One of the more unique portions of the No Name Basin expansion is the North Star Glades. This zone offers a mini-adventure with both “Hike-to” and “Hike-out” options.
The “North Star Glades” is not a place for beginners or lower intermediate skiers/riders. This zone offers a side-country experience with tight trees, deep snow, and good skiing for good skiers. The trees are much tighter than those on the front-side of the mountain as this side of the ridge still contains a lot of beetle-killed spruce.
To access this zone, take the ungroomed “White Pine” trail located across from the intersection of “Prospector” and “Mule Train”. The “White Pine” trail is actually an old clearing for a power line that supplied the old mining town of Whitepine, CO located to the west in the Upper Tomichi Creek valley. Once you reach the end of White Pine, take a turn to the right into the and follow the old logging road along the ridge. From here, you can drop off to the right into this section of glades, or continue on the logging road to the high point of NSG. This last bit can be side-stepped on skis or boot-packed.
Once you drop along this upper ridge, there are two options. Continue down skier’s right and aim to meet back up with Mule Train or head down to the left side and the bottom of the rope line. If aiming right to avoid the large drainage ditch that separates NSG from MT, follow the green flagging to Mule Train. If you head left, do NOT cross a rope line (always a good rule to follow) and look for the the signage and arrows to the “Hike back” zone. From here, it is a short 5 minute side-step or boot-pack along a rope line up the bottom of the Tomichi Lift.
North Star Glades is named for the North Star Mine that sits just on the other side of Lake Hill (smaller peak that sits near Galena Creek just next to the higher No Name Peak). Miners working at the North Star were in search of Lead and Silver. The North Star Glades also face to the North and hold shaded, soft snow. This seemed to be another appropriate reason for this zone to hold the North Star name.
When in doubt, go to North Star if you are in search of powder snow and good times.