How do you start skiing in the backcountry? Many of us have some story of a rough first day, perhaps postholing around or dealing with hopelessly frozen skins because we didn’t know any better. Or worst of all- snowshoeing. One of Bluebird Backcountry’s founders, Jeff Woodward, had similar experiences, including when he took his brother skiing on one of Crested Butte’s more well-known backcountry runs- Coney’s. When he got back, he started thinking, “maybe there’s a better way”. In fact, Jeff and I sat down and had a beer at the brick Oven while he outlined his general ideas for a backountry ski area. Years later, he we are with Bluebird Backcountry.

Climbers will often learn at a climbing gym- a relatively safe environment before ever trying natural rock or natural protection. With skiers, it’s usually trial by fire, or they’ll simply stick to skinning up ski areas and roads as a way of getting exercise. Bluebird is hoping to serve that void and introduce people to backcountry skiing in a similarly controlled environment. Beginners can actually learn how to use their gear (and even rent skis, boots, shovel, beacon, and probe), without also trying to avoid avalanches and pick the best route up the mountain. If you’re not supposed to venture out into the backcountry without Avy education, how are you supposed to learn the basics, like skinning. Many a course educator can tell stories of students who really weren’t ready to do an avalanche course, but can you blame them for wanting to learn before they go off on their own and kill themselves?

After some trial runs at both Mosquito Pass and Winter Park, the Bluebird team started looking for a location. Public United States Forest Land would take years and a significant investment. There’s a reason that the last ski permit in Colorado for a brand new ski area was Beaver Creek in 1980. Additionally, they didn’t want to take away an area that was already being used by backcountry skiers. Could you imagine the backlash if they decided to “close” Berthoud Pass for their own use? Which isn’t to say that public land is totally off the table- if their model proves successful, and they found an area that would perhaps work but only if they were able to thin trees and create runs to make an area skiable, that’s an option.

Instead, they looked at private land, with over 100 different potential sites. In the end, they chose Peak Ranch- it had an amenable owner, good terrain, and enough snow (they asked Joel Gratz of OpenSnow his thoughts and he gave it the thumbs-up). The area has 1500 acres, but for now, they’ll only open 300 acres without a guide. The other terrain is potentially too steep and they’re not quite ready to do explosive avalanche control- but perhaps down the road.

So for now, you can show up at Bluebird Backcountry, skin up, and ski down. You’ll need a beacon/probe/shovel, since they want to instill good habits. But you don’t have to have a partner. One of the things we’ve noticed when we’ve done our book tour events is that a lot of people ask us- “How do I find partners?”. That seems to be a common problem, after all, who wants to take on a new backcountry skier, and feel responsible for their safety as well as your own. Bluebird may prove to be a great spot for meeting people. They’re also hoping to add educational components, like clinics on route choices, gear, skintrack technique, or how to be efficient at transitions and packing, etc.

Bluebird Backcountry will open tomorrow, February 15th for the first time, and their season is expected to cover the following dates: February 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29 and March 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15. Additionally, there are volunteer opportunities from ski rentals to ski safety, ski area operations to customer service, guiding, and instruction for those interested.

Our Thoughts

We think this is a great concept, and we think it will prove to be a successful model. Learning how to backcountry ski isn’t easy, unless you’re one of the lucky ones that find a mentor to show you the ropes. For most skiers, they’ll figure it out on their own or with a few friends. That often works, but it’s a steep learning curve. Bluebird Backcountry should smooth that curve out significantly. And who knows, perhaps someday the model will include terrain for more experienced backcountry skiers like ourselves. I know I wouldn’t mind skiing some lightly tracked steeps in mid-winter that I would otherwise consider off-limits if it hadn’t been controlled. Will the current location prove to be the one? I’m sure they’d rather be a little closer to Denver, and have a little more snow than what the photos have been showing thus far. But it seems like a good start. We wish them the best of luck and perhaps we’ll even be up there some day, just to check it out.

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That said, for all the skiing I’ve done in the Steamboat Springs area, I haven’t given the riding much justice. So, after our friend Larry visited Crested Butte, he insisted I come up to Steamboat and sample their goods. He had a special ride planned out for us. We would ride from Rabbit Ears to Soda Mountain and then back to town.

From Rabbit Ears, we started out following a road that climbed above Dumont Lake which gave us some magnificent views.

Fog hovered in the valley below, while the Gore Range rose above it in the distance.

A view of Dumont Lake below.

We then hopped on the Wyoming Trail which started off as a fun descent, and then become more cross-country.

We rode by quite a few alpine lakes, including this one – Fish Hook.

And Elmo.

A few more shots of Larry on the Wyoming Trail.

Instead of taking the turn off the trail toward the Steamboat ski area, we continued on the Wyoming Trail to Buffalo Pass.

Approaching Summit Lake.

We stopped for a rest near Summit Lake.

We continued up on the Buffalo Pass Road where we veered off on a single track to head up toward Soda Mountain. The single track is unmarked, not well-traveled, and pretty hard to find.

We climbed up the thin trail toward the top of Soda Mountain. Larry.

Me.

Then the trail got really faint.

Then there was the down – a fun descent off of Soda Mountain.

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The mystery started to become unlocked with our ski on Little Agnes. I knew I would back to ski the big one. Big Agnes was calling my name! Two months later, to the day, I would return.

The weather was not looking so promising at the start.

But then we saw glimmers of hope. Larry, with Big Agnes behind – and lifting clouds.

Onward we went. Larry skinning with the west face of Big Agnes Mountain towering above.

Unnamed 11,777, AKA the Batwing.

A look back at Little Agnes.

We booted most of the way up the west face of Big Agnes Mountain. Larry.

We didn’t summit. But, when we got to the top of our line, we peered over the ridge to this….

Looking east (Yep, that side is skiable on Big Agnes too).

A closer view of Mount Zirkel.

The ski was pretty fun. Larry.

Me.

Larry again.

A couple more shots of Big Agnes Mountain on the way out.

Happy, after a good day’s work.

We began our day in the clouds and ended it in sun. You just don’t know until you go! Thanks to Larry for another good time out!

If you go, you may want to sent up a basecamp at Mica Lake. Our favorite tent for such things is the Big Agnes Foidel!

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Hahns Peak (13 Feb 2016)

Although Hahns Peak doesn’t have a very impressive elevation, by Colorado standards, it is certainly one of the more prominent peaks in the North Routt area. It beckons backcountry skiers.

We generally stuck to the typical summer route for the climb.

Colin, Frank, and I enjoyed good views of Hahns throughout the climb.

The top of Hahns Peak is decorated with a lookout tower.

Unfortunately, it was closed for restoration.

The east chute certainly looked good, but was not in our plans for the day….

Colin dropping in near the top.

My turn.

Lower down, we enjoyed plenty of good powder turns. Frank.

Hahns Peak is certainly worth checking out!

Farwell Mountain (12 Mar 2016)

Farwell is one of the larger mountains in the North Routt area. Not only does it rise almost 3000 vertical feet above the valley, it also has a wide breadth. There’s lots to ski on this peak. But, we headed for the southeast chutes.

Larry skinning across Pearl Lake Reservoir with Farwell in the distance.

The skinning was pretty east and straight-forward and we found ourselves making good time to the summit. The skiing was pretty good! Larry, on the skier’s right edge of the SE chutes:

Me, with the SE chutes behind.

After finishing the chutes, we enjoyed a nice ski through the aspen forest back to our car at Pearl Lake!

The Steamboat Springs region has a lot of good backcountry skiing, and it was fun to do some exploring in the North Routt area!

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Larry and I went to check out a zone he’d been scoping for quite some time, adjacent to Soda Mountain.

It had been at least a week since the last fresh snow in the Steamboat backcountry, but it was still untouched, untracked, and left for the taking. Larry drops in.

After hours of clouds, the sun came out to greet us.

Right now, we’re in a big storm cycle. But, when the powder dries up, and your stashes get skied, remember that there’s likely more powder out there. You just need to look a little further

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But, in researching the Steamboat backcountry zones, Little Agnes Mountain seems like it was a good one to put on the hit list. So, when my friend Marko offered to change up a day of work to show us around the Zirkels along with his friend Larry, I was ecstatic. Who doesn’t love exploring cool new places?

We used snowmobiles to access Little Agnes, shown in this photo.

Frank models his Big Agnes jacket in the shadows of both Little Agnes and Big Agnes mountains.

The area surrounding Little Agnes is scarred with a magical forest of skeleton trees. The forest died as a result of a combination of forces including a blow-down in 1997, drought, pine beatles, and a fire in 2002. But, what’s left behind is perfect for us skiers!

We skinned the ridge to gain the summit of Little Agnes.

The boys on the summit!

Big Agnes taunted us from afar. I need to come back for that one some day….

The snow looked creamy on the northeast bowl.

Larry dropped in first.

And it became evident that the snow was actually more variable than anticipated.

Me.

Marko.

Larry.

Marko.

Me.

A view of the northeast bowl.

Making our way out the Agnes Creek drainage, we saw all kinds of great skiable terrain.

But the true north side of Little Agnes was the money.

But we still had a ways to go…. Frank enjoying turns in the burned forest.

Me.

Larry scoping for more goods.

Marko was doing quite well with the splitboard-ski technique.

The exit got a little flat….

But, we went back for more. We found ourselves again on the northwest ridge of Little Agnes.

And we enjoyed a few more laps through the burn. Me.

Frank.

I’d heard about the Zirkels for years but knew nothing about them. It was great to finally venture a bit into the Wilderness and enjoy some turns off a cool peak and into the burned forest. Sweet scenery for sure, and Little Agnes Mountain is a backcountry skier’s paradise! Can’t wait to head back for more!

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