Springtime In The Rockies 31Mar16

As you perhaps saw on FB, Wilks and I scored some in-bounds and some backcountry during the recent storm. We skied Beaver Ck as it had good snowfall. But on the way to the slopes, descending Vail Pass into Eagle Co, I got a flat when I picked up a chain link I think. It was snowing and icy and changing the flat was sketchy without more shoulder - I could feel the trucks right off my shoes... sheesh. Undeterred we hit the slopes by ~9:15am and got Wilk's his buddy pass for $99. This was Tom's first ski outing since he broke his foot and had surgery - he did great and we skied all over BC - Grouse Mtn, Larkspur Bowl, Rose Bowl and Birds of Prey. Good day netted like 23K vert.

For day 2 of the storm I contacted DD who pointed us toward Rock Ck. Here we parked at the bottom of the hill and skinned up past the gate to the TH via the Rock Ck road... pretty easy and well used. We took the trail system to Boulder Lk (ok - part way) by using the Rock Ck trail and the Gore Trail through the Eagles Nest Wilderness... this was less used, more snowy and more undulating terrain (a number of herringbones or side-steps for me but TW went straight up). Tom had never telemarked before but was game to use my stuff and I used my new XCD gear. This was a great test for me and while Tom's full skin traction had him beat me on some ups, my glide was awesome on the reaches. NP, made it using the kicker skins. From the high point I was able to ski the trees and catch a number of new lines... woohoo.