Lou April 28, 2007 - 5:35 am

Dana, east does get first sunhit so get there early so you have options. Once the east faces consolidate they can be good on into late morning or even all day when temps are cooler, but this time of year can be a bit strange as you can have a nice crust with corn, then when the sun hits it softens the crust and you break through. If you don’t get a good freeze in the trees that can be a problem as well, since you’ll be sinking on the way back. Tricky but worth the effort. Good to be careful.

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Lou Dawson 2 on Ski Touring News Review February 2021 — Backcountry.dot.com, Critters, Shark Tank, more
  • CBlatter on Ski Touring News Review February 2021 — Backcountry.dot.com, Critters, Shark Tank, more
  • Jack on Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird Backcountry
  • Paul Diegel on Ski Touring News Review February 2021 — Backcountry.dot.com, Critters, Shark Tank, more
  • Eric Steig on Ski Touring News Review February 2021 — Backcountry.dot.com, Critters, Shark Tank, more

Gear Reviews

  • 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
  • A Carbon Fibre Freeride Boot? — Pierre Gignoux Mountain Review

    February 1, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

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

    January 29, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 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

  • Warm Toes for Cold Smoke — Tips To Keep Your Feet Toasty

    February 8, 2021
  • The Five Pillars of Skintrack Wisdom

    December 17, 2020
  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 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

Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird...

February 24, 2021

Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle...

February 16, 2021

Cooke City in Photos — Montana...

January 29, 2021