– 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
   

TR — Independence Pass, Colorado, Yesterday

by Lou Dawson May 15, 2012
written by Lou Dawson May 15, 2012

Local beta for those who asked: We did four laps in Mountain Boy basin, skied from about 7:00 am to around noon. We were amazed at how the snow surface and density held up. Not sure that’ll happen once things warm up more, but that’s the way it was May 15, 2012.

Bob Perlmutter in Mountain Boy today, Independence Pass, Colorado.

Bob Perlmutter in Mountain Boy, Independence Pass, Colorado. Illustrating news of our local snow conditions. Click to enlarge.

8 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
First Time On The Haute Route, Part 1
next post
First Time On The Haute Route, Part 2

8 comments

Dostie May 15, 2012 - 9:25 pm

As ever, it sure seems like even though the season was low in a lot of places, the quality of the snow was purty darn good. Your photo indicates that Lou.

Furthermore, spring always delivers good skiing. When hasn’t it?

Too bad more people don’t experience spring skiing. But maybe we should be thankful they don’t. 😉

Lou May 16, 2012 - 5:03 am

Indeed, the skiing we’ve been doing is fine, as good as ever. Overall it’s obvious the snowpack is thinner and probably won’t last as long as normal, and the lines are not as long in terms of vertical because melt zone in higher. Around here, I’m also concerned about facet layers causing instability on steeper slopes once the snowpack warms. It’s definitely not the big thick dense pack that we sometimes get, and you nearly always get in Sierra. Lou

matt May 16, 2012 - 7:26 am

Thanks for the Beta Lou!

I can’t wait to get out there this weekend!

The facets are a big concern, I fear once the snow pack does warm – there are going to be a lot of wet slides in a short amount of time.

Thanks again and looking forward to the quiver review.

Matt

Lou May 16, 2012 - 7:30 am

Hi Matt, yeah, be careful, slope angle will be key. Also good to use fairly fat skis as the exit routes once warm include lots of hoar ponds. Early starts a good idea as well. I think we’ll bump it back an hour next time we go, unless we get another cold snap. Lou

jeffrey May 16, 2012 - 10:33 am

great report, keep them coming!

lou, great meeting you on sunday and thanks again for the hospitality. Truly a highlight of my season!

Here’s to hoping she’s still holding in a week, i have too much work and travel to ski…I should know better than to schedule trips during corn season!

-jeff from vail

monchO Tanaka May 16, 2012 - 2:24 pm

These mountains are awesome, I hope visit them sometime in my life

monchO Tanaka May 16, 2012 - 2:25 pm

These mountains are awesome, I hope visit them sometime in my lifeeee

Scott S. Allen May 19, 2012 - 10:12 am

who can I call to find local conditions for skiing off trail ridge road in RMNP?

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Aidan on Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review
  • Travis on Euro Puro Amoro — La Sportiva Orizion Touring Pant
  • Travis on Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review
  • TSO on Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry
  • Slim on Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

Gear Reviews

  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021
  • Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampon Review

    January 4, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • A Lifetime of Skiing the Heights — Natural Progression Book Review

    December 11, 2020

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

Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains...

January 7, 2021

Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir...

November 14, 2020

Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

October 6, 2020