Being perched on the Continental Divide provides a 360º look at the world around us. The view to the west seems to stretch on forever. This vantage point looks over the Gunnison River Basin and down to the San Juan Mountains. From here you can see a few more 14ers including San Luis Peak, Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn. Enjoy the bluebird…
We made it through the month! February helped to turn the page on the drier conditions we had seen earlier in the season. The month delivered just under 1/3 of our total snowfall for the season with 48″ reported in February. In forty-five years of snowfall history, we have averaged 54″ for the month of February. The highest monthly total…
Monarch held our annual IFSA Junior Mountain Comp on Thursday-Feb 25th. This is the fourth season that we have held this event here at Monarch. These little groms can tear up the slope and it was really fun to watch them send their line down Mirkwood Bowl. Keep an eye on this crew!
I always find myself at this time of the season needing a few days skiing at our partner resorts. When you work in the industry, there is something great about just going skiing somewhere else. No uniform, no radio, no on-mountain duties. I guess most of you would just consider this a normal day of skiing! With Copper Mountain being…
The recently logged Monarch Ridge looked extra impressive during a morning sunrise the other day. I was hoping to tour over there this winter, but I haven’t made it over there yet due to the thin snowpack and precarious backcountry avalanche hazard this season. Perhaps this spring.
There is a lot of good skiing & riding between here and there. While Monarch does not boast thousands of vertical feet, our boundary stretches for roughly five miles with much of it along the Continental Divide. We have numerous aspects along our ridgeline that dish up soft turns with storms rolling in from several different directions on Monarch Pass.…
The last month has transformed the mountain. We have received measurable snow on 22 of the last 31 days and more than doubled our base. Every square inch of the mountain has opened up and the trees may now be explored with a lot more confidence. It has been great to get in some legitimate powder days here over the…
We had some incredible conditions over the holiday weekend. We are knocking on a 50″ base and have had reportable snowfall on eleven of the fifteen days in February so far. It looks like the next few days will bring a bit more. The skiing/riding is incredible right now and each day seems to keep bringing chants of “That was…
They keep rolling in. Friday delivered a very nice 3-4″ of high density snow that carved like a dream. There was a lot more than that in wind loaded areas. The weekend looks to deliver!
After a 10-20 minute hike up to the top of Mirkwood, most approach the bowl and peer over the drop. This open face has the most direct wind loading and consistent soft snow providing an open palette in which to carve your masterpiece. Always a solid choice. For those who enjoy tight trees and chutes, Mirkwood Ridge presents some incredible…
