With eyes on a stabilizing snowpack, Ben, Jackson and I had planned to get out for a big day to ready the lungs and legs for the upcoming Spring touring season. Quite frankly, following several days of high winds and bleak skies, I was pretty discouraged about the quality of the snow and was not super motivated to make the trek out to Red Peak.

Fortunately… my friends carried the attitude, and I rallied together enough excitement to throw the plans together.

We started at the Willowbrook Trailhead and made quick progress to start. However, once we hit the actual climb, we began to break trail through about a foot of new snow. The sun came out (…briefly), the snow continued to get deeper, and I began to wonder if the day might just prove my expectations wrong…

We had originally planned to ski the SE Face with an agreement that we would check out the Catcher’s Mitt to see how the terrain managed through the recent wind event. I figured there would have been some significant loading, rendering the terrain off-limits due to wind slab avalanche hazard. I also figured the SE Face would be scoured and horribly wind affected; hopefully this explains the lack of excitement I held the night prior…

We peeked over the lip of the Mitt and, much to my surprise, saw that perfect powder with no sign of any wind-affect blanketed the entire line. We tested the snow, felt confident in the stability, and proceeded to ski some of the best turns of the season (many seasons, maybe all the seasons?)!

I can’t overstate how incredible the skiing was; fast, cold and bottomless powder!

The ski out through the trees continued to deliver great snow and fun, playful turns. I was still struck with disbelief over how incredible the skiing had been in the Mitt.

Finally back at the cars; we celebrated our successful day and quickly made plans to keep the energy high with afternoon beers at ORB. Proof that throwing on the boots and giving the day a fair chance is always worthwhile – epic!!