– 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 Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski 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
      • 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 Backcountry
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • WildSnow Ski Weight/Surface Comparison Chart — And More
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Ski Weight Comparo Charts
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Museum – Backcountry Ski 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
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

More Independence Pass Skiing News? Yep.

by Lou Dawson May 23, 2012
written by Lou Dawson May 23, 2012

The news is you can still ski up there, so we went and brought back the beta in the form of some photos and a bit of reporting.

Backcountry skiing Independence Pass, Colorado.

We figured this might be one of the last times we can easily get out skiing with a variety of test gear, so we set WildSnow Production Assistant Joe up with the full monty. Nearly everything you see in this photo is a WildSnow.com test and review item. G3 Zen Oxide skis paired with G3 climbing skins, Scarpa Rush ski boots, Mammut pants and Jacket, K2 Lockjaw poles and a slick Dakine backpack. The hat and gloves are Joe's. Click image to enlarge.

Backcountry skiing on Independence Pass, testing Dynafit Huascaran.

Some of you might remember Dave Downing, who did a number of guest blogs a while back and helped quite a bit with various WildSnow endeavors up to when he moved to Montana. He's visiting and had a dad's day off, so we set him up with my Green Machines and our pair of Dynafit Huascaran testers we're including in our Ultimate Quiver. The socks and shorts are his. We didn't ski a huge amount of vert, but we did hit everything from morning frozen to midday slush. Good test. Click image to enlarge.

Well, yesterday in the 12,500 foot and above zone conditions began the shift to a warmer snowpack on the easterly reaches, with northwest exposures becoming hardened by melt/freeze and not ready to ski till later in the day. I had my eye on an easterly line, but when we got there the eggshell had softened and you could easily punch a ski pole into the facet layers lurking underneath like some kind of HP Lovecraft beastie. Nonetheless, by staying to some lower angled terrain and simply cruising around, we made turns and had a nice day. Dirt hike to snow from upper hairpin trailhead on Western Slope side was still about 20 minutes. Overall, snowpack is looking thin.

3 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Low Mass Soft Shells – A Triad Shootout
next post
Best Wishes Federico Sbrissa — Dynafit Boot Man

3 comments

Phil May 23, 2012 - 12:48 pm

I have a solution to your problem of too much gear to test and not enough snow. feel free to send as many toys as you wish down south and I’ll give you a south hemishpere opinion.

Joe May 23, 2012 - 2:02 pm

Just awaiting the plane tickets…. I like to be seated in first class but I guess business class will do.

eric kane May 24, 2012 - 10:15 am

LOVE the site, new to backcountry touring and skinning. Im curious if you could advise me to some locations near independence pass that would be rideable in the first part of June. I know this year is thin but your the man that knows the snow. any leads you can give me help, There is so much stuff to look at and study its almost overwhelming. thanks for the help. eric

Comments are closed.

Gear Reviews

  • WildSnow Women’s Boot Roundup 2019-20

    November 21, 2019
  • Fritschi (Black Diamond) Xenic 10 Binding Technical Review

    November 11, 2019
  • FutureLight vs. Gore-tex — Ultimate Sweat Test

    October 17, 2019

Recent Comments

  • Hebs on Arcteryx Voltair 30 liter Airbag — Review
  • Tom on G3 Zed 2nd Edition Ski Touring Binding — Tech Look
  • Carol on G3 Zed 2nd Edition Ski Touring Binding — Tech Look
  • RobS on Field Treatment for Climbing Skin Failure
  • rob on Field Treatment for Climbing Skin Failure

Trip Reports

  • Denali 2019 — What Worked, What Didn’t Part I

    November 4, 2019
  • Early Season Turns and Mid Season Instability

    November 1, 2019
  • Trip Report — Mt. Olympus Ski Slog

    October 11, 2019

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Blake Gordon Comes Down From the Himal — TDP 69

    November 20, 2019
  • Angus Morrison Splitboard Car Talk – TDP 68

    October 30, 2019
  • Skiing the Lhotse Couloir — TDP 51 & Short Film

    October 23, 2019

Tips & Tricks

  • Travel Tips for Your Next Ski Trip

    December 2, 2019
  • Ski Crampons — When To, When Not To and How

    November 26, 2019
  • Denali 2019 — What Worked, What Didn’t Part II

    November 12, 2019

Ski Touring Stories

  • Confessions of Snowman

    November 23, 2019
  • A Grand Traverse Gone Awry

    November 15, 2019
  • Who Should Own ‘Backcountry’?

    November 2, 2019

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2019 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildsSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Trip Report — Early Turns in...

November 8, 2019

Denali 2019 — What Worked, What...

November 4, 2019

Early Season Turns and Mid Season...

November 1, 2019