Mega TR: 2019/2020 Ski Season

The 2019/2020 season was a bit of a strange one, and for a variety of reasons I just didn't ski all that much or take that many photos.  The skiing I did do was really good, but no real exception stories to write. So, instead of individual reports, I'm just going to throw down a single mega TR for the season.

BUTLER GULCH 11/29/2019

We had a bit of a slow start to the season but by Thanksgiving we has a pretty good base going in the backcountry. I met up with the master of heavy metal Keith Spargo and headbanged our way up to the Butler Gulch trailhead for a mellow early season tour.

The weather could not have been more perfect, so we skinned up to the commonly skied subpeak. Over the summer the USFS installed a sign and we learned the name of this little point for the first time.

The skiing was mellow but sublime.

EISEMAN HUT 12/13-12/16/2020

Next up was our annual trip to the Eiseman hut outside of Vail. I've been doing this trip for 6 or 7 years now and it's always one of the highlights of my season. The skiing is always good and the company exceptional.

This year was no exception, and we got a massive 30" storm the night before our trip. Needless to say, the skiing was ridiculous, so I'll let the photos do the talking.

I'll share a few of my favorites from other folks on the trip, too.

BERTHOUD PASS 1/1/2020

2020 started well, with new snow on the pass.

BERTHOUD PASS 1/4/2020

A few days later, stability improved and our favorite spot on the pass was REALLY good.

GORE RANGE: BIRTHDAY CHUTE 3/7/2020

January and February were slow. I skied some in the resort, plus a quick afternoon on the pass with Carolyn. Just as the effects of COVID-19 were starting to become apparent, Zach and I joined up with Spargo and his friend Brian to ski a Gore Range classic.

The Birthday Chute in Pitkin Creek is a long, 2000' gully and is one of the more commonly skied lines in the Gore, which means it still doesn't get that much traffic. There were some lingering stability issues still lurking in the snowpack, but we felt that the westerly aspect of the chute would help us avoid the old slabs as long as we were cautious.

Near the top, the view across Pitkin Creek was gorgeous.

As was the view of Holy Cross in the distance.

As we neared the top, another group caught us and decided to drop in a bit below us. We thought the snow might need a few more minutes top soften anyway, so we were happy to kick back and enjoy the view and the sunshine while waiting for them to clear the chute.

Then it was time for skiing. Conditions ranged from recycled pow to corn to hardpack but the scenery was incredible.

There was, however, some breakable crust in the middle of the line. Zach handled it gracefully. Spargo did.... not.

The lower part of the line was mostly creamy corn and had a fun choke.

The choice to ski in Eagle county would prove fateful later, but it wasn't quite my last ski day of the year...

BERTHOUD PASS 3/14/2020

At this point, COVID was dominating the news cycle, but the world hadn't quite fallen apart yet. We decided to get out for a socially distanced ski tour on the pass.

With nice weather and good stability, we headed up to the top of Russell.

And dropped into the always fun Russell North Chutes.

From there we cruised across Hidden Knoll and over to XYZ chutes.

One last climb took us to the top of Corner Pocket, one of the most perfect pitches on the pass.

And then... that was it. Shit hit the fan. The governor issued guidance for anyone that had visited Eagle County in the last week to self-quarantine for 14 days, and having skied in the Gore Range a week prior, I qualified. Thus began 4 months of exclusively working from home. A statewide Stay At Home order was issued not long after and while it remained technically legal to travel and go backcountry skiing, Carolyn and I made the personal decision to not do that and just stay at home. And so, rather abruptly, our ski season ended.

The 2020/2021 will definitely be different than normal, but hopefully it's a little longer!