Sundance Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, 5 July 2003

For about two weeks a year, just after the opening of Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, it is generally possible to ski Sundance Mountain from Trail Ridge Road down to Fall River Road. (To ski Sundance prior to the opening of Fall River, it is a 6 mile hike out). Bruno and I did 3 runs on this -perfect- day.

Click the pics to see a larger version and to step through them.

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Sundance Mountain from the car drop-off point. You can see about 1/3 of the skiable snow in this view. We skied down the left line looking up. (Click directly on the pic to advance). Bruno hiking from the starting point on Trail Ridge Road in the latest in French hi-tech footwear. Go around the rocks at the end of the path, and ... snow! Many people who we passed said "there is no snow here!" Heh.
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"Le Poacher". Bruno begins the increasing slope down to Fall River Road. Hey! That's MY line! Red and white suncups sometimes the size of moguls made for some fine skiing. The view was fine too, if you are into scenery. And gradually, it gets steeper ...
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... and steeper ... ... and steepest. Bruno stops some cars. The Nebraska farmers driving by thought we were nuts. Well ... This is me finishing one of our runs. This is at the very bottom of the left snow field visible in the first picture. (Bruno pics from here on)
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The walk out is downhill through some scratchy bushes and branches that are skilled at grabbing your skis. This is what happens when you let Bruno lead you back to the road. (I recommend against it.) The stream was very manageable. A log bridge was just downstream that we used when we were not lost. (Did I mention Bruno was leading?). ... A GREAT day!