#Colorado – Ski Federation https://skifederation.org National Ski Council Federation Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:52:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://skifederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/favicon.png #Colorado – Ski Federation https://skifederation.org 32 32 Colorado’s first-ever criminal charges following an avalanche could be slippery slope for backcountry travelers https://skifederation.org/colorados-first-ever-criminal-charges-following-an-avalanche-could-be-slippery-slope-for-backcountry-travelers/ Mon, 19 Oct 2020 05:07:43 +0000 http://newdev.skifederation.org/?p=14766  

What began as a small slide of a few inches of fresh snow stepped down to a weak layer and ultimately scoured the ground in the March 25 avalanche involving two snowboarders who are facing charges of reckless endangerment and fines to replace a damaged avalanche mitigation system. (Provided by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Colorado’s first-ever criminal charges following an avalanche could be slippery slope for backcountry travelers

Two snowboarders reported the avalanche they caused in March above the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels and cooperated with the investigation. Now, their statements and helmet-cam video are being used against them.

Jason Blevins

The two snowboarders talk about snow conditions and route selection as they drop in, one at a time. Gusting wind is blowing snow across the ridge as they wind between reefy rocks.

“Avalanche!” yells Tyler DeWitt as he cranks to a stop below his friend Evan Hannibal.

The two watch the slide — captured on video by Hannibal’s helmet camera — grow from a small slough of wind-deposited snow into a deep avalanche that buries the service road above the west portal of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels with 20 feet of snow.

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Posted from The Colorado Sun

]]> First-ever Backcountry Ski Area Opens In Colorado https://skifederation.org/first-ever-backcountry-ski-area-opens-in-colorado/ Wed, 12 Feb 2020 07:37:56 +0000 http://newdev.skifederation.org/?p=14292 First-ever Backcountry Ski Area Opens In Colorado

Bluebird Backcountry at Peak Ranch will offer $50 access, $50 guided instruction on 1,500 acres of gladed terrain below Whiteley Peak in the Rabbit Ears range.

January 27, 2020

Jason Blevins

he country’s first human-powered ski area opens next month near Kremmling.

Erik Lambert and Jeff Woodward and their Bluebird Backcountry project are developing a lift-free backcountry ski area on 1,500 acres of private land flanking Whiteley Peak, the prominent volcanic plug on the southern end of the Rabbit Ears range. The pair of entrepreneurs have spent 18 months hosting test events and searching the state for slopes to anchor their dream of building a ski area with all the trimmings of a traditional hill — ski patrollers, instructors, guides, a base hut, gear rentals, a mountain warming hut, trails and avalanche hazard reduction — minus the chairlift.

As uphill skiing and backcountry touring explode, “we are seeing a confluence of factors that make this the perfect time” for a human-powered ski area, Lambert said.

“People are ready to get away from the crowded resort experience. They are maybe a little bored with traditional resorts,” Lambert said. “Part of going outside in the winter is this special experience you get communing with nature and it’s hard to do that at a crowded resort. That’s a big part of what people are seeking in the backcountry: more solace. They are looking for the soul of skiing.”

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This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins. Become a Newsletters+ Member to get The Outsider at coloradosun.com/join. (Existing members, click here to learn how to upgrade)

 

Posted from The Colorado Sun via Snocountry.com

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