Date: April 7, 2020 Distance: approx. 11 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 4,500 ‘ Trailhead: Bakerville exit Dead Dog Couloir is a prominent feature on the East face of Torrey’s peak. Easy access from I-70 makes this steep aesthetic line a popular ski. Mark and I used the stable spring snow as an opportunity to try it out ourselves. Starting at the Bakersville exit, we hiked up the dirt road, now snowed in, for about three miles before reaching the summer trailhead. We turned off onto the trail and followed the valley up towards Gray’s and Torrey’s peaks. Once we READ MORE
Tag: hiking
Mt Elbert: hike, ski, slog
Date: April 5, 2020 Distance: approx. 12 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 5,000 ‘ Trailhead: South Mt Elbert Trailhead Mark and I set out to ski the box couloirs on Mt Elbert on April 5th 2020. The springtime snowpack had begun to consolidate and we thought it a good time to try something steeper. We started hiking around 6 am, making our way up the well traveled to trail , only a 30 minute drive from Leadville. To start our hike, we headed up a frozen 4×4 road, that we didn’t want to drive on but were happy to enjoy READ MORE
Skiing Quandary Peak: Everyone’s first 14er
Shortly after lockdown in March 2020, Mark, Matt and I had established ourselves, along with my roommate, as a small bubble in Leadville. We were lucky to be where we were with access to lots of time outside in a relatively rural area. We enjoyed a lot of luxury during this time that other people did not. For that I am extremely humbled. Date: March 16, 2020 Distance: 6 mi roundtrip Elevation Gain: 3400′ Trailhead: Quandary Trailhead On March 16, 2020, Matt Mark and I hiked and skied Quandary Peak. It’s just over three miles from the popular trailhead to READ MORE