I’ve been real busy skiing it up in the Aspen backcountry
with gripnrip. Yes Aspen, the place where the beer flows like wine and beautiful
women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.
Colorado Hut Trip Ski Video
This past weekend we ventured out to the Green Wilson Hut and Friends Hut in the Elk Mountains for four days of skiing, skinning, and no teeth brushing.
Green Wilson Hut, Snow Cover and such.
The first day in was overcast and we skinned in 5.5 miles to the Green Wilson Hut. If visibility were any worse we may have passed the hut as all the snow accumulation from the year had nearly swallowed the little shanty like a fat kid at fat camp who has found a stale cupcake under the couch.
Pearl Pass Signage.
The next day we headed for Pearl Pass that tops 12,700 feet in elevation. As we reached the Mace Saddle visibility disappeared like Bobby Fischer. Luckily, two in our group were familiar with the area and we were able to navigate without too many issues.
Carbonate Hill.
Another 5.5 miles found us at the Friends Hut that sits at the base of Star Peak. Which we were hoping to ski at some point during our trip. As the weather cleared like Oxy Pads on acne, we journeyed up to Carbonate Hill, which offered some mellow bowl skiing.
Heading out to Star Peak.
Throughout the first two days the snow fell and the winds howled. This gave us all second thoughts on whether or not we would actually be able to ski Star Peak’s numerous couloirs.
Bootin up Crystal Peak.
On the third day we venture out to evaluate the snow pack in the cirque just below the peak, and as we feared, 18 inches of wind slab rested on a nice sun crust. We were all a little bummed but quickly headed to safer aspects on Crystal Peak.
Steve rippin it down Crystal Peak.
Crystal Peak holds some great north facing couloirs and we took full advantage. The snow was wind hammered sastrugi and resembled the skin of a senior citizen who has sat in the hot tub for too long. Nevertheless, it was still pretty fun to ski.
Mike skiing it strong.
The fourth day brought us the best skiing and weather of the trip as we headed home. An ascent of Pearl Mountain lead the group to a fun bowl and an exit couloir.
Brian on the exit couloir.
The sun was quickly warming all the eastern and southern aspects so we headed for the western couloirs of Mace Peak. As we neared the top we also realized that we were nearly at the end of our four day romp around the mountains. We hung out on top and soaked in the views and sun, it was like the movie Big Trouble in Little China, spectacular.
Mike on the exit couloir.
The final run of the day was by far one of the more aesthetic lines we skied all trip. With tired legs and heavy packs we made jump turns down stellar chutes that offered up some great spring snow.
Fun skiing on the way out.
At the end of the trip we headed to the local pub to indulge in the very heterosexual behavior of sharing frozen peach margaritas with a bunch of dudes.
Final turns on Mace, before heading home.
