Independence
10/28/2007:
Montezuma Basin
Julie, Luke Kroiss, Ryan Wilson & I skinned up the remainder of Montezuma Road and up Montezuma Basin. We were dissappointed that both Castle Peak's North Couloir and Conundrum Peak's Conundrum Couloir did not have enough coverage to warrant skiing. We descended Montezuma Basin on highly variable snow.
Skied Elevation: ~1560’
Castle Peak & its North Couloir
Map
On the drive back, Luke and I decided to climb and ski Independence Mountain. We dropped in from the parking at the Independence Townsite, crossed the Roaring Fork River, bushwhacked through some willows,then skinned up Independence Mountain's lower northeast ridge then upper east face to the summit. We skied down the north ridge and dropped into the northeast face.
Skied Elevation: ~1883’
Total Skied Elevation: ~3443’
Map