EMSC
Well-known member
For day two of the guys trip we shortened the drive to 'only' 1:45 each direction from Durango. This turned out to be the favorite of most of the crew. a bit softer and better snow (up to 6-8" in places from several day old snow combined with very widely spaced trees that they all loved. A somewhat repeat of the weather from the prior day with snow in the afternoon forecast but sunny in the morning.
Deciding not to hike, we took the beginner lift up traversing to Treasure lift for a real 'warm-up' lap. three of us immediately decided to hike Alberta Peak while the sun was out. A mix of wind affect firm and soft wind-sift snow on the peak. but soft again in the trees skiers right of Waterfall. This was followed by 2 laps of hiking the Knife Ridge and finding a nearly un-skied chute #3 under one of the Gazex tubes. with further lightly skied 6-8" on the next pitch directly below the chute for a very nice couple of runs.
Turns out the freshly cooked hamburgers at the grill bottom of Alberta were shockingly good, definitely recommend.
We proceeded to explore skiing the Waterfall area finding that gate 4 was too cliffy or only moderate pitch, but Gate 5 had an entry and some treede areas with only a light ab=mount of tracks in the 6-8" from earlier in the week. To ski Waterfall is a 2 lift exercise taking Elma to Treasure. Skiing the Pitch near Alberta face then across the flats to the Waterfall area. It's reasonably efficient too. Unlike before Elma lift existed.
Snow finally came in about 2:30p. By 3:15p we topped out on Treasure lift for another lap to a ski patroller greeting and telling everyone they were shutting down for the day due to Lightning in the vicinity. That is about the 8th time or so that I've had a ski area shut down for lightning. The drive back to Durango was way less eventful with only a bit of snow early on the pass and sun out with 42F temps in Durango itself.
Treasure Lift
The forever traverse to Alberta Peak
Not cold, not too warm
I always think the traverse is worse than the actual hike.
Gratuitously too many pictures
Wind firm snow in this spot
Yes, that is scaffolding holding up the unload ramp and liftie hut. at the top of Alberta Lift..
It's a really short but interesting hike to the Knife Ridge
Starts off about 4 feet wide at the end of the walkway
4 of these on the ridge...
Very nice snow though...
Uncrowded Lunch
Waterfall area
Final run after the lightning
This is the tiny town hill in Durango itself with a small terrain park and bump line. Surprised it is still open given the warm temps in town.
Deciding not to hike, we took the beginner lift up traversing to Treasure lift for a real 'warm-up' lap. three of us immediately decided to hike Alberta Peak while the sun was out. A mix of wind affect firm and soft wind-sift snow on the peak. but soft again in the trees skiers right of Waterfall. This was followed by 2 laps of hiking the Knife Ridge and finding a nearly un-skied chute #3 under one of the Gazex tubes. with further lightly skied 6-8" on the next pitch directly below the chute for a very nice couple of runs.
Turns out the freshly cooked hamburgers at the grill bottom of Alberta were shockingly good, definitely recommend.
We proceeded to explore skiing the Waterfall area finding that gate 4 was too cliffy or only moderate pitch, but Gate 5 had an entry and some treede areas with only a light ab=mount of tracks in the 6-8" from earlier in the week. To ski Waterfall is a 2 lift exercise taking Elma to Treasure. Skiing the Pitch near Alberta face then across the flats to the Waterfall area. It's reasonably efficient too. Unlike before Elma lift existed.
Snow finally came in about 2:30p. By 3:15p we topped out on Treasure lift for another lap to a ski patroller greeting and telling everyone they were shutting down for the day due to Lightning in the vicinity. That is about the 8th time or so that I've had a ski area shut down for lightning. The drive back to Durango was way less eventful with only a bit of snow early on the pass and sun out with 42F temps in Durango itself.
Treasure Lift
The forever traverse to Alberta Peak
Not cold, not too warm
I always think the traverse is worse than the actual hike.
Gratuitously too many pictures
Wind firm snow in this spot
Yes, that is scaffolding holding up the unload ramp and liftie hut. at the top of Alberta Lift..
It's a really short but interesting hike to the Knife Ridge
Starts off about 4 feet wide at the end of the walkway
4 of these on the ridge...
Very nice snow though...
Uncrowded Lunch
Waterfall area
Final run after the lightning
This is the tiny town hill in Durango itself with a small terrain park and bump line. Surprised it is still open given the warm temps in town.