Two Elk Circuit - a tale of Two Seasons
Trip date: Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Submitted by Diana Piggott
Particpants:
My shiny new red skis and me
Discussion:
I parked at Elk Pass trailhead this morning, and found that the melt-freeze cycle had made for some very icy conditions on the first big hill. My new fishscales were no match for the ice, and the descent called for the extreme snowplow! Beyond the first Hydroline junction, snow quality improved, but there was some tree debris for the first section there.
I was planning to simply visit West Elk Pass for the first time this season, but felt drawn up to Elk Pass proper. At the picnic table there, I was caught up by a genial chap named Norm. He was the only other skier I saw all day.
From there, he went north and I went south on Hydroline. The tracks were very icy, but a supportive crust made for easy travel off the tracks. At a bend in the road, I detoured into the big clearcut area, and contoured over to the "usual" cutblock. There was insufficient "dust" on the crust for amusing diversions, so I found my way back to the hydroline and looked for the way in to West Elk Pass. I found flagging on trees, but you have to have faith to go in there!
There was almost no sign of a trail, but I followed my nose and was reassured by occasional flagging on trees - many thanks to kind souls who put that there. Eventually I found myself in a familiar meadow, much relieved. By noon the sun was getting hot and the snow sticky, but the crust remained quite supportive.
Back to the Elk Pass trail, the descent was slow and somewhat stately, but I was thrown off kilter sometimes when it was faster in the sun and slow in the shade! The big hill was quite soft and easy to manage, thank goodness, as I was tired by then.
I meant to write something more entertaining, but there you are...... photos will be added later!