Colorado Skiing

The beautiful east face of West Deming.

Colorado Ski Regions

Route List by Difficulty

Some routes here are mellow for confident intermediates; others are steep and dangerous in poor conditions. Weather can make ratings meaningless—avalanches, though rarer in spring, can be deadly (e.g., May 2005). More often, icy falls are the greater hazard.

I’ve avoided major avalanches in Colorado but experienced several in British Columbia (see Olive Hut and Icefall Lodge). Spring skiing offers safe steep lines, fast summit-to-car runs, and fun terrain features—though sometimes you’ll carry skis through wet or wooded areas. Feedback on ratings is welcome.

  • Meshuggeneh (a crazy line on the peak NW along the ridge from Wheeler; not done by me); D14
  • Edwards, N Couloir (hard to enter; can be icy at top); D14
  • Clinton, North Face Couloirs (not done by me); D13
  • Drift (sustained steepness for a long way, great curb appeal from Highway 91; viewed from Shrine Pass it stands out spectacularly and dominates this view of the west side of the Ten Mile Range); D12
  • East East Red, What Big Eyes You Have (a very narrow, steep, and deeply cut couloir; skied first by Dave Bourassa (not by me)); D11
  • Peak C (an amazing summit to get to with skis, offering a steep face and then a narrow couloir); D11
  • Pacific Peak, Hawaii Couloirs, the one just W of the “I” in “HI”. Steep and narrow in the center; D11.
  • Argentine, Northeast Face, the steep-entrance couloir just north of the summit, Amped; D11
  • Tuk No, Moab, Exxon’s Folly; D11 (the skiing is straightforward, but sustained steep at 41°)
  • Deming Drop (rarely skied, somewhat narrow couloir ending in a remote and pristine valley; easily seen from Red Buffalo Pass); D10
  • La Plata (looks amazing when viewed from a distance); D10 for the eastern of the two commonly skied runs, D11 for the western (not skied by me).
  • Red Peak, Big Bad Wolf; D10
  • Quandary Cristo Couloir (notorious and crowded); D10
  • Tukuhnikivatz, Moab, East Face; D10
  • Buffalo Caldera (hard to rate: the skiing is not generally difficult, but there is lots of objective danger); D9 or 10
  • Democrat N Face (classic: steep and long; one of the best in Summit County area; easy access); D9
  • Sayers, X Rated (2000 feet of north-facing skiing in a superb alpine setting; D13 for the steep entrance near the summit (not skied by me), D10 for the entrance about 100 yards to the east).
  • Crystal N Chutes (tough climb back to the saddle to the east, but car shuttle to Rte 91 works too); D9
  • Peak Z (camping out is best; very remote, despite being visible from City Market in Dillon; steep); D9
  • Valhalla, Heavenly; D9
  • JacquePeak, N Face; D9
  • Exxon’s Folly on Tuk No, Moab (a spectacular long line, just over 40° for top section; D8
  • Fletcher NW Face from col; D8
  • Buffalo North Couloir (very, very popular); D8
  • Grizzly Chute on Grizzly Peak (Independence Pass area); D8 (my rating; Dawson rates D9)
  • Rain, Graupel Gully; D8
  • Clinton, Monica’s Descent (pretty valley approach; classic couloir); D8
  • Buckskin, S Face (the Fringe); D8
  • Seldom Flat, a couloir on the E side of N Tenmile Peak (aka West Deming); D8
  • Cabbage Patch on No Name near Loveland Ski Area; D7
  • Keller Kelloir, the couloir immediately west of subsummiit 12847; D7; not skied by me.
  • Sayres, Grand Central Couloir (high peak SW of La Plata; beautiful line; high and north; worth the effort); D7
  • Ribbon on Grays (not skiable every year; grab it when you can); D7
  • Torreys, Tuning Forks; D7
  • Mt Mellenthin N Face, La Sal Range near Moab, Utah; D7.
  • Arkansas, Northwest Face (short approach, very steep at top, some rocks); D7
  • Coon Hill, Northeast couloir; D7
  • Crystal, Crystal Ball; D7
  • McNamee, Barely Legal; D7
  • Sniktau, South Face from the summit; D7.
  • East East Red, Little Red Riding Hood (great curb appeal, as this is fully visible from road north of Silverthorne); D7
  • Pettengell, Northwest Face; D6 or D7 for the line I skied, which is a few minutes E of the Pettengell-Citadel saddle
  • Squaretop, the classic chute dropping from the western side of the summit; D6
  • Guyot, Swan Dive; D6
  • Ruby, East Face (It’s Greek to Me); D6
  • Porcupine Peak (aka NoName, above Loveland ski area), north face, either the eastern or western line; D6
  • Baldy (Breckenridge) Chutes; D6 for either of the two main chutes. D5 or 6 for the various other ways down north along the ridge.
  • Argentine, Northeast Face, the southernmost coouloir from the summit ridge, Voltage Drop; D6.
  • Argentine, Northeast Face, the northernmost broad face from the summit ridge, Short Circuit; D7.
  • East Red, White Diamond face into Red Diamond bowl; D6
  • Sniktau, East Face, southernmost lines: D6
  • Mosquito, north side (very short approach); D6 because of rocks and steepness at the upper end.
  • Democrat, South Face (perhaps neglected, but a very fast way to descend this popular 14er); D5
  • Keller Kelloir, the face from a flat area 100 yards or so west of subsummiit 12847; D5
  • Hermanator #4, NW broad gully off Machebeuf; D5
  • Baldy, Orion; D5
  • Crystal, South Face (fine views of Pacific, and Crystal N Chutes); D5
  • North Star, Butterknife; D5
  • Pacific Peak (one of the nicest summits around; via McCullough Gulch (D5) or Hawaii
  • Couloirs in Spruce Creek (D6))
  • Horseshoe face on Grays (a back way to a popular summit; a short day when one can drive to the road end); D5
  • Red, South Face (my backyard; via SW face towards Red Buffalo Pass (D4), or the steeper line in SE direction (D5))
  • Grizzly, NW face (near A-Basin); D5
  • Face from shoulder west of N Mt Massive (SW side); D5
  • Arkansas, Southeast Face; D5
  • Sniktau, North Face into Sheep Creek: D5
  • Geissler East, Southeast Face; D4
  • Treasure Vault, West Face; D4
  • Mt. Machebeuf, Roadside Distraction (aka Hermanator #1), D4
  • Northwest Passage on Atlantic (great easy and fun line from a high summit; in a beautiful valley; western couloir is harder); D4
  • Buffalo Lakeview (easy access; not too steep; I’ve soloed it twice); D4
  • Buckskin, North Face (great views of Democrat; very short approach); D4
  • Bard Peak, Shakespeare (2300 feet on a consistent 30-35 degree face); D4
  • Pettingell, South Face (1800 feet of skiing in the 35-degree range; easy access); D4
  • Mt Bross, Serpentine Gully on west face; D4
  • Arkansas, SW Face; D4
  • Traver, SE Face (2000 feet of skiing starting at 13865); D4
  • Dyer Peak (13855, N of Sherman), E Face; D4
  • Coon Hill, SE Face (easy access from Eisenhower Tunnel); D4
  • Little Bartlett, E Face; D4
  • Buffalo, Golden Couloir; D3
  • Bierstadt, W Face; D3
  • Massive, East Face (can be good in late season); D3
  • Peak 13010 (Golden Bear Peak, near Hagar), E Face; D3
  • Hassell, S Face; D3 or D2
  • Jacque Peak, SE Face; D3 or D2
  • North TenMile Peak, S Face; D2

Yearly Ski Logs

  • April.  Skinned up Copper Mountain Ski Area once.
  • May 2: Shrine Ridge saddle solo. Good crust with a couple inches new. Fine skiing
  • May 10. With Elke to Shrine Ridge saddle and then Shrine Peak  summit. New powder with depth to it. Fine skiing.
  • May 16.  Solo to near Machinegun Ridge at Vail Pass.
  • May 22.  With Katie and Elke to near summit of NoName from Loveland Pass. Cold powder. 2500 feet climbed.
  • May 30.  Solo to Uneva, descending via the side facing Vail. Excellent conditions. Continuous coverage from I-70. 1500 ft. climbed. Under 3 hours round-trip.
  • June 2.  Herminator 4 with Katie and Elke. 2 miles of walking the Herman Gulch trail on the approach, but only 1 mile on return as there was snow on the W. The ski line was in excellent condition. We climbed it on the lookers left side. 2400 ft climb; 5.1 miles.

 

  • April 22.  Buffalo 100 ft. Lots of new snow.
  • April 23.  Breckenridge Nordic 70 minutes. Last day on groomed trails. This might be a record for groomed skiing.
  • April 25.  Skinned up Copper 1800 ft. Free parking at Union Creek!
  • April 26.  Skinned up Copper 1800 ft.  77 minutes to top of T-lift.
  • April 27.  Skinned up Copper 1800 ft. 69:43 to top of T-lift.
  • April 29.  Mayflower Gulch, N side. Superb conditions. 1100 feet.
  • April 30.  Skinned up Copper. Last day. Top of Copperfield in 68:22. Top of T-left in 69:29.
  • May 6. To pass below Shrine Mountain.  My 8-foot probe did not hit bottom at several places.
  • May 8. Mellow ski at Loveland Pass North. 800 ft climb. Perfect conditions.
  • May 14. Mellow ski at Loveland Pass North. 850 ft climb. Large amount of new wet snow.
  • May 17. Uneva. 1400 feet. Excellent corn conditions.

 

  • March 24.  Deming Summit with Matt Wentz. 3900 feet climb. Powder conditions on the S Face.
  • March 31.  Buffalo Circumnavigation counterclockwise with Matt Wentz. Side trips to slope near N Eccles Peak and then to top of Eccles Peak. 3400 ft climb, 4000 ft descent.
  • April 5. Butterknife on North Star with Elke Dratch and Matt Wentz, with car shuttle. Excellent corn snow. 2800 feet climb; 3400 feet descent. The main ski line is 2100 ft. descent.
  • April 9. South side of Vail Pass. 1000 feet. Excellent conditions.
  • April 11. Short recon of Buffalo Cabin TH area. 500 feet.
  • April 12. Buffalo Circumnavigation counterclockwise with Joel Paula. Side trips to slope near N Eccles Peak and then to top of Eccles Peak. 3900 ft climb, 4500 ft descent.
  • April 14. Uneva Peak SE slope. 1500 feet climb.
  • May 1. Hassell Peak broad gully E of summit, and then Herminator #4 (N side of Machebeuf) on return. Both were fine. 3600 ft climb. With Matt Wentz.
  • May 4. Uneva with Matt and Elke. Two runs on the back side in cold new powder and then the front side. 2700 ft climb. Superb wintry conditions.
  • May 12. Humbug Creek, Pacific Creek, Mayflower Creek. With Matt and Elke. Powder atop sun crust was superb. 2000 ft climb.
  • May 15. S. Summit Mt. Arkansas. With Matt and Randy. 2600 ft climb. Fine conditions on boot ascent of gully. But descent was very difficult on the SE Couloir.
  • May 21. No Name from Loveland Pass. With Matt. Skied Cabbage Patch in perfect corn conditions. Nice steep line. 2400 feet total.
  • May 24. Grizzly near Loveland Pass, NW Face and then also western knoll. Fine conditions. With Matt and Elke. 2300 feet climb.
  • May 26. No Name from Loveland Pass. With Elke. Skied Cabbage Patch in perfect corn conditions. Nice steep line. 2400 feet total.
  • June 2. No Name from Loveland Ski Area. With Matt. Skied N face, center. Icy. 1900 feet total.
  • June 5. Independence Mountain at Independence Pass, N Face, with Matt and Randy. 2100 ft climb. Started early. A bit soft, but fine skiing. Interesting creek crossing (sneakers.
  • June 12. Repeater Peak and Mosquito Peak with Matt. 2600 ft climb. Conditions were soft. The NE Face of Repeater was fine, but the NE Couloir on Mosquito was too mushy.

 

  • April 3.    Loveland Pass, north side. Excellent conditions.
  • April 4.    Hassell Peak with Randy Garrison. Too wintry for good skiing. 3200 feet climb. Excellent conditions on the trail out.
  • April 6.    Climax Corner short ski. Conditions ok. 900 feet.
  • April 7.    Around Mayflower Hill with Matt Wentz and Bruce Allen. Excellent conditions. 1900 feet climb.
  • April 9.    Short climb on Buffalo S Side. 800 feet.
  • April 11.  Lakeview on Buffalo. 3000 feet. Perfect conditions. Two goats on summit. Great conditions in forest for exit.
  • April 13.  700 feet on Buffalo.
  • April 14.  1200 feet on Buffalo with Rich Seeley to the overlook of the Caldera on the N side. Fine powder descent
  • April 16.  Short ski near house.
  • April 17.  1500 feet on Buffalo solo. Climb was fine, but show was very mushy making descent horrible.
  • April 19.  Long broad couloir on Arkansas with Katie, Elke, and Randy. Fine conditions. Wintry. 1800 feet. New  line for me.
  • April 21.  Golden Bear with Matt Wentz. Excellent conditions. 2400 feet.
  • April 26.  Hermanator #4 on Mt. Machebeuf with Randy. Decent conditions. 2300 feet. New  line for me.
  • April 28.  To below saddle N of Bethel with Rich Seeley. Decent conditions. 1700 feet. New  line for me.
  • April 30.  To 12400 knoll on ridge N of Bethel with Matt Wentz. Superb corn conditions on descent. 2000 feet. New  line for me.
  • May 3.     Hermanator #1, excellent conditions, with Matt Wentz and Randy Garrison. 2400 feet.
  • May 16.  Uneva SE side with Matt and Randy. Excellent conditions. 2500 feet. New  line for me.
  • May 18.  Loveland Pass down to Loveland Ski Area with Jonathan Whinston. 925 feet climb. Less snow than usual.
  • May 23.  To top of South Arkansas (13700 with Matt Wentz. Booted up SE side and skied the SE couloir on descent in perfect conditions. 5.2 hours r.t. 2900 feet climb. New  line for me.
  • May 28. To Uneva with Elke. Back side was browned out. Went a little farther west and found good conditions down into the SW bowl. New line for me. 1900 feet.
  • May 31.  Traver (13685) with Matt Wentz. 4+ hours to top-. 7+ hours total. 2900 feet climb. Did a new line, but it was slushy and borderline dangerous to descend. New  line for me.
  • June 10.  Crystal (13862) with Matt Wentz and Randy Garrison. 3:45 to top. 2900 feet climb. Find conditions on the east face. End of season.

 

Long Ski Tours in Colorado

One reason I like Summit County is that the population density keeps the trails broken out, at least for a little distance from the trailheads. Here are some of my favorite long ski tours. Mostly I use light, double-camber, metal-edged skis, though sometimes heavier gear is appropriate.

  • The Hornsilver Loop: Vail Pass to Wilder Gulch to Ptarmigan Pass and Peak, down to Fowler-Hilliard Hut, through Resolution Narrows to Hornsilver summit, then down on the McAllister Rd (not the McAllister Trail) to Wearyman Creek. Then up Wearyman to Wilder (alternative, back up Turkey Ck. to Shrine Pass and Vail Pass) and back or, Katie’s Variation: turn left and climb to Wingle Ridge using the marked route to Shrine Mountain Inn and pass through Shrine Saddle and down to the parking area. 16 or 20 miles. Wonderful loop. I have done it many times.
  • Henderson Mill to Darling Creek and down to Sugarloaf Campground with Katie Larson and Byron Lemay. Monster car shuttle.
  • Ute to Ptarmigan. I have done this from Acorn Creek to the ridge and S to Ptarmigan TH in Silverthorne, and also from the trailhead north just past Ute Peak summit and all the way to Ute Pass.
  • Dumont Lake at East Rabbit Ears Pass to Mt Werner summit and down Steamboat Ski area, with Jonathan Kriegel (Dec 27, 2014).
  • Crested Butte to Aspen (twice in the race, with Phil Williams, and Warren Ohlrich; 2000 and 2002).
  • Sylvan Lake loop to Estin Hut (with Phil WIlliams and Warren Ohlrich)
  • Yeoman Park to Estin Hut and back (with Jonathan)
  • Lake Creek (Edwards) to Polar Star Hut and back (with Jonathan)
  • Turquoise Lake to Skinner Hut and back, once on skate skis all the way (three times: Dave Blakeslee, Katie Larson, Jonathan Kriegel). The tour to Uncle Bud’s Hut in the same area is much shorter.
  • East Rabbit Ears Pass to S end of Red Dirt Rd (twice; solo, and with Dave, Janet, and Jonathan)
  • Keyser Ck. trailhead to Cottonwood Pass naer Hot Sulphur Springs, with Katie.
  • Rain Peak summit from WIllowbrook; 4000 feet from summit back to car (twice: Jonathan; Katie; we kept skis on to true summit).
  • Buffalo Mountain circumnavigation through Eccles Pass: Meadow Creek Th to Ryan Gulch TH. Some avalanche awareness needed: the ascent to Eccles from the west is steep but short. Large avalanches come off the S slopes of Red from time to time. I have always done this clockwise.