TR — Independence Pass, Colorado, Yesterday


Post by WildSnow.com blogger | 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.

IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE VIEWING SITE, TRY WHITELISTING IN YOUR ADBLOCKER, OTHERWISE PLEASE CONTACT US USING MENU ABOVE, OR FACEBOOK.
Posted by Lou Dawson on May 15, 2012 | Filed Under Trip Reports Backcountry 
«
 
»

Please Enjoy A Few Suggested WildSnow Posts

Taste Testing the Brown Corn Crop
Sean Crossen 14er backcountry skiing update
Talking in Torino, Italy – Presentation Goes We...
Tales from Japan Part 4: Tokachidake Pow Fest
Braun Huts and Friends Hut — Loop
Trooper Traverse Colorado — 1st One Day Crossin...
Troll Blood on the Stehoe — Skiing Norway
East Face of Castle Peak, Colorado — 1990 Throw...

Comments

8 Responses to “TR — Independence Pass, Colorado, Yesterday”

  1. Dostie May 15th, 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. 😉

  2. Lou May 16th, 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

  3. matt May 16th, 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

  4. Lou May 16th, 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

  5. jeffrey May 16th, 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

  6. monchO Tanaka May 16th, 2012 2:24 pm

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

  7. monchO Tanaka May 16th, 2012 2:25 pm

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

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

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

  Your Comments


  Recent Posts


Facebook Twitter Email Instagram Youtube

WildSnow Twitter Feed


 



  • Blogroll & Links


    • 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.

    Switch To Mobile Version