Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding – Current Creek

Our tour will leave at 6:30 AM from Current Creek, just north of Berthoud Pass. The exact location can be found here on Google Maps.

Those interested will meet at Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride, ready to leave by 5:30am. Meeting spot is the SW portion of the parking lot, across from the Exxon. The exact location can be found here on Google Maps.

We will be doing an area of Berthoud Pass called the 110s. We will ascend the main skin track towards point 11,731. (Our ascent track may vary depending on tracks already set; two most common options on the Caltopo map below). We will find a place to transition out of the wind once we have reached the saddle at the top of the ascent tracks on the map.

We will then lap the 110s area, stopping at the thick trees above the 110-cliffs to reascend. We will likely complete 2-3 laps of the 110s, and then ski out, depending on how everyone is feeling. We will likely do the Middle 110s, but will consider the Upper 110s if they are not too wind-affected.

While our pace will be moderate (~1.5 MPH), we will have to transition/stop several times - likely at least once ascending to de-layer, as well as transitions at the top and bottom of each lap of the 110s we do - so this will not be a fast-moving tour. I would expect that we will be finished around 12-1pm, but may be as late as 2pm if folks are excited to get more laps :)

Our preliminary objective zone, as well as some backup routes in case of high avalanche risk, can be found in this Caltopo map.

This is a great trip for those who are newer to the backcountry and looking for a slower, more understanding pace and guidance along-the-way. However, you must already know how to backcountry ski/snowboard and have successfully completed at least 3 backcountry tours or graduated from the CMC’s Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding course. You must also be comfortable in black diamond terrain inbounds. Like every backcountry tour, expect variable snow conditions, tight trees, and narrow ski tracks on the way out. AIARE 1 is recommended.