TR: Rabbit Ears Range 11.24.04
TR: Rabbit Ears Range 11.24.04
Duph, maggot x, iskibc, and milli
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/041124r.jpg
While the rest of Colorado was getting shafted yet again by a split flow, we decided to head up near the border and try our luck on some Utah leftovers. Northern Colorado boasts some of the greatest and deepest snows in the entire state, and a lot of it is left untouched for long periods of time. The population of elk outnumbers most northern Colorado towns by a ratio of 5:1 on an average day. Access to the surrounding peaks gets a little tougher which helps in keeping the slopes untracked and left alone. It’s one of the last areas in Colorado where the word “sprawl” is still unknown and not talked about. Life is simple and the snow is deep.
Duph and I met up with maggot_x (almost certain we have crossed paths before ;) ) in a coffee shop downtown Fraser. The truck was packed, a few words exchanged and then we were quickly off for the trailhead. As we reached higher ground the valves opened up and flakes began to fall. Upon reaching the trailhead the only sound heard was the whispering winds filtering through the trees and the faint sound of flakes tapping against my jacket. It was going to be a good day. Fresh snow on the trees, a good crew, and lots of untouched above us just waiting for the takin’.
We skinned along an old mining road for a few miles before starting our climb up a tree lined ridge. The clouds got thicker and the snow began to fall harder as we gained elevation. By the time we reached the base of the ridge and began our climb the snow intensified even more and the base started to become bottomless. Maggot X graciously broke trail the entire way up through the deep snow. We got above tree line and the winds were brutal:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0238.jpg
Visibility was pretty good, but wind loading became a concern as we noticed quite a bit of slab formation. We stopped just above tree line and played it safe by skirting in and out of the trees down the side of a bowl. Just below a small rollover we found lot’s of blower for the taking. I spotted duph and maggot x as they ripped down the slope one-by-one leaving a contrail of cold smoke in their paths.
iskibc:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...s/041124d3.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...s/041124d2.jpg
duph:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0247.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...s/041124m1.jpg
maggot x:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0245.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0244.jpg
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0243.jpg
Several hundred feet of vert later and a few big grins we rushed to get our skins on for another lap. This time around we skinned up another tree lined ridge just looker’s left of the first skin track and began our ascent.
Round 2:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...s/041124d1.jpg
Another lap was in order so we skinned up again and went after it. This time around we decided to call it quits and skied a couple thousand feet back to the trailhead.
Where's Waldo?:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...cs/Cnv0249.jpg
Always a great time meeting new maggots. Was also good to make turns with duph again after a long hiatus.
