Question for the CO mags

**surfsnowywaves** · 12-15-2005, 09:24 PM

OK, I have searched for a bit to no avail. I found a couple of old TR's to La Plata Peak and Mt Bartlett and such, but I am still at a bit of a loss.

Here is my predicament:
It appears that I will not be able to go to Utah this winter (major bummer), so seeing as it is my senior year of high school, I have decided that in the late spring/early summer I will head out to Colorado to a) hit up A-Basin and B) live in a tent with my snowboard for a while. The time pocket I am aiming to hit would be the middle of June. I graduate on June 2, and looking at my calendar of events, I have to be back home by June 20th (heading to Philly for a week on June24th).
My question for you guys would be, which mountains tend to have the best conditions at this time of year? I'm looking for something thats not going to be over my head (no 50 degree couloirs) but has the opportunity for some fun (cliff drops, whatever, snow). I dont mind how long of a hike it is, because as aforementioned, I want to live out of a tent for a while.

Also, if any of you mags want to hook up for some on-snow days, feel free to tell me. Im more than happy to meet new people.

**jpcski** · 12-15-2005, 09:32 PM

I would say it is way too early to predict what will be good in June. It all depends on how much snow falls this winter. But, I have had good success with the Indian Peaks Wilderness west of Boulder. You can always find something around Summit County too.

Check out Front Range Descents by Ron Haddad. This is a good book with a lot of pointers and time frames. Amazon has it...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096...lance&n=283155

Z · 12-15-2005, 09:34 PM

Im pretty sure Abasin closed last year on June 5th. Latest in CO.

I think they plan to close the same time so that would leave you only 2-3 ski days. They had the snowpack last year to stay open a good while longer, but the money just wasnt there. BC in June is great.

good luck

edit - around that time us CO ppl will be at abasin every opportunity getting drunk and skiing. so post up...

**CantDog** · 12-15-2005, 10:23 PM

Go hike in somewhere and put your tent up. Then ski corn all morning. Come back to tent. Retrieve fishing pole. Fish through dusk. Repeat next day.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 12-16-2005, 12:36 AM

IPW is AWESOME in June...

**mtnbikerskierchick** · 12-16-2005, 12:55 AM

A-basin usually stays open the latest. They did close early to mid-June last year, but part of that was due to an in-bounds avalanche. A-basin largely planned on staying open for the 4th of July and had the snowfall to do so. But, then, a rare wet-slab avalanche happened, causing some folks to be scared (1 man died) and others to just not want to ski there b/c the best things to ski were trashed by the avalanche. It is likely that A-basin will be open for at least part of your trip in early June, but how long they stay open is a factor of mother nature and money.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 12-16-2005, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by mtnbikerskierchick

A-basin usually stays open the latest. They did close early to mid-June last year, but part of that was due to an in-bounds avalanche. A-basin largely planned on staying open for the 4th of July and had the snowfall to do so. But, then, a rare wet-slab avalanche happened, causing some folks to be scared (1 man died) and others to just not want to ski there b/c the best things to ski were trashed by the avalanche. It is likely that A-basin will be open for at least part of your trip in early June, but how long they stay open is a factor of mother nature and money.

pretty darn sure the main reason they closed so early was the new contruction that they needed to start ASAP....at least according to their newsletter...

**Storm11** · 12-16-2005, 01:19 AM

Some of the best early summer descents are around Silverton, Ophir and Telluride...not to mention the Weimenuche, if you're into being a really long way from anything. We're looking at doing a couple of couliors this spring if you're around. But that could all change too if we don't get any snow...we're getting shafted down here.

**KillingCokes** · 12-16-2005, 01:44 AM

You mentioned that you wanted more mellow stuff (below 50 degrees) I'd suggest the middle to northern Sawatch range. Less people to bother you(if you stay away from the 14er people magnets.) Grizzly peak 139??ft has a nice north couloir around 45 degrees and its wide too. The east face of french and frasco are worthy of a descent. Mt Hope has a 40 degree chute on it. June is definetly a good time to be in Colorado. Watch your take offs on cliffs though. The rocks warm up the snow and sharks may be lurking.

Check out Dawson's guide to 14ers for good trailhead info and go to summitpost for pics and topomap links. Have fun and be safe, avalanches have killed some people in the late spring and early summer here so get off the snow early. Try and be off the snow and fishing by noon.

With it's proximity to Denver and Boulder the Indian Peaks can get kinda crowded.

PM me and we'll ski something when you get here

**shera** · 12-16-2005, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by MOHSHSIHd

pretty darn sure the main reason they closed so early was the new contruction that they needed to start ASAP....at least according to their newsletter...

Yup - it was scheduled long before the slide occurred. Wouldn't really call that the best terrain either. The funny thing is that the building is not done. There's big sheets of plastic flapping around. Hehe.

Phish, those Explosivs are suweet! First run was down the mogul face from Pali towards Lenawe and I got worked. But then we went to the rockpile and they were incredible in deep powder. So smooth. The demo bindings are mounted so far back it's retarded, especially for a girl. But I'll get my freerides on them and I'm considering 2 cm forward rather than 1, which is what I've done in the past. Hmmmm.

Anyway too bad you couldn't ski the rockpile with us. Those guys are on the A Basin freeride team and I've been wanting to ski with them for ages. Turns out we've got a bunch of the same friends too. Rippahs. And we skied in alpenglow. Very fine.

Oh, yeah, the thread.

Don't worry, there will be a ton of skiing around the state at that time. And I bet A Basin will be open too. Just come...

**surfsnowywaves** · 12-16-2005, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Storm11

Some of the best early summer descents are around Silverton, Ophir and Telluride...not to mention the Weimenuche, if you're into being a really long way from anything.

From the pictures Ive seen of Silverton and the surrounding area...Id love to go there, but that would be a lot of booze money Id have to pay someone to get a ride down there. I know theres an airport in ouray...but Id like to spend as little money as possible.
(Also, my former pastor lvies in Greeley, and I know he'd be in for some Front Range hiking!)
But Ill keep that in mind.

Originally Posted by KillingCokes

You mentioned that you wanted more mellow stuff (below 50 degrees) I'd suggest the middle to northern Sawatch range. Less people to bother you(if you stay away from the 14er people magnets.) Grizzly peak 139??ft has a nice north couloir around 45 degrees and its wide too. The east face of french and frasco are worthy of a descent. Mt Hope has a 40 degree chute on it. June is definetly a good time to be in Colorado. Watch your take offs on cliffs though. The rocks warm up the snow and sharks may be lurking.

Check out Dawson's guide to 14ers for good trailhead info and go to summitpost for pics and topomap links. Have fun and be safe, avalanches have killed some people in the late spring and early summer here so get off the snow early. Try and be off the snow and fishing by noon.

With it's proximity to Denver and Boulder the Indian Peaks can get kinda crowded.

PM me and we'll ski something when you get here

Sawatch, definitely found that name coming up in a few places. It doesnt look deathly far away from Denver either. Preferably Id stay somewhere more in Summit County though, mainly because I definitely want to hit A-Basin (Ill need it in the beginning to get acclimatized) and after that itll be a bit hard for me to move around too much. Ill definitely take you up on the offer for an on snow day though, because in most instances, the more the merrier, and also its good having a bit of a guide.

Then again, I think SheRa summed it up the best...

Originally Posted by SheRa

Don't worry, there will be a ton of skiing around the state at that time. And I bet A Basin will be open too. Just come...