Checked out the bowl North of AM lakes today

[bushy]

I'm starting to get that feeling again; it's almost here
Had a day left on the cow tag so I used that as an excuse to go check out a spot (Lonely Bowl)I've been wanting to ride for several years. Seems all the elk have taken to moving down to winter range early this year, or maybe it's all the friggin moose chasing them off or CWD getting them. Gonna have to change areas or tactics next year!

Anyway, I strapped on my 30 pounds of hunting crap and headed up the 1200 feet to that bowl just over the north ridge of AM lakes bowl. Made it up to 10,800 before the sun going down turned me around. Figured out a few ways to get in there (and back out) and can't wait to hit it with the sled. The area was all full of old logging roads and it's thinned out real nice with lots open tree boondockin to be had on the approach to the craggy stuff. Also some nice little (safe) climbs up to the ridge that leads to the crags.

I wished I'd had more gas in my tank and another hour of daylight cause I stopped right at the base of a huge pile of talus (boulder pile) about 300 feet high that had a big upper bowl behind it. Looks like a way to get up there on the west side with a sled though. Can't wait to get you boyz up there and have you borrow me your turbo J/K, my sled will go higher than my chahones will anyway. One thing I found interesting is that the popular climb on the north side of AM bowl connects with a gnarly looking climb in this bowl. I've always turned out at the top of that climb but it looks like you (literally YOU and not me) could rocket right over the top and drop into lonely bowl Man I'd love to video that from the top of the ridge!!!

Here's the backside pull. Kind of misleading but it's About 800' vertical and looks huge from below.

Upper bowl with some crazy looking chutes

West entrance to upper bowl

Maybe a way in from AM bowl

Iron mtn. faces west so gets hammered by wind!

 

[bushy]

A couple more.... Not much alpine left up north here that isn't uselessness area, so I get a little giddy when i find something new to explore

Some more "reasonable" slopes on the ridge north of the craggy stuff

Sheep trails zig zagging up this slope

North of Iron mountain. Could get a sled in there if you worked at it!

 

[thebigtreeman]

Nice pics. Looks like some good riding.

I'd like to see someone pull this!

 

[CO 2.0]

I think that stuff on the Lake Anges area you were in is illegal to ride. Yes there in snow on that face in the winter so you could literally ride over it from AM, but don't screw up on the pointed top. That climb back over will take 180hp is my bet since it looks as if a strong run in would be difficult. Much steeper than the side on AM, and snow will be soft down low being shaded and all. Even that pic that could be a way in from AM bowl is difficult when looking down it in the winter. That shade side keeps the pow in better so it might not be set up enough down low with stock 800 power to get back up. No good run in it looks like either to get back over to AM.

 

[bushy]

So you're in for the trip then, CO 2.0, or you just want to see the pictures. Shoot that's prolly your secret spot ain't it Never seen track one from skier or sledder in there though.

Actually you can get there on the ditch road but you'd probably have to cut a lot of drift to avoid getting dumped off into the abyss. I've tried the ditch road before and got turned around by angled drifts pretty quick. The ditch is open for a ways but is buried a few hundred yards up, so that's not a problem getting across. There is a road up from the crags campground to the ditch that comes out right where you enter the bowl, but the entrance to that road is across the bridge to agnes. Legality? good question, but I don't think I'll call the hippie at the desk of the visitor center and ask their opinion. lol What makes you think that's illegal? You do know that's not the lake agnes bowl, right? Agnes is to the west behind the big crags and has a sign right on the bridge that it's off limits. If you climbed out of any of that crags ridge on the west (which is laughable and ludicrous to me) you would find yourself plummetting down a snowless, wind blasted, 70 degree boulder stewn scree slope and would probably be considered "buried" where you went splat. They'd probably remove your un-sightly machine by chopper and grapple, but leave your body to the crows. lol

I've not seen anything indicating that bowl is illegal to ride and I'm sure if it was it would be posted clearly or in the regs (That is one of the twig pigs strong-points ya know). No sign or anything at the ditch either. No description in the regs saying don't drop in either. I would have ZERO problem hitting that bowl....if I could get in and out, which is why you don't see anybody riding it.

I'm with ya on the "dropping" in idea and said I would "video" the crazy mo-fo that could go over both sides. I've no doubt it could be done by one of the film star types pumping out 250 horse, but no, I probably won't see it or get anywhere near it! I'd guess the snow settles in real good on the route my picture is from, so I think the run up would be fine At spring hard up anybody with stones and a 600 could climb about everything in those bowls. I think we all know it's not generally the ability of the machine though Mine will go places I cannot!

Yeah I've surveyed that "entry" from above too and your right about getting back out that way. From the map, up towards the N point of that ridge, the terrain drop is not too bad in one spot and from the looks of google earth an old logging road comes up right in that area. The aspect probably gives you firmer snow and the 162 A-20 can come down pretty good. Going back up is a dif story. lol It's possible riding the ditch could be a no-no, no sign up though, so I would assume it's ok.... Shoot they may not even need a sign on the ditch the way the drifts would likely make it a digging nightmare to go that half mile. The smart thing to do is get up there Nov 15 and start beating down a trail in and out from above and keep it beat down all season. Besides, If you went up the ditch then everybody else would follow your track and we don'ts like to share the "secret spots" and how to get in. Oh, I bet the snow is good and fluffy in there though

 

[mezz250x]

where is this area at? Me and some guys are coming out in January, staying around steamboat lake. is the snow anywhere close to there yet?

 

[bushy]

Ground is cold and the snow is sticking good now. Just need some snow! This area is around Cameron Pass. I wouldn't recommend going to far out of your way to ride here, as the snow is much better where your going. Nice scenery to ride in over here though, if your into that, but for great powder boondocking your staying in the right place and you'll find plenty of challenging terrain. You can't ride em, but you have the Zirkels over there for lookin at. lol I'm not saying we don't have any good pow boondockin, but you do have to hit it right and it work for it. I have plenty of area to ride a half hour from my house at 10 K feet, but the snow isn't super deep (~6 feet) and tends to not set up, so you trench down to stumps. It's a lot drier in these hills and it seems to suck the moisture out of the snow and leave you with bottomless granular snow. I ride the alpine around here because the snow "behaves" better up high. For some scenic trail riding up north and somewhat avy prone boondockin You might look at lodging in Grand Lake, Walden, or Gould if you like riding into the lofty peaks.

 

[CO 2.0]

Yeah was secret fvcker

I thought those pics were from the agnes side? Where is it, just to the east of hwy14 as it makes the turn back to the north toward joe wright? Doesn't look like the AM bowl at all. Did you take out from 7 uttes? That is the bowl I "heard" you can't ride on (Agnes). Like anyone could even find you in that spot though. Bunch of bush wacking going in through the ditch. The road that cuts the side of the mtn could be a gnar sidehilling experience across some avy chutes. I will most likely be up there the 15th to start cutting roads in. Got a ticket this last spring for riding after May 15th. A couple of those Jackson County guys a dicks to the fullest degree. I did a ton of looking to the NE of AM and found even better terrain coming in on the Long Draw side. Too bad I also found out it is Wilderness area. I'd love to drop over the divide on AM. Why does the RMNF have to start right there damnit!!!

There was actually enough snow there last year to drop over the steep am lower lake side to anges. That is just asking for bad stuff to happen though...

TRUST me when I tell you this place IS NOT for your weekend out of towner looking for moderately aggressive terrain and great powder. I have seen too many people back in this area with sleds that should not even think about being back in this type of terrain. Some days it's okay, well, when I or someone else (like Bush) cuts trail, others.....well this area can kick your azz getting in if you don't know exactly where the trail is. Snow is often wind blown during much of the season. If you want to be certain you'll ride the best pow with more variety and acres of terrain, go to Buff Pass or Rabbit Ears instead. Buff usually gets ~ 2X's the snow base that AM gets every year....as a matter of fact Buff Pass had more snow than Wolf Creek last year on snotel.

 

[trinitypowder]

Me and my POS XP are ready to hit it with ya Paul. I drove through the area last friday on my way back from fishing the Platte. I parked along the road and "studied" some pretty cool looking stuff. It reminds me of the riding I did down around Durango...............

 

[BuffriderNP]

Here's a couple from up there one summer and one winter. I hope its good up there this year. Bushmaster that shoot you were talking about looks scary and I don't know if it ever has enough snow to try.

 

[bushy]

lol, I guess my secrets safe with you!

Here's a picture from above and one from the highway along the steep dropoff around the first steep curve. You can't see the bowl but it's up to the right of that dark mass of trees in the upper center, and behind the alpine ridge. Should call it Hidden bowl. Sounds like you've looked down into it, but you didn't know what bowl you were looking into.

The only place you could look into Agnes bowl is from the top of the upper back bowl in AML in this pic. Pics kinda crappy, but here's a vid I took on my camera. Agnes is behind this.

If were on the same page here, then you viewed it from the ridge just south of my mark on this map and down to the east some, where most people climb up to that ridge from the AM side.

Lonely Bowl is behind this ridge and the pic I took is from down another 1/4 mile to the right.

You should be able to get away with riding in these areas I've outlined

I used to BC ski Agnes and 7 utes. They're both signed no sledding right at the trailheads. There also the most visible from the highway. Here's Agnes from the highway, 7 Utes is a mile or so to the right

Def. true about knowing the trail in or you can get bucked off into a nasty gulch (been there!). Just before it opens up it gets a little nasty if nobody's been through in a while. No, I guess I wouldn't recommend anyone go there un-guided unless they are a seasoned alpine sledder.

Here's another of that upper bowl at AML from Thunder Pass.

Hey Ike-John! (Houston we have a two vehicle!), I hope you weren't drooling over Agnes bowl or 7 Utes! It's just not right to ride there, ya know We should def get a crew of us N. Front rangers together for a trip or two up there this year. Maybe get into that hidden bowl. Pretty country for sure, but a healthy respect for the avy danger is a must. I rarely feel comfortable hitting those big climbs, but when the snow is right it's fun to take a poke. Plenty of safer stuff to have fun on up there anyway.

Nice pics Buffrider, that summer pic is nice, and I think I know the photographer that took the other one. lol

 

[black swan]

qreiff and family have been riding up there for years........

everytime i go up there its a whiteout and i'm lucky to find the truck. But are you guys talking south of hwy? AM on the north side? yep, i cant read a map!

 

[molson14]

I would like to join you in this sometime this season. I have two summit 600s. This looks like amazing terrain to sled ski. Anyone done it?

 

[bushy]

Here's a Google earth with some lables. That ought to be enough info for someone to go find a way in there and then tell me how tee hee hee. Oh, some maps call American Lakes, Michigan lakes, but the Park calls it American Lakes on the signs.

Yeah Ray, I think I heard of them doing a trip to the cabin at Agnes or something last year...Maybe that was George and Steve?...but you can't ride your sled into Agnes....or...Forgot the story but I think it had some "interesting" details.

Yeah molson, i've seen guys sledski. Catch it on a powder day or it can be a little set up out in the open. The guys I've seen, ski the main area of the big bowl and it doesn't look too exciting. Ok, but doesn't look worth the trouble. You can do it solo on a few slopes. Ride sled up then push it back down the way it came up, ski down to it and repeat. If it was me I'd head up to the north ridge, then out towards the point where that middle arrow of my Access label is. Go off the east side, it's a pretty steep slope with a fairly long drop and great pow all the time, and the loggers left the trees sparse enough that you could hammer it. Has lots of ledges and bumps to catch air off of and not many sleds get very far north on that slope. Comes out right by the trail down in the valley below. I used to ski BC, but mostly climb the mtn/ski down the mtn. I was never all that great a BC skier so it wasn't too tough to sell the skis for some motor mods! More power to ya if you still enjoy it. I'd have to say that slope is one of my favorite pow pow boondockin spots back there when everything else is all set up. Nice and safe with some wicked climbs up through the trees. If the trail in has been tracked up it's not too hard to get up there, but the wind howls through that bottleneck area just before the bowl and a storm can erase the trail pretty quick and leave some pretty interesting features behind, like 12 foot drifts that are scoured to the dirt on the other side. Your on an off camber climb/trail and if you get off track you can find yourself down in a nasty gulch pretty quick.

 

[RMKTrencher900]

i don't think you can ride the agness side

i have been up there several times and it is all ski and walk...george and i did do the other side...you have to be careful there too...if you get to close to the yurts they make a stink about it. i got my first ever ticket on my sled for that....crap part of that was i f'd up my sled on a tree earlier the day before and it would hardly run...then sgt. grizz came up and nails me for riding near the yurt....if not for the tracks right passed the sign that said don't ride here dumb ***...i think i might have gotten away with it.

as far as the agness side ther would be some great ridin over there some nice cirques tons of powder....but you gotta watch out for all the people huggin the trees and spillin yogurt on the trail...haha...

 

[CO 2.0]

Sorry I was off, I was talking about that bowl the whole time. We are on the same page. I thought Agnes was up in the crags there, guess it's over the back side of the upper lake. I do not even see even a turbo getting over to Anges lol. That face is MUCH steeper than it looks trust me and that chute you are looking at is tight tight tight cause of rocks. That WHOLE upper lake is pure 5-10' boulders. Do not try to ride it early season cause you'll break something. I have never seen a sled in the hidden bowl, I always thought the access signs to it down low had no sled signs on it?

I had my tags checked last year twice by the fizz. Hikers and skiers look at us with disgusting looks up there. They love us for sure.

Beware the wind of the crags, had some freaking gnar frostbite up there last year. There are more cloudy than clear days up there for sure. Clouds like to hang around the mountain tops. Iron Mountain would be bush wacking city to get into.

 

[rkymtnman]

I do not even see even a turbo getting over to Anges lol.

Sounds like a job for DJ?


LMAO

 

[Qreiff]

Paul:
Way to much to share on this subject for me to type. You just let me know when you want to get WAY GNARLY........we will drop off the north side and down in.........Need deep snow. I've never dropped over the north side of the popular climb........ But I want to..................

We need to share notes

 

[Qreiff]

qreiff and family have been riding up there for years........

everytime i go up there its a whiteout and i'm lucky to find the truck. But are you guys talking south of hwy? AM on the north side? yep, i cant read a map!

Shhhh,,,,,,,,,,PM me.

 

[BuffriderNP]

Bushmaster did I steal your pic? I've got a few from up there. I think you did give it the sakshrivler name!

I pulled in a tobogan and stayed the night with some buddies up there got 2' of powder snow that night and not a lick of wind to blow it off the next day w/bluebird. Every now and then we get good conditions up there. Not even worth going if its overcast and windy!