2022-10-29 Berthoud Pass

My first snow day of the 2022 winter season was a snowshoe up and down both sides of Berthoud pass with Hazel. My skis we’re still in the shop so I didn’t get the chance to break them in yet. But I couldn’t miss this perfect opportunity to get on snow in October. I also wanted to get my new systems down a bit and learn the area as I intended to be back a lot this winter.

It was a busy morning at the trailhead, everyone else had the same idea as me. Every inch of early season snow down the main runs on either side of the road already had ski tracks running through it. After grinning like an idiot at all the snow for awhile, we got started.

It was a sunny and sometimes gusty day. Some sort of maintenance vehicle had been running up and down the road which left handy packed down tracks to follow. There were plenty of skiers and other snowshoers going back down the road or traveling up with me. It was Hazel’s first time seeing skis. She was a little apprehensive but quickly came around to the idea of strangers with big sticks for feet.

An early season view of Berthoud Pass West and neighboring terrain.

Hazel with Mt. Flora, Parry Peak, and the rest of the mountains that make up the James Peak Wilderness on the other side of the divide.

We explored the top of Colorado Mines Peak then moved around the gentle Northern slope just below the road to learn how the snow felt different compared to the other slopes. I looped around to the main East side face to take the skiers way down instead of the road to test out coverage. I wallowed through snow drifts as Hazel bounded around in the snow.

One of my snowshoes failed as I stepped into a pillow of snow that was deeper than anticipated making my foot twist in the binding too much. The piece that held the BOA cable onto the rest of the snowshoe snapped clean off. Thankfully I had a strap handy to keep the snowshoe stuck to my foot. It slid around more than I liked but I managed to make it work. I’ve stuck to skis since. If I ever need to use snowshoes again I’m steering clear of BOAs and will look for as little plastic around the foot as possible.

Looking down a gully at Blue Lake from the top of Colorado Mines Peak.

We made our way to the cut East Side run then across the street to the other side of the pass. I took the chance to tighten up my makeshift snowshoe binding, flicked up the heel risers, and started climbing. The snow on this side was softening quickly in the heat of the sun. The views up top were worth the climb through rotten snow. Since it had warmed up, I took my sweet time once on the ridge soaking up the views.

Hazel posing with most of the Current Creek basin in the background.

The rest of the Current Creek basin.

We finished up the rest of the ridge and got to the switchbacks on an ENE face of Russell Peak. Continuing up this face was not part of my original plan. But I could see plenty of signs of recent traffic on it. Along with 2 different parties, one going up and another down. Some portions of this slope are steep, and while the switchbacks keep you out of most of it, it is unavoidable. In retrospect, I ignored many several signs of unstable snow as I started climbing. When I finally got to the >35° areas there was no more ignoring it. The snow was wet, not bonded to eachother or the ground, and was just asking for a reason to slide. I turned around, beating myself up for my mistake. Now its a learning opportunity for myself as well.

The rest of our trip was uneventful. We made it quickly back to the truck. I was glad to be out of my broken snowshoe and into my post-trip slippers. Satisfied with another day in the mountains and ready to keep exploring the rest of the winter.