Backcountry Skiing Dry Gulch

4/17/2011- Every time I drive back from Abasin, I see beautiful powder turns across I-70 and wonder "how can I get me some of those?" The area is called Dry Gulch. After hearing about the 20" of pow dropped on Loveland pass this week, I knew some of it would still be waiting there this weekend.

Seth and I parked right off the Loveland exit and took the fire road up. The first half mile was along I-70, but once the fire road veers left you quickly leave behind the noises of civilization.

As you work up into the heart of the valley, the options are endless. Serenity and awe, that pretty much sums it up. It feels like the Willy Wonka factory for powder hounds. Immediately on your right is a nice looking jib- a table top launching off a drainage tube over a little knob. 30-40 degree wide open trees stretch literally as far as the eye can see. A monster kicker beams down from from above on a north facing slope- which we later climb to and determine to be suicidal.

We started up on the right (southwest facing) slope, which was unfortunately a bit crusty. About 3/4 of the way up, we strip the skins and rip down. The crust isn't ideal, but its hard to complain, and I'm convinced there will be better turns on the other side.

We head up the left side of the valley, making our way up through several steep sections. The snow feels much better. The first run is great with some steep trees and lots of little wind lips. We also ride by the kicker- I may have to come back to that one another day, with my snowboard and some large cajones.

We decide to take one more lap on the same side, and find more of the same. After that, I couldn't wait any longer to get back for a sandwich at Two Brother's Deli in Idaho Springs. We skied down the valley the way we came, which was a mistake! If you come here, ski back down the face that overlooks Loveland pass so you don't have to go back along the highway again. On the way out, I had to take one lap down from Loveland pass just so I could put my board on for one run.

Backcountry Skiing Loveland Pass- Hippie Trees

4/9/11- Stumbled out of bed at the ripe hour of 5am to pack the car. Early-bird gets the turns. The snowpack is transitioning to spring snow, meaning by afternoon the snowpack stability deteriorates pretty quickly. Made breakfast through bleary eyes, managing to only slightly burn my bagel. I meet up with Steve and Terry at the park-and-ride, and we were off by 6.

A short 50 minute ride brings us to the A-basin parking lot 2 hours before lifts opened for what I thought would be a prime tailgating spot on the beach. I thought wrong. People far more serious than us had been waiting in line at 6:30am to grab up the prime real-estate. PA systems are already cranking tunes, canopy tents and breakfast buffets set up... I begin to wonder if these people will even ski today. For us, tailgating will have to wait until after we get our powder turns in.

The sun is starting to hit the mountaintops as we apply copious amounts of sunblock- its another gorgeous bluebird CO day. Skins on skis, beacon check, and we're off down the road to find the drainage between Hippie Trees and the Professor. Once there, we clip in and start up the hill. The climb starts right off with 15-25 degree climbing, so sweat is pouring down within minutes. After 20-30 minutes the going gets a little easier, and we settle into a nice pace cruising up the picturesque valley. We see some signs of recent slab and loose slide activity along the way on both N and S aspects, nothing too big, most likely caused by all the water moving through the snowpack in the afternoons. We finally reach the top at 9am, just as the lifts at A-basin start to shuttle people up the mountain. As we strip the skins at warm up with some hot cocoa, we notice a huge kicker built up at the top of the hill. Its about 4 ft high with a +30ft gap to the landing. We tell ourselves that if the snow wasn't still so crusty, we would totally do it.

Finally, the first turns are had as we follow the ridgeline out towards hippie trees. We observe another recent slab, ~12" crown, on a N face, which also looks a day or two old. We apply the skins for one last push to follow the ridge all the way out. This pic shows Steve and Terry scouting our line from the top of a cornice. Steve drops the first turns just as the snow is softening up to some wonderful slushy powder. We each take our turns through the amazing 35 degree powder field before entering into some narrow steep trees. Reaching over 40 degrees, these trees combined with the heavy powder make for some exciting turns and hilarious falls. After ~1000ft vert, the pitch mellows out and we eventually make our way back to the valley floor for a cruise back to the road. As we exit the slope back onto the road, I can't hide my shit-eaten-grin reflecting back on the turns. However, the grin slowly fades as our outstretched thumbs go unheeded, and we have to hike all the way back to the resort without a hitch. Needless to say, once we get there, the grill is fired up, beers cracked open, signaling the end to a good morning and the beginning of a great afternoon.