Rollins Pass - East Portal
April 23rd, 2006

Click Here for Interactive Map of Route

Alex and I got a late start, so we decided it might be a good idea to bushwhack our way up the mountain toward Arapahoe Lakes. The first surprise of the day came when we ran straight into this waterfall and we were unable to cross.



We took a quick break here and headed further up stream to find a good place to cross. Just above the top of the waterfall there is a fallen tree with a nice snow bridge making a safe place to cross. Here Alex gets a fix on our location.



JP continues to slog up the steep face toward the lakes. The snow was melting quickly and the temperatures are rising forcing us to switch between snowshoes and our boots often.



This is the view from our break spot at Arapahoe Lakes. Notice the sweet looking couloir and large snowfield. The lake was still frozen solid so we dug for fresh snow to melt for hot coco and lunch.



The lunch and chill spot, Arapahoe Lakes. 11,400ft



JP on the descent. Taking it easy on the mellow stuff. We had nice soft slushy lines down from the summit and lakes. We made it almost to the valley floor and back to the trail, riding our way through some nasty tree lines.



JP near the Moffat Tunnel. Rocking the illuminati hybricon and the Atlas 1230 snowshoes. Overall we did very little snowboarding and lots of touring and scouting. Plenty of snow left back in the Indian Peaks, as we tried to 4×4 back on Rollins Pass road and didn’t even make it past the first turn. We logged 6 miles total on the day and a gain of roughly 3000ft.

As one would expect the snow conditions weren’t very good. We were completely post holeing by 10am when the snowshoes weren’t on. Noticed lots of fresh cornice breaks and wet slides, with the high temps lately and the lack of a snowpack freeze this was expected. Be safe out there and get off the sunny aspects as soon as possible.

BackcountryMaps.com is really coming along, we just added features to allow users of the “My Maps” module the option of embedding custom maps on to their own site. Above is an example of a public My Map created by JP and linked from a 3rd party site. We’ve also added some new features which allow much easier map marker creation. My Map users can now click anywhere on the map and create a marker from that point.

AvalancheData.com was launched 4/16/2006. Happy Easter. AvalancheData.com provides a service and home on the web for Avalanche Forecast Centers and Backcountry Observers. Create custom maps with any type of data, embed those maps on your Avalanche Center’s homepage, collaborate with other forecasters, and use our tools and data layers for a complete view of any location.

I’m stoked to annouce our first guest trip report and author, Seth Beck from badcolonies.org. SBC is out killing it in the east coast backcountry and representing with the Illunimati. His post below from Tuckerman’s Revine, New Hampshire looks like a great time with good friends. Keep an eye out for more trip reports from Seth and other guest authors in the future. Please pay SBC a visit at badcolonies.org — sponsor them in the Mongol Rally 2006!

New Hampshire Backcountry: Tuckerman’s Revine

I am not dead, just lame

In 1996, I made my first trip to Tuckerman’s, it was my second year riding and I came completely unequipped for the steep slopes, lacking any real skills and riding a 151 Morrow Revert, the same model TR took the Open with in 1994. However, it would prove an experience that would influence the following years greatly.

Ten years later and a lot has changed, I entered the year with high hopes for the season. Unfortunately, a combination of bad weather, bad colonies, added job responsibilities, and a house under the constant attack of a one year old, left me with one of my worst years on the mountain ever.

Last Sunday, it became utterly evident that an epic week was approaching the Northeast, 60 degree temps with ample snow remaining. An opportunity to redeem a small portion of the season was at hand. I had hoped to get some decent footage from the trip, but had to abandon the goal when all bagged on the trip other than my sister, Carrie. My footage would have paled in comparison to Patio’s anyhow, so no real loss. The following are a few photos and some of the Tuck’s trip prerequisites accomplished on this trip.

Prerequisite #1 – have an exchange with some backwoods locals.

While stopped at a gas station that proudly displayed “NO RESTROOMS”, one of the 6 old guys drinking coffee exclaimed to Carrie “You needa use the bathroom?” After she returned a questionable yes, the grizzly looking proprietor stated plainly, “Its not for public use, go ahead.”

Prerequisite #2 – Forget something and lose something.

Carrie forgot a backpack that could actually haul a snowboard and ended up using a extra I had. Through-out the day we lost the following: my Agency cap, a tube of sunscreen, and a hiking pole. I also forgot to bring anything close to skills.

Prerequisite #3 – completely blow your intended run, ending up coming down in a totally different place than expected.

Carrie and I had scouted the terrain just to climber’s left of the ice fall, basically dead center. I tried to remember some of the landmarks, once we were underway and traversing I couldn’t pick up anything. It is amazing how steep that terrain is and how tough it is to spot your line. We ended up doing the chute instead because there is such a nice rock band to follow. The one prereq not accomplished - overhear some Joseph state "Hey's where's da lift?" There's always next year.

First I need to start with some very sad news, yesterday Doug Coombs and another skier were killed in the mountains above La Grave, France. Doug founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides out of Alaska in 1993 and has made an immeasurable amount contributions to the backcountry, Alaska skiing, skiing in general and Alpine guiding. Please join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to the families involved. Another fallen great, reminds me of when Criag Kelly died. These guys are legends and will never be forgotten! R.I.Pow

More About Doug and Accident Details:

“Coombs was extremely well known at la Grave which he had made his second home. Star of numerous extreme skiing movies, twice the World Extreme Ski champion he had founded and subsequently sold Valdez Heli Ski Guides and operated Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide. He is survived by his wife, Emily and young son David. Prophetically Doug had once said that he imagined the slopes under the majestic peak of la Meije “would last a lifetime”.

La Grave is a vast off-piste area with two main itineary routes and countless other routes. It is a worldwide mecca for off-piste skiers, in particular from Sweden and North America. Avalanche accidents and falls are relatively uncommon but have killed some well known and popular figures. In April 2003 German guide Philip Jaerschky was killed by an avalanche in the couloir de Chirouze In April 2004 Romain Berger was killed by a slide above the Trifides couloirs while praticing for the Derby de la Meije. A Spanish guide was killed by an avalanche on the nearby Tête de Sainte Marguerite on Saturday.

With much cooler temperatures the avalanche risk at the time of the accident was 2 (Moderate) on a scale of 5 and the bulletin noted the possibility of some very localized slabs in the area as well as some limited natural activity where there had not already been purges the day before. With the zero isotherm around 2200 meters after a good overnight refreeze it should have been perfect Spring skiing conditions.

Doug Coombs started skiing at three years old. After four years on Montana State University Ski Team he began heli-ski guiding in 1986. In 1991 he won the World Extreme Skiing Championships at Valdez in Alaska. The following year he returned to Valdex to pioneer some first descents in the Chugach Range. He founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides with his wife Emily, in a few years it grew to a team of 12 guides and 3 helicopters. Today there are 5 guided operations in the area. Coombs returned to Valdez in 1992 to log another win at the Extreme Skiing World Championships.” -pistehors.com

More Information and Links:
www.valdezheliskiguides.com
www.pistehors.com
Teton Gravity


Doug Coombs - Otterbody Cooly - Grand Teton, WY