Colorado Ski Country Daliy Snow Report Added to this site!

Hands down, Colorado Ski Country USA is the BEST consolidated data from Colorado Ski resorts on the web and I feel very privileged  to have been accepted to display it on my site. Thanks!!!! Their site is updated twice a day and give a great overview of current statewide conditions. If you combine its information with Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and, my absolute favorite local weather forecaster, Joel Gratz’s blog Colorado Powder Forecast you are prepped with good solid planning and decision tools to make a weekend outing a safe, memorable and epic event.

I highly encourage donations to CAIC. It is user supported and getting better all the time. There are a bunch of local fundraising events this month. Check the site for one near you. A minimum donation of $30 gets you emailed reports and a warm fuzzy feeling that you are helping make the backcountry user better prepared  with up-to-date information to make wise choices.

I also recommend subscribing to Colorado Powder Forecast’s blog. The accuracy of the forecasting trumps the NWS, in my opinion.

So, my powder loving vertically inclined pain merchants, lets go get some turns! Be safe out there!

It is always a struggle during the middle of a cold hard winter to beat back the climbing demons that tempt you into spending a wad of cash traveling to Utah, Las Vegas or even J-Tree to get your fix. When the snowy low pressure rises and the skies clear up, there are a surprising number of places in Western Colorado that offer protected southern exposures and balmy temperatures. No need to plan a big trip.  You just need to find your rack, round up your climbing partner, load up the truck, grab the dog and go.
Before heading out, I recommend going to http://www.mountainproject.com/ for updates and additional info on these areas.
A few notable and less crowded winter crags:
Naturita – Lost World
Directions: Drive west from Naturita on CO141. At the abandoned site of Vancorum turn west on CO 90 and drive about 5.2 miles to EE22 Road.

Google Maps:
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Lost World Crag is a great place to climb in the winter. Take a right at about 1.8 miles on EE22. The crag is visible from the turnoff. Just to the right of the crag are plenty of primitive camping sites. Lost World rock is very abrasive conglomerate and the climbing is interesting and memorable on pebbles and cobbles. I have been there a number of times and enjoyed beautiful shirtless spring-like days in March.
Guide book:  http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-Colorado-Stewart-Green/dp/156044334

Ouray- Pool Walls

Directions: The obvious cliff band across the road from the Hot Springs Pool, on the west side of Hwy550 (Main Street) in Ouray.
Google Maps:
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Climbing within a short distance to the Hot Springs Pool….. What’s not to love? Easier routes to the north,  tougher routes to 5.13 on the south end. Mostly bolts with chains, though there are a couple trad routes.
Guide book: http://mountainworldmedia.com/about-us/ouray-rock-climbing
more info: http://www.visualadventures.com/ourayclimbing/crags.html

Unaweep Canyon- Sunday Wall
Directions: 8 miles south of Grand Junction on HWY 50, turn on HWY 141 at Whitewater and head west for about 13.5 miles. At the intersection with Divide Road, continue on HWY141 for about 2 miles. The parking for Sunday Wall is on the right. The Access Fund has purchased the land and the location is signed.
Google Maps:
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I love climbing at Sunday Wall. On a sunny day, the rock seems to radiate heat and the smell of the pine infuses the air. Not many people climb there, you might have the place to yourself. Bear in mind, it is a canyon, so expect the sun to appear and disappear more quickly and plan your day accordingly. The rock is granite. Plenty of short trad and sport routes of all grades. On warmer days, above the Standard Route (5.7) there are a couple of fun routes that leave from Sundeck Ledge.

Guide book:  http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-Colorado-Stewart-Green/dp/1560443340

Aspen- Classy Cliff, Master Headwall and Dragon Rock

Directions: Head east out of Aspen on HWY 82. Just after the turn off to Difficult Campground on the right is a large pullout just before mile marker 46.

Google Maps:
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When April arrives, this place can be quite the social scene as the local climbers trade their axes and boards for their climbing shoes and a rack. Find the rather sketchy trail going up. As it splits up, head left for Classy Cliff, up the center for Master Headwall and right for Dragon Rock. Classy offers some fun cracks and the classic 5.8 Edge of Time trad route. Master Headwall and Dragon rock have short, contrived sport routes and some excellent slabs. Certainly enough to keep you entertained!
Guide: Independence Pass Rock Climbing

This is a great website. It consolidates all the information that a lot of backcountry skiers routinely look up. Now it is all in one place.
AspenSnowInfo.com covers the Central Mountains of Colorado including the resorts of Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Sunlight, Crested Butte and Cooper. You get resort snow total reports, National Weather Service automated weather station reports, Colorado Avalanche Information Center summary, weather forecasts and a couple of webcams. Very comprehensive, pretty much everything you need to make informed decisions for the day’s plan and for trip planning.
WesternSnowInfo.com covers the West as a snapshot and there are other specific areas such as the SummitSnow.com for Summit County in Colorado and other sites for the Tetons, Wasatch, Oregon,  Teton River area, the Jackson Hole/Targee area…. Tahoe and Montana coming soon.

Ok, so it isn’t Western Colorado… it is an eight hour drive and it looks like a lot of fun. I would be derelict NOT to mention it.
Demo the latest skis and boots from Black Diamond and check out the new line from Arc’Teryx, attend clinics, get some turns and basically party like el duderino, himself.
“Let me explain something to you. I am not Mr. Lebowski. You’re Mr. Lebowski. I’m the Dude. So, that’s what you call me. You know, that, or his dudeness, or duder, or el duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.”

It’s not brief, it is all weekend!
The Big LePowSki 2010
February 26th-27th in Brighton, UT
February 25th in Salt Lake City- Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival @ The State Room, 638 S. State Street, SLC, UT 84111- All proceeds benefit the WWA.