Backcountry Skiing in RMNP - March 2010
Took a two-day Intro to Backcountry Skiing course in Rocky Mountain National Park. Our guide, Eli, taught us the basics of how to plan a tour, avalanche awareness, using beacons for avalanche rescue, skinning techniques and skiing. The first day was warm with blue skies. We skinned up to the wind crusted East face of Flat Top Mountain on saturday and then skied down. Conditions on Sunday were completely opposite with blowing snow and low visibility at times. We skinned up to Lake Haiyaha and up the Southern (?) slope of Otis peak. We got in two laps in deep powder there and those were my first powder runs ever. I definitely got my butt kicked trying to learn to ski in powder falling just about ever other turn, but it was still great fun with nice cushioned landings! After that we skied down a narrow and steep gully to Dream Lake where we practiced an avalanche burial exercise. Overall an awesome time for sure. Can't wait to get out again!
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