![]() The trick to skiing these ridges is to ski down the ridge until you see a good line down the north side and then ski it to the drainage below. Very little sun hits these slopes between November and February, and they are protected from the prevailing winds. The north-facing slopes on the ridges are refrigerated snow magnets. As a result, you can find excellent runs down the north-facing slopes of these ridges. Just enough trees to keep the sun and wind out and plenty of space to initiate turns.Īnother unique feature of Wolf Creek is that most of the runs start from ridges that run northeast. But up close and on skis, you can see that these forests are perfect for skiing. From a distance, the forests look like any other Colorado forests: thick and impenetrable. To the joy of skiers, the thinning created perfect glade skiing. Instead of clear cutting, the Forest Service removed enough trees to "thin" the forest. But at Wolf Creek Pass, in the Rio Grande National Forest, the US Forest service implemented a tree harvesting program, affectionately called the STEP program by local skiers-Selective Telemark Enhancement Program. Normally, the forests in Colorado below timberline are too thick to ski through. Wolf Creek Pass is unique in Colorado in that the best skiing is in the trees. ![]() In most seasons it has double or triple the snowpack of the northern or central Colorado mountains, and often has a 50-60 inch base by Thanksgiving. Wolf Creek Pass is known for its deep, stable snowpack. ![]() In fact, the town was only recently incorporated in 1992, making Colorado's newest town, according to the CDT Coalition.OverviewFirst of all, I want to thank the person from whom I am plagiarizing a big part of this write-up for all the work that they did at the link at the bottom of this section. Though the town was historically shaped by the transportation industry, including stagecoaches and the modern highway system, the town was revived in the 1900s when Colorado devised a program to promote and develop skiing areas around the state. Unique to this road crossing, a second trail town, South Fork, is located just to the northeast along US-160. It's a must-visit trail town that comes highly recommended by those who have been. The town, whose name is a derivative of a Ute word meaning smelly water or healing water, has origins tracing back to the 1800's gold rush - and even logging into the 1900s. To the southwest, Pagosa Springs "combines a relaxed small-town atmosphere with abundant outdoor recreation, plenty of services, excellent soaking and fantastic scenery for a unique experience," the CDT Coalition writes. Camping is also abundant, though you may want to check with the ranger station for current road conditions since these are extremely remote, high-mountain roads.īringing this segment to an end, the trail runs along the boundary of the Wolf Creek Ski Area. Worth noting, it has been suggested that grizzly bears may still live within the area, though Wikipedia notes how there is no sufficient evidence to support the claim.įor anyone seeking a day hike in this area, your options are limited, though the massif that includes Summit Peak, Montezuma Peak, and Long Trek Mountain can be accessed from a remote forest service road to the east. Expect long stretches of true alpine terrain, and don't fret about your water supply since you'll be hiking along quaint alpine ponds and lakes, and frequently within distance to some form of flowing or otherwise obtainable water (frozen lake, snow, etc.). Originally named Rio San Juan, after Saint John the Baptist, the mountains offer the perfect introduction to Colorado's high peaks, with some of the highest topping 13,000' by a small margin. The quaint village, as best described by the CDT Coalition, is "a small but diverse community that values its natural and cultural heritage." And while it may not be a must-visit destination if traveling by car, hikers can experience this enchanting town that once served a railroad hub for coal, and even sheep, they continue.įor those heading north on the trail, the first 55 miles of this segment tour the southernmost portion of San Juan National Forest, including some wilderness. Overnight parking is available, and the small Gateway Community, Charma, is just a short hitchhike back into New Mexico. The southern trailhead for this section is just north of the NM/CO state line along CO-17, locally known as Cumbres Pass.
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