Still, none of these amenities compare to the world-class backcountry skiing that can be found in the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They really gave me an excellent platform to begin traveling in the backcountry safely. OR. Part of the Summit Huts Association, the 3,000-square-foot cabin (which sleeps 20 in four bunk rooms) is cozy, with a front porch that looks toward high-alpine terrain that hovers well above your timberline viewing spot, a wood-burning sauna, and solar-powered lights. The winds affect this area so you will want to get here quickly after a storm. Look across Interstate 70 and see the good-looking glades facing southeast. Backcountry skiing is best from December through June. This set-up, known commonly as AT skiing, offers an excellent opportunity for resort skiers to experience the backcountry. From rustic, far-from-civilization cabins to brand-new lodges with chef-prepared meals. Password help. No matter the trip, our focus is on creating an unforgettable day, developing your technique, and taking your skills to the next level. Picking up a pair of AT skis. What is the ski season in Colorado? Here, we’re sharing eight of our top backcountry hut recommendations across the state. Share an Uphill Approach . Share a Ski Line . Moonlight Bowl is on the north side of Hidden Knoll. If you need anything sooner, please reach out and we'll do our best to accomodate but your orders are still being reserved! Password help. If you are headed into the backcountry, now is a good time to explore low angle terrain and play it safe. From the legendary 10th Mountain Division, to breeding some of the worlds most renown and famed racers, athletes, and explorers, Colorado’s front range backcountry is among one of the most famed around the world. In the 1870s, miners and prospectors relied on the mineral-rich springs to alleviate the aches of hard physical labor. The tasting room also pours their vodka, gin, and creative cocktails and regularly hosts live music. Professionally insured. Beginner backcountry ski courses is available to skiers of all ability levels, including first time skiers. The lower flanks of the 110s area are steeper, and there is slide potential in the exit near the 110 Cliffs. The trails surrounding the spruce-log structure are perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowshoers. The custom-built, Douglas fir-framed cabin looks as though an upscale high-country rental was picked up and plopped down on a pristine mountainside at 11,000 feet. | Updated January 31, 2020, The Newest and Best Winter Gear for All Your Snowy Adventures, These Ski Resorts Lead the Pack on Sustainability in the West, Thinking of Skipping Ski Season? You are going to have to get used to skiing with a pack on--remember you are going to have to carry everything you need, including food and nutrition as well as adequate layers to handle different conditions. Front Range Ski Mountaineering is released free of charge as a software in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Leo's Top 5 Backcountry Beginner Must Reads, Butler Gulch has tons of low angle terrain with a very mellow approach. The approach into Montgomery Pass is a cross-country ski trail that climbs through the forest. However you get there, the hard-won payoff is a stay at a secluded wood cabin, where you can relax, refuel, and experience the wilds of Colorado without the thrum of too many fellow adventurers. Once you have the necessary equipment and experience (don’t take avalanches for granted, even on easy slopes), head to these accessible beginner areas for some of the best backcountry skiing in the Lower 48, minus the pucker factor. Edit: taking a Know Before You Go class at REI Lakewood. Cookies help us deliver our Services. These are five of our favorite backcountry ski areas. Thanks so much. The Butler Gulch Bowl is a great place for post storm skiing. For more information on how the Front Range’s snowpack evolves during the winter, see our Front Range Conditions page in the “About” section of the website. Get to these during a storm or just after. Enjoy the best powder with a Beginner Backcountry Ski course. Many are accessible by a short snowshoe, while the most remote require lengthy ski tours (aka skinning, or attaching adhesive strips to the bottom of your skis so you can walk uphill). Take the left track and continue for a mile along a well-established trail which gradually climbs up into the gulch. The downhill ski technique is very similar to traditional downhill skiing at a ski area. But the majority, like the state’s popular 10th Mountain Division Huts, are DIY affairs requiring skiers to lug their food, drinks, and sleeping gear an average of 6 miles, up 1,500 feet from a trailhead. Powered by Shopify. If you explore skier’s left of Mainline at Berthoud Pass you will quickly be in avalanche terrain and in the West Side Cliffs. THE 20/21 LINE HAS ARRIVED - ON SALE NOW - SHIPPING IN EARLY OCTOBER!!! The Zimmerman Lake trailhead in Northern Colorado accesses Montgomery Pass and Hot Dog Bowl. Do yourself a favor and go w/ someone you know and trust. You are the responsible party. From here, depending on skill level - backcountry travelers have their pick of lines ranging from low angle/mellow slopes and trees, to larger expert level lines and chutes. Take the left track and continue for a mile along a well-established trail which gradually climbs up into the gulch. The avalanche hazard may decrease during the future high pressure, but in Colorado the risk of sliding should always be considered “high”. While skiing 14ers can be pretty intimidating, Quandary Peak is probably the only 14er that you can ride off the summit any time of year because the east bowl offers low angle turns that are pretty free of avalanche risk.