I found a little new snow... Vail Pass

[CO Powder]

I was out on Vail Pass in the storm Wednesday and after on Thursday. It was my first ride up there. I hooked up with a couple of great guys to show me around on Wed, which was nice because the visibility was bad. Thursday I made a loop around and checked it out a little more. I would avoid Wearyman Creek trail (#5) unless you have scuba gear and are straddling a jet ski. The half dozen or so crossings on the south end are getting BAD.

I did find plenty of untouched trees to ride. It would be a LOT better if I weren't concerned about all the skier area inholdings, what a pain in the butt. I am also not accustomed to signaling group numbers as you pass... I never see anyone else on the trail where I ride I apologize for waving to the first couple of groups, no there weren't 5 guys behind me, sorry.

There appear to be some great tree riding areas, the spacing is bigger than my usual haunt. I would come back but I looks like you don't really need any more people up there. Probably doesn't seem strange to city people but, that is way to crowded for me and way too over regulated.

The snow was fresh and deep enough to be loads of fun for sure!

 

[rhalloran]

Yesterday was good, and amusingly enough, I was looking for the other four behind you.

Edit - yesterday was RIDICULOUSLY crowded for a weekday. Parking lot filled - that pretty much never happens on a weekday.

Yesterday was more like an average-to-busy weekend. Tomorrow is going to be a circus. I'm leaving early. Really early.

 

[farmervanny]

Funny, I road both days and never saw another sled, except while on shrine pass road heading to and from home, even then it was like two rental groups and maybe three small groups on real sleds. Used to hate on VP but now that I know it better I rarely ever feel crowded there.

 

[rhalloran]

Yeah, we saw people at first, but where we went, we had it to ourselves - once we got into the zone we wanted, we saw no one. Closer to the lot was weekend-like.

 

[CO Powder]

Obviously it helps to really know the area. I was in a couple of deserted areas, and closer to the parking lot there were quite a few sleds. Tons of hybrid'ers, they seem to outnumber sledders.

My tour on Wed was fun but I had no idea where we were after the first set of trees. Thurs I wanted to make a loop. I found plenty of good stuff, rode some of it. Beautiful day, good riding, enjoy!