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Current Creek

A good beginner to intermediate ski tour of Current Creek and some of the Berthoud Pass area with some good touring practice and pleasant downhill and opportunity for ski laps. Up to about 5 miles of travel and approximately 1,000 feet of elevation gain depending on the route you choose.

Backcountry Skiing:  

The Current Creek approach starts at the lower parking lot on the north side of the summit of Berthoud pass (1.8 miles below the summit parking lot). There should be a few established skin tracks and there are a few different options for skinning in depending on your destination. Follow the Current Creek valley on a gradual climb. Eventually the trees will thin out and you'll head north along an easy contour (Berthoud Ditch Rd cuts across the slope). You can start switch-backing up the mellow north slope to the right of Tea Cup Area to reach your desired starting area.

Hidden Knoll

Heading southwest from the Current Creek Approach, this ascent starts to climb gradually through open trees. Around the half-way mark, it will emerge from the trees with a terrific view of Hidden Knoll and Mt. Russell behind it. Now is a good time to scope out the lines and make a decision on what to ski. 

From the base, head to the lookers right of the knoll on a faint ridgeline that bends up to the top. This final push is steep but manageable with one to two switchbacks. The top of the knoll is flat, making it hard to see which couloir you're on top of. That said, if you head to the edge, it's easier to tell which is which and having scoped the line from the bottom, you won't have the added uncertainty of getting cliffed out or dropping into the wrong line. 

The far end of this ascent stops at a wide open, east-facing bowl, which makes for a fun final line to bend into the drainage back to the Current Creek Trailhead.

Travel Maps:

Trailhead: Current Creek is located on the north side of Berthoud Pass as you are heading towards winter park.  It is approximately 1 hour (50 miles) from the CMC headquarters in Golden, CO.

https://goo.gl/maps/RYVkWxJU6aqgtt9p8

Topographic Maps: Caltopo Overview & Detail maps, Caltopo profiles, Powder project

  • Length: 5.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft
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  • Current Creek to Hidden Knoll
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