Two for the Road A Couple Early Season High Altitude Skiing and Snowshoeing Adventures By Alan Apt
View from the top of the Chicago Lakes Trail of the Mount Evans Massif. Alan Apt
IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR when high altitude trails are turning white, and will stay snow covered until June. Trails above 10,000 feet are slippery enough to make cleats and poles necessary for traction. Above 11,000 feet, you can choose between using snowshoes, skis, or post holing. Post holing can mean suddenly plunging up to your thigh into snow that has soft spots. This is usually not entertaining, and can cause leg, hip, or back injuries. The prudent high altitude adventurer will avoid the plunge with the right equipment. If you decide on an early season ski, try to avoid rocks and stumps just below the surface with low speed route choices. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued their first warning about possible slab avalanches on high, steep terrain—above 30 degrees. Their first reports started November 1, so visit https://avalanche.state.co.us/index.php for the condi34
Trail & Timberline
tions at your destination. Here are a couple of high-altitude trails that can offer early winter fun.
Chicago Lakes Trail
This 9-mile trail starts at Echo Lake, below Mount Evans, and heads into the spectacular Mount Evans Wilderness Area. It is suitable for snowshoeing or backcountry skiing with deep snow; hiking is good in thin conditions. It is a short drive from Denver: take I-70 to the Mount Evans exit (#240), near Idaho Springs, and then drive 14 miles on CO 103 to the Echo Lake picnic area. Echo Lake is 10,600 feet, so the snow cover arrives early and stays late. From the picnic area the lakeside trail will take you west around the end of the lake. Enjoy the view of the Mount Evans massif from the lake. When you round the end of the lake and bear right uphill, you will see the sign for the Chicago Lakes Trail. The
trail rolls over a small hill and descends. The descent requires intermediate ski skills. A stunning panorama greets you when you break out of the trees. The trail is narrow and has a 500-foot drop on the west side, making it a good idea to bring along a leash, if your dog joins you. Don’t use this trail if avalanche danger is high, because the side-slope above you on the left is steep. Early season, before major storms, is a good time to visit. The trail descends 500 feet to the Idaho Springs reservoir road. Turn left when you reach it, and you will climb slowly up to the reservoir. This is a good turnaround point for an easy outing. The trail continues south around the west side of the reservoir with spectacular views of the cliffs above. The rocky trail slowly climbs southwest, above the sparkling riparian valley, rolling over small hills. The soaring ridgeline on the east looks ever
