Janet's Cabin - January 14 to 16, 2007
Who: Jaya (snowshoes), Gary (splitboard), Perry (telemark skis), Oliver (splitboard)
We went for a 3 day hut trip to Janet's Cabin. Sunday morning we met in Copper Mountain and from there we took the Kokomo and Lumberjack lift to gain about 1000 vertical feet. From the backcountry gate at the resort boundary it is about 3.5 miles and 1000 vertical feet to the hut at 11,600 feet. It is a fairly mellow hike up to the last pitch. Then you really have to earn those last few hundred feet. We made it in a little less than 3 hours from the gate.
Picture 1: Getting Ready for the Climb (Click to enlarge)
Picture 2: Yes, Jaya is ready to slay it
Picture 3: On the way up
Picture 4: Our home for the next two nights
Picture 5: The Cabin (looking East)
Picture 6: Kitchen
Picture 7: Living Room
We chose the coldest few days so far this season. Overnight the temperatures fell down to -20F (= -29C). Even on Monday morning at 10 AM the thermometer read only -10F (= -23C) and stayed around that level all day. However it was almost wind still and therefore it was not too bad, as long as you stayed in the sun.
Picture 8: Thermometer (Reading -10F = -23C at 10 AM in the morning)
After some first turns on Sunday near the hut we decided to venture out a little further and hit some trees on the north east side of the hut. Jaya joined us also for the first part of the tour on her snowshoes. We found a nice open face and made some pretty sweet turns, even though the snow was somewhat sugary and not very supportable.
Picture 9: Gary and Oliver touring around the hut on Monday
Picture 10: Gary's jump into the sugar snow
Picture 11: Perry showing us the perfect tele moves
Picture 12: Me enjoying some pretty sweet turns on an open face
Picture 13: Perry in the white room
Picture 14: More Perry turns
Picture 15: Making our way back to the hut for lunch
After a quick lunch break and warming up in the hut we headed to Searle Pass. From there you have some spectacular views. However the snow above tree line was quite wind battered, and we headed quickly back below tree line where the goods were.
Picture 16: On the way up to Searle Pass after lunch
Picture 17: Looking north from Searle Pass
Picture 18: Looking south from Searle Pass
Picture 19: Group on top of Searle Pass
Picture 20: The trees south east of the hut
Picture 21: Gary enjoying the vista before heading home on Tuesday
Unfortunately the time went by very quickly and Tuesday came already. After one more run through the trees we headed back towards Copper Mountain. This was a great trip! I highly recommend visiting the great 10th Mountain Division hut system. (www.huts.org)
