The Park Weasel’s
“Idiot Powder Stash”
Greetings, ski touring aficionados. Your friendly park weasel has been lucky enough to get out on skis quite a bit this season, albeit with only two days seeking downhill turns. The weasel borrowed the demo set of Black Diamond Verdict skis with Hammerhead bindings for a day at the resort after a five-year hiatus from telemark skiing (“fix the heel, ski for real!”), and was pleasantly surprised with the latest and greatest ski gear. The park weasel found the Verdicts quite excellent, and actually enjoyed telemarking.
A few days later, the weasel managed a couple of tours. One, up Wild Basin, to get to Hidden Falls (which was in great climbing shape); then later that afternoon, up to Brainard Lake and “Idiot’s Stash”. Why “Idiot’s Stash” as a name? I call the collective Brainard Lake area skiing “Idiot’s Stash” for a couple of reasons:
1. You would have to be an idiot deal with the constant wind coming off the
continental divide just to get to a little skiing.
2. You would have to be an idiot to ski most of the lines up there without a buddy, a beacon, shovel, and probe.
3. You would have to be an idiot to ski two miles of wind-torn road, just to get to the base of some powder skiing.
4. You would have to be an idiot to think it’s your own secret stash; however, you would be unlikely to cross anyone else’s tracks.
5. You would have to be an idiot to not find good
skiing up there six months out of the year.
While at Idiot’s Secret Stash, the weasel found variable windblown and soft snow conditions that left the weasel wanting for those Verdicts instead of his lightweight rando rig. Since then, the Indian Peaks have received quite a bit of new snow, so the base has certainly deepened, and the conditions are likely better than they were. The nice thing about the Idiot’s Secret Stash is that there’s always a line that has good snow. While one aspect may be brutal windslab, the north-facing tree lines sit leeward and collect a lot of powder.
On the touring end of things, Brainard is enjoying great snow coverage on the cross country ski trails at the moment. Despite a parking lot packed with cars, the weasel was able to ski the two miles to the lake without running into another person. That is the beauty of the Brainard area. If you are willing to brave the discomforts of wind and cold in the open areas, you will be guaranteed quiet, good touring and turns in the trees. Check it out for yourself and you will feel like an idiot for not having skied there before.
Cheers,
Park Weasel
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