TR: Berthoud Pass 4/6/2014

As usual, April opened up as one of my favorite months of the year. Relatively good stability and new snow allowed us to get after some of the steeper lines at our favorite slackcountry spot, and although the light was not particularly conducive to good photos (or at times, being able to see where the hell you were going), but I managed to get a few marginal shots.

If you ever need to go slay Berthoud, these would be some fine folks to do it with. L->R and back->front, Eric, Vela, Me, Ryan, Charles, Bridget, Tracy, Hans.

We started the day off with a front side classic, the mandatory straightline of Rush Chute. This photo doesn't make it look so mandatory, but there's a pretty pronounced gully/choke feature that makes it necessary. Eric pops his Rush cherry in style (also, first run in brand new AT boots...)

Ryan went next and slashed a nice turn entering the chute.

And I followed them through.

Next we headed high to Russell's North Chute. A sucker hole allowed Hans to ski, I got halfway down in good light, then it socked in to crap visibility for the rest of the crew. Naturally, the clouds lifted to allow us to admire our handiwork afterwards.

We traversed over to XYZ Chutes and found a little better light. Tracy in Y-Chute, like a boss.

Hans follows her into Y-Chute.

Ryan coming hot out the bottom of Y.

Bridget followed me into Z-Chute and found some quality snow.

Any good Berthoud day ends by piling into the back of some random guy's pickup truck.