Cross-country skiing at the end of the season near Aspen? Beware of these popular traps

Even though avalanche danger is diminishing in the Roaring Fork Valley, that doesn't mean it has disappeared, nor have the other traps people often get caught in.

Almost all of the rest of the ski touring this late in the season will take place at the highest elevations, and most will require a thorough approach and exit on asphalt, dirt, and streams. If you want to access backcountry terrain, make sure you have proper avalanche and wilderness training and go out with other trained people. Always make sure you know the area and the avalanche and weather forecasts.

The idea that late season brings steeper slopes is not always true. Depending on the time of day and temperature, wet avalanches are still very likely. Often people fall into the trap of summit fever where, after putting in effort and time to reach the slope, they decide to ski despite the apparent danger. Being aware of avalanche danger before skiing and having the knowledge to be able to assess the snow on site is an important skill to have when off-piste.

“The best way to reduce the threat from wet avalanche activity is to stick to the mantra: start early and finish early,” said Brian Lazar, deputy director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

It still depends on the aspect of the terrain; East-facing slopes receive the sun earlier and warm up more quickly, making the risk of avalanche activity higher on east-facing slopes than on the west side. You need to descend earlier on an east-facing slope to avoid avalanches, while you may have more time if you ski on a north- or west-facing slope.

“If you’re trying to ski an east-facing trail, you have to get off at 10 a.m.,” Lazar said. “If it's west-facing, it won't get the sun until 11 a.m., so you might be able to push it out until noon or even 1 p.m.”

At this point in the season, especially once Independence Pass opens, skiers will flock to peaks like Blarney and Twining as well as Mount Geissler and Independence Mountain. Much of the north-facing aspects along the pass – including the 4th of July Bowl – will see more traffic, especially as the season begins to progress. Many 14ers become skiable, including Pyramid and Conundrum. The Montezuma Basin will also continue to see skiers almost into August as the snow takes longer to melt. The Highlands Bowl remains a popular destination, as does the backside of Snowmass Ski Area.

When the sun hits the snow, another major point of instability is cornices. What happens is the snow slowly melts the bottom of the cornice, making it much more vulnerable to collapse. Special care should be taken both below and particularly on the ridge line above the cornice. Again, this can be mitigated to some extent by starting early, before the snow starts to melt.

“To deal with the threat of ledges, you basically have to give them a fairly wide distance,” Lazar said. “Don’t spend too much time hanging around like underneath them. When traveling on ridgelines, give the edge of the cornice much more space than you think it might need.

In addition to the risk of avalanches, poor snow conditions are also a factor to watch out for. It is necessary to take into account both the variable snow cover and the condition of the snow itself. Creek crossings can become big problems incredibly quickly. Not only are skiers likely to fall with less snow, but the frozen snow you cross in the morning may not support your weight when you try to cross it again once it has warmed up.

“Some places it can be several feet deep, and then 25 feet off the mountain it can be very thin,” said Sydney Leech, a cross-country skier with several 14-inch runs under her belt. “Then you hit a shark or a rock that sticks out, and it’s bad.”

With constant melting and freezing, snow can also crust over and cause its own problems.

“Snow can rot underneath, where it's covered in a crust that feels firm, but once it warms up, you can break through that crust,” said Sal Malone, a cross-country skier who spent many time on the local ground. “It can also be dangerous; it can bring you down in strange and unpredictable ways.

Before venturing out, there are several key things to consider. Weather and avalanche forecasts can tell you what to expect in terms of the conditions you will encounter and which aspects and areas might be safer than others. Another factor to consider is the temperature and cloud cover the night before your adventure. Colder temperatures without cloud cover lead to more frozen snow, which means the snow will stay frozen longer in the day.

“What I look at in the spring is what do the nighttime troughs look like? » asked Lazar. “How much cloud cover do we have? What are the highs for the day and how much sunshine will we expect tomorrow? This will determine the timing of my goal.

Some popular websites to check weather forecasts are: mountain-forecast.com and Forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.19&lon=-106.8182

It is also important to read and fully understand the avalanche forecasts for your area on the CAIC website found here: avalanche.state.co.us/.