Hunter Lode Mining Claim, CO 11-10-04

[mapadu]

On Wednesday, I skinned from my front door and skied back again. Check this out. I live on one of those roads at about 10,500? and 90 minutes from my driveway I was standing at 11,800? in the middle of that little red cursor.

Just above my development, I discovered this sign,

, which references a mining claim established in 1887. Welcome to the new old west.

There?s already as much snow as I saw all last year up there ? which isn?t saying a whole lot because the backyard BC was quite snake-bitten. But that was then and this is now. As indicated in the photo, there was another storm brewing and the brief glimpses I did get through the clouds had me drooling all over the sight of Red Mountain ? another of the several hills within a short distance of the breakfast table. If this weather keeps up, I?m gonna be saving big bucks on gas this year!

The above TL snowfield was quite a treat ? all covered in powder, about third-buckle deep. The first couple hundred feet below TL were simply dreamy, with boot top floating going on down the zig-zagged obstacle course. My bases kissed rocks several times below that and then I remembered that this is mid-November after all, and that skiing the trees of the rocky mountains at this point is a gift, bottomless or not.

I skied this chute for its entirety, and it was all I could?ve hoped for.

When you?re at the bottom of something like that, and getting home will involve skiing for two minutes down a snow-packed road, life is not bad at all.

 

[hamdog]

mapadu says:

......another of the several hills within a short distance of the breakfast table. If this weather keeps up, I?m gonna be saving big bucks on gas this year!

now, aren't we humble? hope you end up finding a human partner to travel with when it gets to be more than 1'-2' so you can "save big bucks on gas". i've noticed you're a solo tripper.

thanks for all the pics and the reports. you're gonna be a blue square in no time.

 

[mapadu]

mapadu says:

......another of the several hills within a short distance of the breakfast table. If this weather keeps up, I?m gonna be saving big bucks on gas this year!

now, aren't we humble? hope you end up finding a human partner to travel with when it gets to be more than 1'-2' so you can "save big bucks on gas". i've noticed you're a solo tripper.

thanks for all the pics and the reports. you're gonna be a blue square in no time.

hamdog - not sure how to take this...

as evidence that I do have human partners, well, somebody had to take these shots...

and to address your sarcastic "humble" remark: mentioning your proximity to mountains is taboo? since when? as a good friend once said, if your going to be branded and/or accused of something, well, you might as well do it - hence the shameless pics you see above. Never underestimate the power of jealousy, I suppose.

Lastly, in reading your sig - "educate yourself about avalanche terrain. your head is the most important tool you've got........use it." ...now aren't we humble?

And if that sig is directed at me, you're preaching to the choir, man.

 

[hamdog]

nice to know you have some bc partners.

since you give such well documented reports, i'd miss them if something unfortunate happened. that's all! :shock:

haha. i knew you were gonna take that wrong.

nice shots btw.

it is taboo when everywhere else in the country is as dry as they are(except UT). "from the breakfast table". come on. rub it in a little more will ya?

sig is not directed at you personally. just spreading the word.

 

[20thSkier]

I have to admit that I'm insanely jealous on seeing those pictures...and even more jealous that you could take them in the morning and be at work by afternoon.

But keep them coming...at least those of us who are humble, not by virtue by but lack of mountains, can live vicariously.