Summer backcountry?

SILENCER · 08-02-2006

This is probably old hat to many of you, but a group of friends are trying to ski every month of the year. June saw us at Rollins Pass and July was St. Mary's. We're looking to hit August & September (and then it becomes easy as Loveland usually opens late October). Most of the accessible stuff seems to have melted, and I'm very new to the scene in general.

Can anyone recommend some glaciers or snowfields that hold snow all year with decent vert? Even more than 500ft or so? And hopefully that aren't 5+ mile hikes in?

I've heard there's some good stuff in RMNP, but they tend to be long hikes to get to this time of year. Any ideas anyone?

Finally, some guys tele and some alpine so we're both types.

sandbagger · 08-08-2006

all the answers you seek are here: http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=23693

photos here: http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=24095

here's a quick pic:

Steve Kahn · 08-08-2006

hey - help educate a non-backcountry skiier...is that shit that fun? looks pretty rutty.

just wondering.

sandbagger · 08-08-2006

Well, it depends on how you define fun. I wasn't there, but have done some spring skiing. The key is to not view the skiing as the "goal" that makes it worthwhile. If you view the day as hiking in a beautiful place, getting exercise with friends, and as a bonus you get to ski down instead of hike down, then it is SOOOO worth it. But if you are in it just for the skiing, you'll say "damn, I just hiked miles and miles for this???"

And the snow can vary, sometimes it is "rutty" but soft, and other times it's just shite.

SILENCER · 08-10-2006

Cant thank you guys enough, this is all good info.

In June we did the snowfields above Yankee Doodle Lake, how close is Skyscraper from that? That looks like our next assault.

And we'll definitely be doing some recon on Ptarmigan in RMNP.

Cheers!