Mount Jackson Ski
Date: 5/4/2021
Partners: Joel Paula, Joel Racicot
Start: Gerald Ford Parking Garage @ Beaver Creek Resort
Summits: Mount Jackson
Route: N Ridge from Beaver Creek Resort via Bald Spot and Grouse Mountain
Distance: 22.4m
Elevation Gain: 9050ft
Start Time: 2:15am
Time: 12Hrs
GPX
Even at 2am the snow on the front side of Beaver Creek was soft and sticky. So much so that within 10 minutes my skins were glopping making the 4000ft climb to the Bald Spot seem impossible. I also felt unusually tired and sluggish. Maybe it was the second Moderna dose from the week before. In any case this was no way to start a 22 mile 9000ft day.
By the time we reached the Bald Spot the temps had significantly dropped and we were all a bit cold. We skied in the dark to Grouse Mountain's saddle... the snow was light and powdery.
From the saddle we climbed Grouse's northern slopes and contoured around it's summit to the the west. The temps remained cold and JoelP's skins were not adhearing to his bases. He was forced to use ski straps to keep the skins on his skis. Needless to say we were not moving fast... however the cold weather was working in our favor. It is a strange day when you have glopping and cold skin issues within a couple of hours.
As we approached Jackson's summit we began to move more efficiently... my energy was slowly coming back.
By the time we summited the visibility had given way to thick low hanging clouds and and the wind began to blow. We waited in the cold for a visibility window before descending Jackson's eastern slopes in wintery pow.
We skied midway down the basin before booting up Jackson's east ridge to the top of a steeper north facing col. This would be the best skiing of the day. The north facing snow was a dream and the big wall setting was spectacular.
After skiing the north col we retraced our tracks back to the Bald Spot and down through the creamy powder and corn on the front side of Beaver Creek Resort.
We celebrated our successful outing by crushing sandos and the last of Aaron's Killer Smile IPAs at JoelP's place in Edwards.
22.4m - 9050ft - 12Hrs
The 2am moon gave us quite the show
Sunrise on the northern slopes of Jackson as we contour around the shoulder of Grouse
Blue skies but just for a short time
Clouds starting to build
Approaching a scrambly section of Jackson's north ridge. We would climb this pitch then skirt the class 3 to the east side of the ridge.
JoelP booting the final pitch to Jackson's summit
The wind picked up and the visibility diminished as we gained the summit
All bundled up for a selfie... let's get outta here!
JoelP waiting for a visibility window before skiing Jackson's eastern slopes
Powdery snow with challenging visibility off the summit
After skiing the eastern slopes, we booted Jackson's east ridge to what would be the best skiing of the day
JoelP on the east ridge
JoelR skis the north couloir off of Jackson's east ridge
JoelP skis the north couloir off of Jackson's east ridge
Alex enjoying some cold wintery pow
JoelP
JoelP
JoelR
JoelP
Stoked after skiing north off of Jackson's east ridge
PANO below the east ridge - what an incredible place to be
Ski line on the left
Time to pack it outta here
JoelP on Grouse's southern slopes. Our ski line in the back just right of center
Mount of the Holy Cross from Grouse
Jackson's summit in the way back - East ridge ski line in the center
Back to Beaver Creek Resort for a 3000ft decent of creamy pow and corn to the base. Needless to say we had it all to ourselves.