Icy roads and the warning sign of a pickup laying on its drivers side kept us moving slow up to Estes Park and then on into Rocky Mountain National Park. Stopping at the old Hidden Valley ski area (more history here) we took shelter at the warming hut from the winds and finished suiting up.
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We were one of the first groups out this morning, but not the first. A snowboarder zoomed by just as we started, probably getting his one lap before work.
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The mild uphill route kept us moving and warming up until we breached treeline and the snow conditions got a little choppier. No need to head all the way towards the ridge.
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We largely followed our uphill tracks down the moderate angles (20-30 degrees) passing a few more groups on their way up.
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When the terrain flattened out we stopped and re-applied the skins for another bout of climbing. Not continuing as high as our first lap, we stopped well under treeline for a final run back to the parking lot.
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Like yesterday, our day was done in time for lunch at a nearby brewery (I can highly recommend the Winter Spice Pale Ale from Oskar Blues).
