Backcountry Powder Skiing & Snowshoeing at Red Mountain South of Ouray
Details
Premiere powder skiing and snowshoeing. Paul and I were here two weeks ago. Don't hesitate to go because you're new to backcountry, skinning, powder skiing, route finding, avalanche avoidance, trip planning and GPS navigation. We only need to "walk" up trails already broken by other skiers! A shovel, probe poles and beacon are recommended but not mandatory. You could rent skiis. I have two pairs of snowshoes to loan.
We could hit the Ouray Hot Springs and have dinner on the way back or dinner first then the springs, or the springs on both sides of dinner (the springs charge by the day)!
All photos below are from the actual Red Mountain #3 area. Notice the one I noted as more steep than I would lead.
12 miles south of Ouray just off 550; quick access to the slopes; minimal approach. 75 minutes from my house in Montrose.
Area Description http://www.summitpost.org/red-mountain-3/150847
Can stay at Jeff's Friday night for the 7:00 am start. Post your questions here, phone me at 970-417-4165 or e-mail deltanorthfork@gmail.com.
http://www.denverpost.com/travel/ci_7936799
Getting to the trailhead: Drive on U.S. 550 to the summit of Red Mountain Pass, 13 miles south of Ouray and 10 miles north of Silverton. There are several parking areas at the pass, the northernmost being the best if starting on County Road 14A, while the parking area just to the south is at the start of County Road 14.
Statistics and difficulty: For the intermediate tour to the Mountain Belle Hut, the trail gains 500 feet in 1.2 miles. The slopes of McMillan Peak offer moderate slopes for those wanting to practice their telemarking skills. More advanced skills (including routefinding and avalanche awareness) are recommended if you decide to continue on to ski the glades of U.S. Basin. Climbing skins are recommended for this tour.
Whether skiing the gentle slopes high on the flanks of McMillan Peak or the challenging tree runs in U.S. Basin, we have enjoyed memorable descents that demand that we skin up again and repeat.
On those occasions when the snow above treeline is windpacked, there are plenty of glades lower down that tend to hold good snow.
Head south on the CR 14 roadbed, probably tracked by skis and snowmobiles (watch for snowmobiles on the road). After one- half-mile the road turns east up an unnamed drainage and climbs quite steeply (skins recommended) to another road junction at mile 0.9. Here County Road 14 turns right (south) and is well signed to the St. Paul Lodge and Mountain Belle Cabin. Throughout this area you'll see some of the many old mine buildings still standing.
Stay on County Road 14 as it climbs up and past St. Paul Lodge and then the Mountain Belle Cabin. The skiing to this point is a very nice outing for intermediate skiers, but for those who want to practice their telemark skills or for the advanced skier, this is just the start. To continue on above treeline, head east in the vicinity of the Mountain Belle Hut onto the west flank of McMillan Peak. From here, choose your descent line, taking care to stay off the steeper terrain when avalanche conditions are suspect.
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Here's the waypoints I've plotted and loaded into my GPS and printed a glossy map showing all of this.
Weather cameras at Red Mountain Pass: http://www.cotrip.org/m/cameraDtl.xhtml?id=134&rd=46&scroll-pos=0
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This slope angle below I would not ski unless it was late in the season and a pit revealed little hoar frost and good consolidation, or if the trees were everywhere.
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A sweet bowl.
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Approaching the top of Red Mountain #3. You can see the slope incline is low.
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McMillan Peak, another safe and easy option Paul and I used two weeks ago, in the background.
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No avalanche potential here! Just easy gliding from the top of Red 3.
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Waypoints to ensure we know our exact location the whole time. These aren't needed on a clear day.
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Potential ascents and descents.
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Hundreds of peaks above 12,000' viewable 360 degrees in this radical area of the San Juans.
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Shuss or wedelen, as you wish.
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Easy, pre-broken ascents.
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Summer appearance; notice the low slope angle on the right side.
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Backcountry Powder Skiing & Snowshoeing at Red Mountain South of Ouray