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2011 - 2012 Colorado BC Conditions/Stoke Thread

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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
The snow is starting to stack up and the skiing is getting better out there every day. This thread is a place to post up observations, questions, trips reports etc. Post up some stoke!
Nov 10 2011 2:54AM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
You know, ive been out of town over a week now (Tahoe is just terrible right now, im frankly depressed) and it sounds like a it more snow has come into the area, maybe blown around a lot though.

It's a pretty safe zone to explore, but since a majority of it is above treeline it gets wind scoured really easily, which is what is sounds like might be right now.

Its definitely worth a shot, just stay on the road until youre above the actual basin.
Dec 6 2011 12:52PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
Sounds good, when Im back in town in a week or so I'll hit you up. My first day home I'm definitely going to check out how Vail pass is looking. If anyone is wondering, its been sunny and windy in tahoe for 4 weeks now, not a trace of real snow, and no signs of snow in the next ten days. Im going crazy here.
Dec 6 2011 12:54PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
Sounds good, when Im back in town in a week or so I'll hit you up. My first day home I'm definitely going to check out how Vail pass is looking. If anyone is wondering, its been sunny and windy in tahoe for 4 weeks now, not a trace of real snow, and no signs of snow in the next ten days. Im going crazy here.
Dec 6 2011 12:54PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Sounds good, sorry to hear about the Tahoe snow conditions.
Dec 7 2011 11:03PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
10% chance of snow turned into 4 inches at the berthoud summit lot. fun day...

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Dec 8 2011 5:16PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
what'd you ski up there?
Dec 8 2011 10:42PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
hells a bunch, once through floral which was meh. west side face was alright but hells had unconsolidated pow underneath the new snow, so bueno. definitely worth checking out

Dec 8 2011 11:45PM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
fuck yeah summit county is lookin' better than out here, nice work man.
Dec 9 2011 12:03AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
actually it's in grand county. I needed to get out of summit, it's pretty slim here right now...
Dec 9 2011 12:06AM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
Sorry I wasn't lucky enough to grow up in Colorado, but wherever you were it looks damn good.
Dec 9 2011 12:19AM
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gretzels
Posts: 170 - Karma: 339
skied berthoud this morning and there was some pretty sweet surface hoar going on. I also went up mayflower gulch and noticed some there this afternoon. it has been staying calm and below freezing during the days, so just keep your eye's peeled out there! I imagine that it should warm up and disappear before the next snow. ( at least I hope!)
Dec 11 2011 12:53AM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
Skied Park Cone in Taylor park today. Virtually everything was rotten faceted snow up to 3 ft deep in places. Skiing was good and sporty, but it is going to be sketchy out there once we get some more snow.
Dec 11 2011 2:12AM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Looks like basically the entire state has a snowpack of facets (except for maybe the San Juans). Thats cool to hear that you skied the park cone jworrel, I've always wondered if people ski that. I'll be back in CB in a day or two, I'll hit you up when I get down there. I'd like to get down to the San Juans for some missions until we get some more snow further north, maybe even hit up the locals day at wolfie on wed if this next storm comes through for them.

Just got back from Cali, thought I'd do some touring while I was still on the front range. Checked out Hidden Valley hoping that it would be less crowded than Berthoud, I was wrong about that:
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The snow above treeline was fiercesome hardslab:
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Below treeline the snow was actually quite good, the snowpack relatively deep, not as much faceting as I've seen closer to I-70 or around CB:
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Unfortunately, Hidden Valley is just such a small area, and it was so busy up there that its pretty tracked out now. Looking forward to hitting up the terrain park once there is so more snow up there.
Dec 11 2011 10:21AM
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gretzels
Posts: 170 - Karma: 339
Nice Mike!

Looks like you guys had fun in RMNP. and yeah, about the facets....they're everywhere! I dug several snowpits with an avy class this weekend on mayflower and they were very similar on multiple aspects: pretty indistinguishable layers and lots of faceting. We even found some depth hoar crystals that were like 4mm. damn those dirty hoars!
I am curious to see what this means for our snowpack for the rest of the season.....
Dec 11 2011 10:32PM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
Sounds good I'll be around, but unfortunately I might have to work some mid week days this week, because I'm headed back to the east coast for a week and a half. Send me a message when you get into town and I'll let you if I can go or at I might know where it might be good. So far it looks like the San Juans are looking like they will see the brunt of this storm, so if it's local appreciation day then Wolf Creek will probably be your best bet. I have spoken to a bunch of people from town that have been there over the past few weeks and they have said that it was borderline great.
Dec 12 2011 12:51AM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Thanks for the beta Grete!

Ryan and I headed up to Bert for some laps today. We skied a lap in HHA, and two from the west side summit down through the 90s. I'll try not to be a negative hater here, but no promises... The top of HHA above the roll was good, then it was horrible: six inches of facets on top of rocks. South chute roll on the west side was really good and supportable. The meadow area off the west side summit was REALLY fun, lots of great wind lips to play on. The 90s were fun where they were thoroughly packed down. Otherwise they were terrifying. Ryan triggered one small loose snow avalanche that slid essentially to the ground and we observed another larger one nearby.

WTF happened here (note ski tracks)?
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Some lovely downclimbing in the 90s:
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Ryan enjoying some nice surface facets on the west side:
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Honestly, HHA and the 90s today had the worst snow I have skied in the BC this year, particularly with respect to stability and supportability. I was constantly worried about punching through and harpooning myself on a rock or log.

Dec 12 2011 1:11AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
^yeah mike I went through a small section of hanging meadow and it was super sketchy, just kept it as far as hightrail the rest of the day. I think if we get a substantial dump of top of what's there now it'll conjure up some pretty deadly slides.
Dec 12 2011 11:17AM
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
what are you guys takes on the weather? seem like this storm is staying south, with high pressure returning, hopefully for not another 2 weeks. not stoked up north
Dec 12 2011 1:34PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
How far south? I might have to hit wolf creek or monarch if they get snow
Dec 12 2011 3:28PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
Wolf creek will probably be seeing the best of this storm.
Dec 12 2011 3:40PM
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
san juans looking like they are gonna get hit pretty hard. is it just me or is this storm creeping every so slowly north??
Dec 12 2011 8:25PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
the winds will shift from SW to W/NW come tuesday night so vail area could sneak away with 5~ inches, but I bet only 1-3 for summit. Otherwise, I really want to make a trip to wolf creek cause they're gonna get pounded.
Dec 12 2011 8:55PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
i may be tripping down, but can't ski til friday, idk if it'll be worth it by then
Dec 12 2011 9:03PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
I heard it's been skiing great even days without snow. it's been nice and cold and the crowds there are minimal.
Dec 12 2011 9:10PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
anyone know of good camp spots nearby?
Dec 12 2011 9:12PM
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
unless there is a major breakup i think vail could see more than 5 inches..
Dec 12 2011 10:43PM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
I'm pretty sure one of the lots there is legit if you check with the mountain before it closes that night. I'm not sure if the make you leave if it's dumping or if they have planned any avy control work on the highway.
Dec 13 2011 12:21AM
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dwigt
Posts: 461 - Karma: 2
two weekends ago i camped in my car at the parking lot on top of wolf creek pass which is just a little past the ski area if you're coming from the front range. it snowed a foot overnight but there was no problem with snowplows or avy work or anything like that....and the 35 inches the next day were so worth it, definitely the deepest day i've ever had on skis
Dec 14 2011 12:23AM
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dwigt
Posts: 461 - Karma: 2
two weekends ago i camped in my car at the parking lot on top of wolf creek pass which is just a little past the ski area if you're coming from the front range. it snowed a foot overnight but there was no problem with snowplows or avy work or anything like that....and the 35 inches the next day were so worth it, definitely the deepest day i've ever had on skis
Dec 14 2011 12:23AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,182
vail's storm total: 5 inches.

you must not know how storms like the last one work.... lol
Dec 15 2011 10:56AM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
Anyone head up to East Vail chutes yet? I'm back in town and skied vail yesterday with some pretty good snow, much better than anywhere in Tahoe/Mammoth.

Might skin out there with a few buddies Saturday morning and do a double dip lap. Any thoughts?
Dec 16 2011 11:32AM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Finally back in CB. We experienced a LOT of sloughing yesterday in the Anthracites, once all the way to the ground. Today we didn't experience any sloughing or even observe any above treeline. But, the base wasn't as supportable as it has been, no doubt from the all of the recent faceting.

Yesterday:
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Today:
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More on the blog.
Dec 16 2011 5:40PM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 134
these are from october and novemeber at grande in silverton and red mtn pass:

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Dec 16 2011 10:03PM
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jworrell
Posts: 45 - Karma: 32
Sick, I should have went out there. If your still in town I heard the the Slate is getting better out towards Pittsburg. Flying out of town for 10 days tomorrow, but lets try to catch up the next time your out here. Pray for snow.
Dec 16 2011 11:09PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Word, hit me up when you are back in town. Actually skied up on Purple Ridge yesterday, I bet it got destroyed today and yesterday though. Saw lots of large natural loose avalanches on Schuylkill as we drove by.
Dec 17 2011 8:03PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
got talked out of it by a friend, and heard today that there's even brown showing up there... sigh
Dec 18 2011 9:42PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
Heading up to rmnp tomorrow morning.
Trying to see how the conditions are, and get a tour in on my new boots beforey hut trips
Dec 19 2011 1:34AM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
there's not a whole lot of snow in rmnp. There's enough to get some turns in, but another foot or 2, or 3, would be great.
Skied up around lake hiayaha(sp?) out of the bear lake trailhead
Dec 19 2011 8:15PM
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Dntel.
Posts: 1026 - Karma: 21
anybody have any beta on the indian peaks area around eldora?
Dec 22 2011 3:57PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Don't know how much time you've spent up there or if you are looking for current conditions... But I would recommend checking out the Caribou Hill zone. Not long vertical or steep, but fun rolling terrain that is good for some booters. Friend of mine was up there the other day, looks like the snowpack is relatively deep up there.

Closer to Eldo, there is the terrain above Lost Lake, which can be lapped from the ski area. I bet Meadow Mountain bowl outside of Allenspark is also skiing pretty well.
Dec 23 2011 6:58PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Hoping to check out Rollins Pass or the Terrain Park tomorrow. Never been to Rollins Pass and I've been out of colorado for the last week. Anybody have rollins pass info they can share with me or beta on conditions?
Dec 26 2011 1:04AM
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greens*
Posts: 280 - Karma: 8
hey guys, read the entire thread which was very helpful but Im still not accustomed to all the BC lingo and references to certain areas within the passes. its my second year out in colorado. last year i skied berthoud once in november and loveland pass a few times throughout the season. this year i picked up a beacon and some new pow skis. i get back out to CO in less than a week and really want to get into the BC scene. I do not have an AT setup nor a sled. any thoughts on some trips i should make? thanks.
Dec 26 2011 5:07PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Skied some really really fun laps west of CB today. Found extremely unstable snow where windslabs have formed on top of the facets. Where there was no wind loading sloughing on steep pitches was constant.

Click for larger image

More on the blog.
Dec 30 2011 1:16AM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Quick overview, I'm definitely forgetting some stuff. If you have more specific questions let us know! Also, idk what part of the state you live in, but assuming Northern Colorado.

Start by checking the Colorado Avalanche Information Center frequently so you can see current conditions and how conditions are evolving over the course of the winter. Also, monitor the national weather service, so that you can anticipate and note wind, snow, and temperature events.

Attend a free avalanche awareness class from Friends of Berthoud Pass.

Currently our biggest problems are: 1) our shallow snowpack which over time has produced cohesionless snow(facets). 2) The development of windslabs.

Areas are limited without a touring setup. Berthoud and Loveland Pass are your best bets for BC. Many resorts have backcountry access gates that provide easy access without needing to skin.


Dec 30 2011 1:26AM
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HarryPotter
Posts: 359 - Karma: 52
Yo I was out at rollins on my friend's snowmobile the 17th.It was pretty mellow, fun sledding, we skied only a couple lines and they were somewhat exposed, not steep enough to slide. Hit one rock that tore up my bases but they have gotten a bit of snow since then so it is probably okay. Snow seemed good as far as stability. we only went out a couple miles on the machines (they were from the eighties) but I'm sure if you go further there'll be more goods. That was my first time though so not sure, but some guys in the parking lot said it would be better out further.
Dec 30 2011 8:12PM
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HarryPotter
Posts: 359 - Karma: 52
Also does anyone know how vail pass has been?
Dec 30 2011 8:17PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
Cool, thanks for the info. Were you on the east or west side of the pass?
Dec 31 2011 2:25PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
its bad, even for sledding. Went sledding there yesterday and it was bad, even set off a pretty big wind slab avalanche. I wouldnt go there for skiing anytime soon.
Jan 1 2012 6:45PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
also, checked out silverton thursday. Terrain there is UNREAL gnarly. I havent been scared on skis in a while. Unfortunately the snow sucked there too. Definitely trying to go back if they get a storm, itd be worth the money with a guide.
Jan 1 2012 6:51PM
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JIBpsy^^
Posts: 2851 - Karma: 36
summit got fucked in the last few days. Practically no new snow and 60 plus wind. wind slabs bare spots and gnarly cornices. Places off to the side of runs at breck got blown clean yesterday.
Jan 1 2012 8:53PM
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