You don't need to go to South America to get your winter stoke on. Instead of savoring the last days of summer, a team of stokologists headed to the high country outside Crested Butte, CO this past weekend in search of... snow. Okay, so you're lucky to score more than 5-10 continuous turns, and the corn is so dirty even the dogs won't eat it. Sitting at the snow's edge feels like being at the beach, uh, minus the water.
The two-mile hike in is more or less a traverse on scree and washed-out drainages that spill to the Slate River below. It's very doable, though one misstep could have big consequences. Search and rescue missions seem to happen out here each year.
Anyhow, there is a big plug of snow at the headwaters of the Slate River, and after surveying the area it became obvious this was the best place to make a few turns. And session it we did. The snow softened in the afternoon sun, and got better every run. It was short, but sweet since I haven't made a turn in a couple months.
On the way out, a passing hiker stopped and said: "I gotta ask, how did you guys use them?" referring to our skis and boards. We told him about the snow upvalley.
"Oh, I had visions of you guys riding down the rocks and scree," he said, laughing.
"Uhh, nope, that stuff is pretty sharp..." we told him. "Sounds dangerous." It was a classic trail encounter of the third kind.
Clouds covered the sun, and a breeze reminded us what's around the corner. It won't be long before fresh snow is coating these mountains. It's getting colder, I can feel it.—MH
All photos property of StokeLab
